Any animal lover wants their dog to grow healthy and obedient. Unfortunately, a naughty dog can take advantage of your absence and gobble up anything, including medicine!
Or simply, the dog is having anxiety problems and needs neurological medications at home.
Lorazepam is a safe solution for humans and is sometimes recommended for pets in emergencies.
Due to breed differences, there is no guarantee for your dog’s health if Lorazepam is more than the standard Lorazepam dosage by weight dog!
Before embarking on psychological treatment for your furry friend, ensure you do not miss any useful information in our article.
Overview
Thoroughly understanding the information regarding Lorazepam is the key to your four-legged friend’s stress.
Scroll down, and the article will provide all about the safety and uses of this drug.
What Is Lorazepam?
Lorazepam (aka Ativan) is a perfect benzodiazepine product to replace Valium in some cases.
Like Valium, it effectively treats stress syndromes and social phobias, even as an early seizure treatment.
Different from other common benzodiazepine products, this product can resist convulsions longer.
For pets, Ativan is often used for short-term treatment of dogs and cats who experience frequent stress and avoid relapse.
Besides, it is also highly applicable in long-term pet behavior training programs.
Is Lorazepam Safe For Your Dog?
The answer depends on the amount of profound sedation the dog has eaten!
If within the allowable Ativan dog dose, it is safer than other benzodiazepines of the same type because it does not affect the liver.
Although Valium can treat anxiety in pets effectively, Lorazepam is more appropriate for dogs with liver failure.
However, Lorazepam negatively affects the health of pets with severely impaired respiratory function.
In addition, pregnant/ lactating pets are also recommended to stay away from this drug.
Since Lorazepam is not a medicine specifically intended for veterinary use, it would be best to have a thorough discussion for the professional vet’s advice.
What Is Lorazepam Used For?
Lorazepam can very well regulate epileptic, obsessive, or anxious states in both humans and animals.
According to the rules, you can only use canine drugs instead of human medicine.
However, this medicine can also be used as an emergency solution when you do not have any canine medicine at home.
When using this type of product, be careful because your dog will sometimes experience some of the following adverse effects:
- Hunger increased intensely
- Become more aggressive and hyperactive
- Comatose
- Struggling, uncoordinated
In case of overdose, the dog may also have yellow eyes, mucus eyes, loss of appetite, dog vomiting, and even fainting.
If you have given your dog this medicine for a long time, it will have withdrawal symptoms when you suddenly stop using it.
In any case, contact the nearest vet facility for advice before the dog’s condition gets worse.
Lorazepam Dosage By Weight Dog
In treating anxiety and stress, you should adhere to an Ativan dosage of 0.01 – 0.045mg/lb for each use.
Your dog can only drink it three times a day at most, with your veterinarian’s approval. Standard dosing times are about 8-12 hours apart.
If you own a big Great Dane, 1mg of Ativan may not be a big deal. But for a Chihuahua, please take it to a veterinary center immediately.
For example, a 20lb dog can use Lorazepam up to 3 times a day; each Ativan dose for dogs is about 0.5 mg. In case of epilepsy, you should feed it a dose of 1,8mg.
Today’s effective dose of Lorazepam for dogs is 0.02 mg/lb and increases proportionally with heavier dogs.
If your dog has difficulty taking the medicine, you can insert it into the dog’s cheek and wait for the treatment to dissolve after about 1 minute.
In treating epilepsy (common or lasting 30 minutes or longer), you should use a Lorazepam dose for dogs of 0.09 mg/lb (equivalent to 0.2 mg/kg).
This medicine must be administered directly by IV/IM or intranasally by your veterinarian. Conventional intra-arterial injections may increase the risk of necrosis, leading to death.
Treating A Dog That Ate Lorazepam By Accident
Dog body weight and medication dosage need to be in a balanced proportion to each other.
If you violate this rule, the dog will suffer the severe consequences of taking the wrong medication.
When you discover that your dog has accidentally ingested Lorazepam, the first thing to do is contact and notify your nearest veterinarian.
It will be fine for a 40 lb dog but a big deal for small grass dogs.
When detection is still early (less than 30 minutes from ingestion), your vet may suggest inducing vomiting.
Give your furry friend about 3% hydroperoxide, using the rule of 1 teaspoon per 100 pounds of your dog’s weight.
Mix it with milk, spread it inside bread, or put it directly into your dog’s mouth.
Don’t worry when your dog suddenly becomes tired and vomits after 10 minutes. If nothing happens after 15 minutes, try giving it a second Ativan dosage for dogs.
Finally, transfer it to a vet facility for a general examination and monitoring for potential neurological symptoms.
FAQs
What Are The Potential Side Effects Of Lorazepam?
Medication without following the doctor’s instructions can cause unwanted adverse effects, including Lorazepam.
After use, you should go to the nearest hospital as soon as the following problems appear:
- Fatigue, dizziness, loss of balance and drowsiness
- Nausea, change in appetite, and diarrhea/constipation
- Becoming more restless or out of control
- Trembling, difficulty walking
- Rash, itching, hive
- Shortness of breath, wheezing
- Unstable heart rate
- Yellow eyes and skin
What Is The Ativan Dosage for Dogs?
Ativan should only be used on pets when directed and prescribed by your vet. Typically, your dog will receive 0.01 – 0.45 mg/lb of Ativan.
The maximum daily dose for this medicine is 3 times with at least 8-12 hours apart.
You can adjust a larger dosage for larger dogs but not violate the formula above. If overdosed, dogs risk serious damage to their health and life.
What To Do If Your Dog Passed The Lorazepam Dosage For Dogs?
A dog that overdoses on Ativan needs to be stimulated to vomit immediately.
If the ideal stimulation time has passed (less than 30 minutes from taking the medicine) or inducing vomiting does not work, it is best to take your four-legged friend to the nearest vet facility to seek help.
Can Dogs Take Ativan For Anxiety? Is It Safe?
With your veterinarian’s permission, you can give your pet Ativan as a treatment for respiratory depression.
However, its safety depends on the dosage of medication used and the dog’s weight.
If these 2 subjects are not proportional to each other, persistent treatment with Ativan can even bring a serious risk of sedation to your dog.
Some Last Words
Dogs should never take human medications except in emergencies and with the approval of a veterinarian.
Dogs with neurological disorders should follow the Lorazepam dosage by weight dog in your vet’s prescription medication.
But if your dog is unfortunate enough to ingest Ativan, you must stimulate it to vomit and monitor it closely to detect unwanted negative effects promptly. Good luck!
