Midazolam (Versed) should not be used as a sole agent to sedate a stable dog.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only for short procedures
• D. It should always be used with another sedative

Answer: (A)

Midazolam as a single agent does not reliably produce adequate sedation in a stable dog. It provides anxiolysis and muscle relaxation, but the sedation depth is often mild and unpredictable, and some dogs may even become more agitated. It also offers little to no analgesia, so relying on it alone for premedication or restraint can fail to calm or immobilize the patient for a procedure. For this reason, it’s typically used as part of a multi-drug plan, paired with another sedative or analgesic (such as an opioid or a different sedative like an alpha-2 agonist), to achieve more reliable sedation and comfort. Monitoring is essential when combining drugs due to potential additive respiratory or cardiovascular effects. Hence, the statement is true.