Metabolism of diazepam in dogs: Transformation to oxazepam

On administration to dogs, diazepam is demethylated at the 1-nitrogen and through a novel metabolic pathway is hydroxylated at the 3-carbon of the seven-membered ring. The unhydroxylated demethylation product is excreted in the free form and the 3-hydroxy derivatives are excreted as the glucuronides. No unchanged drug can be detected in the urine. The major metabolite is oxazepam glucuronide.