Vetsulin Insulin for Dogs

Administer insulin injections carefully

Diabetes, also known as hyperglycemia, is a condition that causes high blood sugar. A dog with diabetes needs help regulating its blood sugar. There are two types of diabetes. Type I diabetes, which is the most common type in dogs, is the result of the body not producing enough insulin to help move blood sugar from the blood into the body's cells. Insulin injections are one way to control this type of diabetes; diet and exercise can also help keep canine diabetes under control.

Vetsulin

Vetsulin is a prescription, pork-derived insulin injection used to regulate a diabetic dog's insulin levels. It is produced by the company Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health. Inject Vetsulin with a syringe made for insulin injections. U-40 syringes are recommended. Injections are given under the skin and should not be put in the same site each day; ask your veterinarian to show you how to give insulin injections. Vetsulin should be given after the dog has eaten. Store Vetsulin carefully, upright in a refrigerator that is between 36 and 46 degrees Fahrenheit.

Dosage

The amount of insulin to be administered will depend on the dog's weight, blood sugar levels and diet. The dog should have regular blood sugar level tests, and, as a result, you may need to alter her insulin dosage frequently. It is very important to consult with your veterinarian in order to determine the best dose for your dog. It is possible for an overdose to occur, and hypoglycemia---or low blood sugar---may result, which can be very dangerous.

Precautions

Since Vetsulin is derived from pork, do not administer it to dogs that have a pork allergy. Do not give insulin to a dog that is on other medications without first checking with a veterinarian, as it may interact with certain medications. If the dog has a change in appetite, becomes fatigued, vomits or displays any symptoms that are out of the ordinary, use this product with caution and consult your veterinarian.

FDA Alert

In November of 2009, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an alert on Vetsulin. It was found that Vetsulin could contain varied amounts of the crystalline zinc insulin, which is part of its formula and can cause delays in the action of the insulin, or prolong the length of the time the insulin is active. As a result of this instability, the FDA recommended that veterinarians carefully monitor animals on Vetsulin for signs of high or low blood sugar, and consider making a transition to a different type of insulin. While the product has not been recalled, supplies will eventually run out, and the company recommends transitioning to a new type of insulin and not starting any new patients on the drug.

Critical Need Patients

In May of 2010, the FDA announced that dogs and cats in critical need of Vetsulin can be offered the insulin through a special program via the Intervet/ Schering-Plough Animal Health company. The Vetsulin supply should only be given to animals that must be given Vetsulin in order to control their diabetes and that cannot be given a different type of insulin. Vetsulin supplies will only be given out with a veterinarian recommendation through this program.

References

• PetPlace.com: Insulin
• AnimalShelter.org: Vetsulin Dog Insulin Information
• Vetinfo: Managing Dog Diabetes With Vetsulin
• Vetsulin: Vetsulin Alert -- Frequently Asked Questions
• FDA: FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine Alerts Veterinarians About Problems with Vetsulin to Treat Diabetes in Dogs and Cats