Cataract after Insulin in dogs

The FDA has received 218 reports of cataract in dogs after Insulin. That is 3.0% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.1% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

218Reports

52%Marked serious

33%Recovered

9.2%Died or euthanised

43 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

9 7.0%

1–2 days

5 3.9%

3–7 days

10 7.8%

1–4 weeks

25 20%

Over a month

79 62%

How the animals did

Recovered

7 3.2%

Recovered with lasting effects

64 29%

Still unwell when reported

42 19%

Died

5 2.3%

Euthanised

15 6.9%

Not known

85 39%

Problems reported at the same time

Eye or vision problems

103 47%

Didn't work as expected

88 40%

51 23%

26 12%

25 11%

25 11%

21 9.6%

21 9.6%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

117

12+ years

About this medicine

Insulin treats diabetes.

Questions owners ask

Can Insulin cause cataract in dogs?: 218 reports link the two, but a report alone does not prove the medicine was the cause: other illnesses, other medicines or coincidence can be involved. Your vet can judge it for your animal.
How soon after a dose was it reported?: In half of the reports with dates, it started within 43 days of the first dose.
What should I do?: Don't give another dose until you've spoken to your vet, and keep the packaging so you can tell them the product and dose. Your vet can also report it to the FDA (or you can, through the manufacturer or FDA form 1932a).

Cataract with similar medicines

Cataract after Trilostane (Vetoryl) 82 reports · 0.7% of its reports

All reported side effects of Insulin in dogs · Medicines most reported with cataract