Excessive thirst after Insulin in dogs

526 reports to the FDA describe excessive thirst in dogs given Insulin. That is 7.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 1.4% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

526Reports

34%Marked serious

14%Recovered

7.4%Died or euthanised

45 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

16 9.1%

1–2 days

14 8.0%

3–7 days

16 9.1%

1–4 weeks

32 18%

Over a month

98 56%

How the animals did

Recovered

61 12%

Recovered with lasting effects

12 2.3%

Still unwell when reported

94 18%

Died

16 3.0%

Euthanised

23 4.4%

Not known

320 61%

Problems reported at the same time

Excessive urination

425 81%

Didn't work as expected

369 70%

222 42%

119 23%

87 17%

63 12%

55 10%

52 9.9%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

289

12+ years

131

About this medicine

Insulin treats diabetes.

Questions owners ask

Can Insulin cause excessive thirst in dogs?: 526 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 45 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).

Excessive thirst with similar medicines

Excessive thirst after Trilostane (Vetoryl) 873 reports · 7.3% of its reports
Excessive thirst after Phenylpropanolamine (Proin) 180 reports · 4.3% of its reports
Excessive thirst after Levothyroxine 179 reports · 5.9% of its reports

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