Hair loss after Insulin in dogs

The FDA has received 92 reports of hair loss in dogs after Insulin. That is 1.3% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 1.0% across reports for all dog medicines.

92Reports

35%Marked serious

23%Recovered

6.5%Died or euthanised

20 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

4 8.2%

1–2 days

0 0.0%

3–7 days

8 16%

1–4 weeks

18 37%

Over a month

19 39%

How the animals did

Recovered

15 16%

Recovered with lasting effects

6 6.5%

Still unwell when reported

21 23%

Died

2 2.2%

Euthanised

4 4.3%

Not known

44 48%

Problems reported at the same time

Didn't work as expected

22 24%

Itching

19 21%

Weight loss

9 9.8%

Skin rash or irritation

8 8.7%

8 8.7%

8 8.7%

6 6.5%

6 6.5%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Insulin treats diabetes.

Questions owners ask

Can Insulin cause hair loss in dogs?: 92 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 20 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).

Hair loss with similar medicines

Hair loss after Trilostane (Vetoryl) 380 reports · 3.2% of its reports
Hair loss after Phenylpropanolamine (Proin) 38 reports · 0.9% of its reports
Hair loss after Levothyroxine 108 reports · 3.6% of its reports

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