Hypoglycaemia after Insulin in dogs

1,171 reports to the FDA describe hypoglycaemia in dogs given Insulin. That is 16% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.4% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

1,171Reports

70%Marked serious

36%Recovered

8.2%Died or euthanised

34 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

50 12%

1–2 days

16 3.7%

3–7 days

28 6.5%

1–4 weeks

110 25%

Over a month

230 53%

How the animals did

Recovered

325 28%

Recovered with lasting effects

91 7.8%

Still unwell when reported

318 27%

Died

46 3.9%

Euthanised

50 4.3%

Not known

341 29%

Problems reported at the same time

Didn't work as expected

505 43%

204 17%

198 17%

141 12%

121 10%

95 8.1%

77 6.6%

74 6.3%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

193

8–11 years

573

12+ years

352

About this medicine

Insulin treats diabetes.

Questions owners ask

Can Insulin cause hypoglycaemia in dogs?: 1,171 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 34 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).

Hypoglycaemia with similar medicines

Hypoglycaemia after Trilostane (Vetoryl) 147 reports · 1.2% of its reports
Hypoglycaemia after Levothyroxine 23 reports · 0.8% of its reports

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