Keratoconjunctivitis sicca after Insulin in dogs

30 reports to the FDA describe keratoconjunctivitis sicca in dogs given Insulin. That is 0.4% 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.

30Reports

53%Marked serious

37%Recovered

10%Died or euthanised

75 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

0 0.0%

1–2 days

1 7.1%

3–7 days

1 7.1%

1–4 weeks

3 21%

Over a month

9 64%

How the animals did

Recovered with lasting effects

11 37%

Still unwell when reported

9 30%

Died

1 3.3%

Euthanised

2 6.7%

Not known

7 23%

Problems reported at the same time

Didn't work as expected

12 40%

Ocular discharge

8 27%

Cataract

7 23%

Eye or vision problems

6 20%

4 13%

4 13%

4 13%

3 10%

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 keratoconjunctivitis sicca in dogs?: 30 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 75 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).

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