Otitis externa after Insulin in dogs

The FDA has received 33 reports of otitis externa in dogs after Insulin. That is 0.4% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.2% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

33Reports

58%Marked serious

42%Recovered

6.1%Died or euthanised

13 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

2 11%

1–2 days

1 5.3%

3–7 days

4 21%

1–4 weeks

3 16%

Over a month

9 47%

How the animals did

Recovered

11 33%

Recovered with lasting effects

3 9.1%

Still unwell when reported

13 39%

Euthanised

2 6.1%

Not known

4 12%

Problems reported at the same time

Didn't work as expected

11 33%

Loss of appetite

4 12%

Liver problems

3 9.1%

Horner's syndrome

3 9.1%

Head tilt - ear disorder

3 9.1%

Lethargy

2 6.1%

Death

2 6.1%

Anisocoria

2 6.1%

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 otitis externa in dogs?: 33 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 13 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).

Otitis externa with similar medicines

Otitis externa after Trilostane (Vetoryl) 28 reports · 0.2% of its reports
Otitis externa after Levothyroxine 24 reports · 0.8% of its reports

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