How to administer Vetsulin

How to give Vetsulin® (porcine insulin zinc suspension) to your cat

Doses of insulin are measured in units. 40 IU/mL insulin contains 40 International Units [IU] per milliliter [mL] (1 mL = 1 cc). Use Vetsulin with U-40 syringes only—these are designed specifically for use in animals. Using a syringe other than a U-40 syringe, such as a U-100 syringe designed for use in people that you purchase from your own pharmacy, will result in incorrect dosing. This could be dangerous for your cat!

Your veterinarian will prescribe Vetsulin, determine the amount of insulin needed, instruct you on proper storage and handling, and show you how to draw the insulin from the bottle and administer the injection. Once you can do this correctly─it’s a pretty simple process─your veterinarian will give you everything you need to care for your cat at home.

Preparing the dose

  • Wash your hands.
  • Take the Vetsulin bottle out of the refrigerator and gently roll (do not shake) the bottle between your hands. This mixes and warms the insulin.
  • Carefully remove the cap from the needle.
  • Using a U-40 insulin syringe from your veterinarian, pull the plunger back to draw air into the syringe equal to the size of the Vetsulin dose.
  • Insert the syringe into the bottle and inject the air into the bottle.
  • Turn the bottle and syringe upside down.
  • Making sure the tip of the needle is in the Vetsulin, pull the plunger back to withdraw the correct dose amount into the syringe (common dose sizes are marked on the syringe).
  • Before removing the needle from the bottle, check the syringe for any air bubbles. If bubbles are present, hold the syringe straight up and tap its side until the bubbles float to the top. Push them out with the plunger and withdraw the correct amount of Vetsulin.
  • Remove the needle from the bottle, being careful to not inject yourself!

Giving the injection

  • Injections should be administered just under your cat’s skin about 1 to 2 inches off the midline of the spine. Vary the injection location from behind the shoulder blade to just in front of the hipbone.
  • The injection sites should be alternated between the cat’s left and right sides to ensure greater long-term comfort and to reduce the risk of your cat developing thickened skin from scar tissue formation.
  • If necessary, ask someone to gently help hold your cat.
  • Hold the syringe in the hand you usually use. For safety and to keep from losing any of the insulin, keep your finger off the plunger until the needle is under the skin.
  • Using your free hand, pinch up a fold of skin (a), insert the needle into the center of the fold (b) as instructed by your veterinarian, and push the plunger in as far as it will go (c).
  • Pull the needle out—be careful not to inject yourself!
  • Throw away the syringe in a sharps/biohazard disposal container.

(a)

 

(b)

 

(c)

Administration sheet

Downloadable Vetsulin administration sheet for cat owners