Dogs: Vetsulin dosing and administration

Problems with regulation

In cases of poor glycemic control, a blood glucose curve should be created and every effort made to rule out other concurrent or underlying disorders.

  • Discuss the daily routine - are injections and meals correctly timed? See Feeding schedule.
  • Ask for a breakdown of exactly what the pet eats - perhaps the pet is receiving too many tidbits or the incorrect diet. See Nutrition.

Factors thought to contribute to a poor response to insulin treatment:

In cases of a poor response to insulin therapy, it is important to rule out these factors first.

Incorrect storage of insulin or poor injection technique:

  • Ask the client to come into your practice with the diabetic pet.
  • Ask the owner to demonstrate the injection technique.
    • Is the correct dose being drawn into the syringe?
    • Is the Vetsulin® (porcine insulin zinc suspension) being correctly injected subcutaneously and not intradermally?
  • Is the Vetsulin being stored and used correctly?
    • Refrigerated at the correct temperature?
    • Stored in an upright position?
    • Refrigerated between doses?

See Proper handling and storage of Vetsulin.

Antibodies

Antibodies may be directed either against the insulin or against other foreign proteins in the preparation. The presence of anti-insulin antibodies is common and does not usually lead to poor regulation. Antibody production is less likely if homologous insulin (same structure) is given, eg, the porcine insulin (in Vetsulin) has a similar structure to canine insulin.