Reviews of Canine Diabetes Drugs

There are many kinds of medication that you can give to your diabetic dog. Of course, which one you take would depend on your dog’s veterinarian. There are treatments in oral form and there are also intravenous injections.

Below are the most common names in canine diabetes drugs.

1. Vetsulin

Vetsulin is the only veterinary insulin that has been approved by the FDA. This is porcine insulin which differs from human insulin, and is the preferred choice because it has similar protein sequence as that of dogs. Effectiveness lasts for about 14 hours.

This drug is not advisable to use for pets with allergic reactions to pork. Standard dosage is 0.5 unit of insulin/kg of body weight.

Although Vetsulin is very effective in making sure the body gets insulin, it poses a danger against hypoglycaemia, if the dosage given is not accurate. When given too much Vetsulin, or any form of insulin, it will bring about a very low level of glucose which results in the said condition.

2. Glipizide

This drug is taken in the form of a tablet and functions to control glucose level in the blood. It takes its action in the pancreas by stimulating it to produce insulin.

Dosage is 5mg taken twice daily but this may vary depending on the weight of your dog as well as the severity of the condition. The vet should be able to give you the correct dosage. Side effects include vomiting, nausea, confusion, and numbness. As for dangers, studies show Glipizide is not harmful as long as it is given in the proper dosage.

Originally, this drug was made for humans but was found to produce significant effects on animals. It is important that you know however that this drug is not a cure for diabetes but it does help manage the condition. Its efficacy is not as high as injectables either, but this would be a good alternative if the pet is allergic to pork, or if the pet owner is hesitant to administer intravenously.

3. DDAVP

Desmopressin Acetate of DDAVP is the synthetic version of vasopressin which is an antidiuretic hormone. DDAVP is used as treatment for Diabetes Insipidus, specifically Central Diabetes Insipidus, and it also controls excessive urination brought about by this condition.

Dosage is 1-2 drops per nostril or per eye sac, or as determined by the vet. DDAVP is generally safe however prolonged use can cause fluid retention and may also cause eye inflammation.