Insulin therapy

Diabetes mellitus is caused by a lack of available insulin. Your diabetic dog’s insulin level must be restored with daily insulin injections.

Caninsulin is a lente insulin preparation used for the treatment of diabetic dogs. It is extracted from the pancreas of pigs. Porcine insulin has exactly the same structure as canine insulin.

Looking after your diabetic dog’s insulin

Insulin is a fragile substance. Incorrect storage and use of insulin may mean that it does not have the proper effect.

• Insulin must always be kept in the fridge – only remove it when drawing up an injection.
• Insulin must not be frozen – freezing destroys insulin.
• Always store the insulin in an upright position – this helps to avoid excessive crystallisation around the vial cap.
• Gently invert the vial ten or so times before use to re-suspend (correctly mix) the insulin.

For complete intructions on injecting insulin see:

• Injection technique - Step-by-step description of giving an insulin injection.
• Videos
  1. Injecting your dog - Part 1
  2. Injecting your dog - Part 2