Development of Insulin for Pet Use
Diabetes mellitus is a prevalent endocrine disease in dogs and cats, with an incidence of 1/300. It is recommended to use Insulin for canine and feline diabetes management.
The AAHA guidelines state that a number of insulin medicines, such as Vetsulin, ProZinc, Caninsulin, VetPen, Lantus, Humulin, Levemir, Novolin, NovoLog, and Humalog, are frequently used in pets. The FDA has approved only two types of insulin: Vetsulin (porcine zinc insulin) and ProZinc (recombinant human insulin). The other insulins are administered off-label to cats and dogs.
Insulins Recommended for Dog Use
Because dog and pork insulins contain the same molecule, porcine-based insulins such as Vetsulin are often approved for use in newly diabetic dogs. Other insulins, such as Humulin or Novolin, are also routinely used in dogs (off-label).
Insulins Recommended for Cat Use
The molecules of cat and bovine (cow) insulin are more comparable. Since both glargine insulin (Lantus, recombinant) and protamine zinc insulin (ProZinc, recombinant) are derived from bovine insulin, using either of them in cats to induce diabetes remission is advised.
Insulins Commonly Used in Dogs and Cats
Duration of action
|
Product
|
Brand Name
|
Veterinary FDA Approval Status
|
Manufacturer
|
Intermediate-acting
|
Porcine zinc insulin suspension
|
Vetsulin
|
Approved in Dogs and cats
|
Merck Animal Health
|
long-acting
|
Recombinant human insulin, Protamine zinc insulin
|
ProZinc
|
Approved in Dogs and cats
|
Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health
|
long-acting
|
Recombinant human insulin, Glargin
|
Lantus
|
Not approved
|
Sanofi
|
long-acting
|
Recombinant human insulin, Detemir
|
Levemir
|
Not approved
|
Novo Nordisk
|
Intermediate-acting
|
Recombinant human insulin, Neutral Protamine Hagedorn
|
Novolin
|
Not approved
|
Novo Nordisk
|
Intermediate-acting
|
Recombinant human insulin
|
Humulin
|
Not approved
|
Lilly
|
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Reference:
[1] AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. 2022 Update.