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What Happens if I Give My Pet Too Much Insulin? Our Vet Tells You What to Do

Written by: Dr. Eric Barchas (Veterinarian)

Last Updated on March 8, 2024 by Catster Editorial Team

white and gray ragdoll cat

What Happens if I Give My Pet Too Much Insulin? Our Vet Tells You What to Do

Insulin is a medication used to treat diabetes in cats and dogs. Diabetes is a disease characterized by high blood sugar. Insulin causes blood sugar to drop.

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Too much insulin can lead to dangerously low blood sugar in your pet. Dogs or cats that receive more than their usual dose of insulin are at risk of a hypoglycemic crisis that can lead in the worst cases to seizures, coma, and death. Anyone who accidentally overdoses his or her pet on insulin should seek veterinary care immediately. The vet will monitor blood sugar and administer intravenous glucose as needed until the medication has worn off.

Different types of insulin have different lengths of duration. Some short-acting insulins wear off in a few hours. Other, longer-lasting insulins such as glargine (Lantus) can last for 12 to 24 hours. This leads to a variation in the length of time an overdosed pet requires in the hospital.

Insulin overdoses can be serious business. Even if your pet seems fine, her blood sugar could be dangerously low. Go straight to the vet.


Featured Photo by Mikhail Vasilyev

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