The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) and Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health are alerting veterinarians and pet owners that Vetsulin®, a porcine insulin zinc suspension used to treat diabetes in animals, may have varying amounts of crystalline zinc insulin in the formulation. Because this Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health product is out of specification it could cause a delay in insulin action and an overall longer duration of insulin activity. Products having significant problems with stability can affect the management of chronic diseases. Unstable insulin products can result in unpredictable fluctuations in the glucose levels of diabetic patients. Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health is unable to assure FDA that each batch of their product is stable.

FDA and Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health request that veterinarians closely monitor their patients receiving Vetsulin® for any changes in onset or duration of activity, or for any signs of hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia. The classic signs of hyperglycemia include increased thirst, increased urination, weight loss and lethargy. The classic signs of hypoglycemia would include disorientation, unsteadiness, weakness, lethargy, and seizures.

I have researched the Veterinary Information Boards and have included a few threads on recommendations of which insulin dogs or cats should be switched to. Please check with your veterinarian to see what you should do.

It is recommended to transition animals currently on Vetsulin to other insulins until this problem is resolved.
posted by Dr. Sherri Wilson ACVIM Small Animal Internal Medicine (1992)
“For CATS, I would change to Glargine (Lantus). As a second choice, try Detemir (Levemir)—some positive initial reports using this—seems to be very similar to Glargine but may work better in some cats. I would avoid PZI, as it is a compounded insulin–so its potency can vary from batch to batch

For DOGS, I would change to NPH as the first choice
- If there is a problem with the NPH taking too long to start working after it is injected, try 70:30 insulin (a mixture of 30% regular insulin and 70% NPH); note that this problem of delayed onset of insulin action can also be due to a post-prandial surge in the glucose levels; that can be addressed by giving insulin 30-45 minutes BEFORE the food is given (if the dog is a reliable eater)
-if there is a problem with too-short of an insulin duration with NPH, then try Glargine or Detemir, but be aware that these sometimes cause no appreciable lowering of glucose levels in some dogs and will be very expensive in large dogs

To clarify: when we change to a different insulin, there is unfortunately no predicting what dose to use for the new insulin. Different insulins have different potencies, so we have to start over (e.g. don’t transfer the same dose that you used for the Vetsulin to the new insulin).

Most endocrinologists recommend starting at 0.25-0.5 units/kg BID for a new insulin. Personally I go with the 0.5 units/kg BID. Then wait at least 1 week to run the first curve and adjust the dose accordingly.

The exception to the above is when we change to Glargine in cats—it can be remarkably more effective in dropping the glucose levels so it is recommended to do a few BG checks during the first few days on it (not complete curves) to make sure we don’t cause acute hypoglycemia.

Sherri Wilson, ACVIM (Internal Medicine)
Seattle, WA

I hope this helps

Debra Garrison, DVM

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As of now, we have not seen swine flu infections in dogs, but their is an influenza virus that can infect dogs. There is a vaccine for the influenza virus recently approved as well as the Bordetella-parainfluenza-adenovirus (kennel-cough) vaccine that we regularly recommend for dogs, especially those that board or go to areas where other dogs frequent, such as grooming, pet stores, dog parks, etc. As of now, there is not a vaccine for the swine flu for dogs or cats, and because of such infrequency of getting the virus, there may be no need in developing one.

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The Houston Zoo also had a new addition born this week. Noah is a new baby Nyla born on October 20. Here is their new video on Noah.

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Halloween has the highest incidence of lost dogs, injuries from car accidents, and accidental poisonings than any other holiday. Halloween also has an elevated number of dog bites to children and people the dog is normally social around. You are responsible for controlling your pet and protecting him from escape or biting the little ghouls and goblins that come knocking at your door.

Costumes can be scary for pets, too. Be careful that your dog won’t be scared or try to attack the stranger in the costume. Some dogs may not recognize some one with a mask or large hat and  it can confuse your pet or  trigger territorial instincts even if they are normally very familiar with that person. My dog Jake, did not like the Monster that swallowed my son and tried his very best to pull the costume off my son. We had to take our son with the coustume in a bag to his friends house to change and go trick or treating. We also tried to put a costume on Jake, and he did not tolerate that well either. Some dogs love it and some dogs loathe it.

If you want to dress up your dog for Halloween, make sure your dog is comfortable at all times. Do not use any costumes that use rubber bands or can constrict circulation or breathing. Be watchful for any toxic paints or dyes. You may want to dress him up a few days earlier to get him used to the idea rather than wait for Halloween when all the excitement is at its highest. Do not leave your pet unattended with the costume on. He may try to chew it off and can choke on it or have it cause an obstruction in his intestinal tract.  If your pet is uncomfortable in any way, get a quick picture, then let him “Trick or Treat” in his “birthday suit”.
Once your child returns with their goody bag, be sure to place the treats far out of reach of your pet. Chocolate is toxic to dogs and pets are known to eat the goodies; wrappers, sticks and all. Also, watch your treat bowl. An unguarded bowl with goodies is tempting to your pet.  Nothing ruins a Halloween festivity than a trip to the animal emergency hospital with a sick pet.
Halloween can be fun for you and your pet with a little planning and safeguarding your pet against escape, injury or poisoning.

Visit MyFavoriteHalloweenStore.com for great costumes for pets and people, as well as decorations, recipes, pumkin carving kits, , treats and more.

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Cancer in the Liver

Pets are living longer now and like their humans, our pets are also getting diseases that are also common in our elderly. Cancer can also affect our pets. Some cancers, such as some forms of leukemia in cats, are caused by a virus, the Feline Leukemia virus. Some cancers may have a genetic or inheritable factor. Boxers tend to have a higher rate of cancer than other breeds of dogs and Golden Retrievers have a higher rate of lymphosarcomas. Some cancers may be due to our environment, insecticides or toxins.
As a pet owner, you may do the very best with your pet by providing the best food, nutritional supplements, preventative care such as heartworm prevention, vaccinations and wellness care, but still, your beloved pet can develop cancer. No one or no pet is immune to the probability, but diligent care and wellness exams can detect some cancers early when they are still treatable. One of the best preventatives is spaying and neutering your pet. In the female, each heat cycle releases the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which then activates the mammary glands. This in turn increases the risk of developing mammary cancer or breast cancer with each heat cycle. The current recommendation is to spay your pet before their first heat cycle or before 6 months of age which will reduce the risk of developing breast cancer to less than .05%. In the male, neutering reduces the hormones and can eliminate the risk of testicular cancer and reduce the risk of prostate and perianal cancers that can develop from the release of testosterone.

Semi-annual physical exams are recommended for pets over 7 years old. Small changes that may be overlooked by you can sometimes be found by your veterinarian. Small lumps and bumps that you may discover on your pet should be brought to your veterinarian’s attention. A simple needle aspirate of the lump can sometimes tell if it is a benign (harmless) tumor, or something more that warrants further investigation. Tumors in your pet’s mouth can also occur and your vet will often examine the mouth during the exam.

Annual blood exams can give a baseline and any change in the blood work from year to year can help identify problems earlier. In some cases, I have had blood work in normal limits and have only found the cancer with radiographs (x-rays) or ultra-sound. Purchasing pet insurance will help defray the costs of diagnostics as your pet ages and can also cover surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy if your pet should develop cancer.

Cancer Metastasis to the Lungs

Because pet insurance will not cover pre-existing problems, it is best to buy the insurance before your pet develops a problem. Some cancers when caught early are curable and many others can be put in remission and extend the life of your pet. Unlike human chemotherapy, pet chemotherapy is aimed at extending their life and making them comfortable, so many of the unpleasant side effects, such as nausea, vomiting and hair loss are avoided.
Supplements containing anti-oxidants may help reduce cancer risks by freeing the body of the free-radicals that occur. Sam-e is another supplement that aids the liver and glucosamine and chondroitin help with joint health. No firm data has established if these supplements truly reduce developing cancer but they do not harm your pet either. Golden Years vitamins are designed for older pets and make an excellent supplement.
Develop a wellness plan with your veterinarian as your pet ages. Some pets can live as long as twenty years of age with a little help from you and your veterinarian.

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