? Can I use Expired ProZinc if that's all I have

Discussion in 'Prozinc / PZI' started by Kathy4Lewie, Jun 9, 2021.

  1. Kathy4Lewie

    Kathy4Lewie Member

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2018
    Hi All,

    My username is Kathy4Lewie, but this post is about Skipper who was just diagnosed. A new bottle of ProZinc won't arrive until Friday or Saturday. Skipper's reading at the vet yesterday was 449. I have an old opened bottle of ProZinc that's been in the refrigerator with an expiration date of May 2020. So it's a year old. It's milky white color (like skim milk). Is it still good enough at least a little bit to give Skipper some relief until the new bottle arrives?

    Thanks in advance,
    Kathy
     
  2. Sarah&Soph

    Sarah&Soph Member

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2019
    Did the vet mention if Skipper had ketones? If not, I think I would be inclined to just wait the few days for the new bottle if it were me. A bottle that old likely won’t be as effective as a new one which isn’t such a huge issue, but I’m not sure if there’s a risk of contamination or not with it being old and already opened
     
  3. Kathy4Lewie

    Kathy4Lewie Member

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2018
    Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. The risk of contamination is scary.

    I called the clinic to ask about the ketones and it took some time to talk to a veterinarian.

    I read online that ketones also show up in the blood, but I guess you're talking about a urine test?

    The vet said a urinalysis wasn't performed to check for ketones, so he wants me to bring Skipper back to the clinic tomorrow. So it's a good thing I haven't given an insulin shot with the old insulin. What I have done is switched him to a lower carb canned food so hopefully, he's feeling a little better.

    Please let me know if the ketone test is by urinalysis.

    Thanks,
    Kathy
     
  4. Sarah&Soph

    Sarah&Soph Member

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2019
    There may be little to no risk of contamination, I am not sure though!

    Very surprising they did not check for ketones! Ketones can be checked by a blood test, but you need a special meter to do it. They can also be checked in the urine, which can be done by your vet but you can also do it at home. You can buy urine strips that will detect ketones
     
    Last edited: Jun 10, 2021
  5. Kathy4Lewie

    Kathy4Lewie Member

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2018
    When I talked to the vet, I had a PubMed article open that was talking about measuring ketones by the blood. The vet said it was only by urinalysis. I was confused but now I think he meant that that's the only way they can test for ketones. I've since read about glucose/ketone meters. Thanks for telling me about the strips since they will be much cheaper. I guess I'd better take Skipper into the clinic tomorrow anyway since I told the vet I would. After that, I'll buy the ketone strips.
     
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  6. Sarah&Soph

    Sarah&Soph Member

    Joined:
    Jun 18, 2019
    You can get them at Walmart or any other pharmacy :cat:
     
  7. Deb & Wink

    Deb & Wink Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2013
    I wouldn’t trust a bottle of insulin that is that old. A year is way too old to have any good outcome in managing the blood glucose levels with Prozinc insulin, or any insulin for that matter.

    Insulin degrades with time especially something like Prozinc insulin. Even if the insulin is still cloudy it doesn’t mean it’s good though. The molecules of the insulin break down and just are not effective after a long period of time.

    Please refer to the sticky at the top of this Prozinc ISG forum. The one on Insulin care and syringe info.
     
  8. Kathy4Lewie

    Kathy4Lewie Member

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2018
    I understand that the old insulin wouldn't be very effective, if at all. I was just trying to give him some relief until the new bottle arrives.
     
    Deb & Wink and Sarah&Soph like this.

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