Please be careful if you drop a suspension insulin (like one of the PZIs, Vetsulin, or Humulin/Novolin N) and the vial doesn't break. I heard this morning from a friend. A person caregiving a diabetic dog dropped the dog's insulin vial and didn't realize that the seal had cracked and a large portion of the suspension liquid had leaked out.
The caregiver then shot a super-concentrated dose of insulin into the dog. Because of this, the dog received a massive over-dose of the insulin and went comatose. It took over 24 hours for all of the insulin to clear the dog's system. The dog dropped down into the low 20s repeatedly even on a dextrose drip at the ER and required multiple dextrose boluses.
This makes so much sense for an insulin in a suspension. Without the proper volume of suspension, the insulin can become extremely concentrated. If you drop a vial of suspension insulin and even if it doesn't break, please check it very very carefully for damage, and replace it if needed. Less expensive to replace a vial than to take a pet to an ER for a an insulin overdose. ~Venita
The caregiver then shot a super-concentrated dose of insulin into the dog. Because of this, the dog received a massive over-dose of the insulin and went comatose. It took over 24 hours for all of the insulin to clear the dog's system. The dog dropped down into the low 20s repeatedly even on a dextrose drip at the ER and required multiple dextrose boluses.
This makes so much sense for an insulin in a suspension. Without the proper volume of suspension, the insulin can become extremely concentrated. If you drop a vial of suspension insulin and even if it doesn't break, please check it very very carefully for damage, and replace it if needed. Less expensive to replace a vial than to take a pet to an ER for a an insulin overdose. ~Venita
