Can Novolin N be used in dogs?

In this article:

• Novolin N for dogs
• Safety
• Dosage
• Alternatives

In this article

• Novolin N for dogs
• Safety
• Dosage
• Alternatives

Veterinarians treat canine diabetes with longer-acting insulins, including Novolin N, a brand-name insulin made by Novo Nordisk. The generic name is NPH insulin, which can also be purchased under the brand name Humulin N. NPH is one of the two most common insulins prescribed for dogs. It is an intermediate-acting insulin that lasts about four to 10 hours in dogs, so caregivers must inject doses twice daily. They can make injections using a syringe and needle or injector pen. Doses vary based on the dog’s size and response to the drug. They can change at any time during treatment. 

RELATED: Save up to 80% on Novolin N

What is Novolin N used for in dogs?

Veterinarians prescribe Novolin N to control blood glucose levels in diabetic dogs. It’s one of the most commonly used insulins for canine diabetes, often prescribed at the start of treatment. Veterinarians also use Novolin N to treat diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in an emergency.

Canine diabetes 

About 1% of dogs are diagnosed with diabetes at some point in their lives. Most dogs have Type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes, which is the most common form of human diabetes, is rare in dogs. When veterinarians treat either Type 1 or Type 2 canine diabetes, the standard treatment is insulin and dietary changes.

Insulin is a natural hormone that regulates the body’s uptake, use, and storage of vital nutrients, particularly carbohydrates, fats, and sugars. Most importantly, insulin regulates blood sugar levels in the body. Dogs with diabetes are unable to remove blood sugar, which then damages blood vessels and, eventually, major organs. 

Unlike in people, veterinarians only use longer-acting insulins in dogs to provide continuous blood sugar control throughout the day and after meals. They also only use rapid-acting or regular insulin when treating dogs hospitalized for high blood sugar (hyperglycemia).

Longer-acting insulins are classified as either intermediate-acting insulins or long-acting insulins. From a caregiver’s perspective, the difference is between giving two injections daily and one. Although giving one injection is more convenient, veterinarians most commonly start with one of two intermediate-acting insulins: porcine insulin or NPH insulin.

The most common starting treatment is porcine insulin (pork lente insulin) harvested from pigs. Though no longer FDA-approved for use in people in the USA, it’s an insulin of choice in dogs because it is identical to canine insulin. 

The second most common choice is NPH insulin, a human insulin. NPH stands for “Neutral Protamine Hagedorn.” Also called isophane insulin, it is a drug of choice at the start of canine diabetes treatment. 

Caregivers will need to give two subcutaneous injections daily. Doses will vary depending on the dog’s weight and responsiveness to the medicine. At the start of treatment, doses will change regularly. Because of changes in the dog’s weight, health, and activity level, caregivers can expect doses to change even after the most effective dose is reached.

Is Novolin N safe for dogs?

Novolin N is one of the most commonly used insulins in dogs. Because insulin is both natural and essential to life, there are no dogs that can’t receive insulin shots. The only time insulin is dangerous is if a dog has low blood sugar.

Some dogs may have problems with specific types of insulin, like Novolin N. In particular, it may become less effective over time. In those cases, veterinarians will switch to a different type of insulin.

Side effects of Novolin N in dogs

The most common side effects of Novolin N are:

• Hypoglycemia
• Injection site reactions
• Insulin-induced hyperglycemia
• Insulin resistance

Hypoglycemia and insulin-induced hyperglycemia are serious and even life-threatening side effects. Pet caregivers need to be aware of the possible signs of high or low blood sugar, immediately take a glucose reading, and then call a veterinarian or go to a veterinary hospital.

The clinical signs of hypoglycemia often occur when the insulin hits its peak effects after injection. These signs include:

• Sleepiness
• Lethargy
• Unresponsiveness
• Seizures
• Loss of consciousness

Signs of hyperglycemia in a dog include:

• Drinking a lot of water
• Urinating more than usual
• Excessive hunger
• Depression

Interactions of Novolin N with other pet meds

Insulin has some possible drug interactions, particularly with:

• Blood pressure and heart medications called beta blockers or calcium channel blockers
• Blood pressure medications called ACE inhibitors
• Sulfa drugs
• Corticosteroids
• Drugs that make dogs pee (diuretics)
• Thyroid hormones

Novolin N dosage for dogs

The standard Novalin N dosage for dogs is 0.25–0.5 units of insulin per kilogram of body weight injected twice daily. 

It will take several weeks to get the dose completely correct. The veterinarian may need to keep the dog in the clinic or hospital for 12 hours to monitor blood sugar and make sure the initial dose is correct, a procedure called a “blood glucose curve.” Doses may change over the course of treatment, but dose changes are spaced one or two weeks apart.

Can dogs overdose on Novolin N?

Not only can dogs overdose on insulin, but an overdose can be fatal. Always dose the dog as instructed. Do not increase the dose or give another dose unless specifically instructed by the veterinarian.

Giving a dog too much insulin will cause hypoglycemia, a potentially life-threatening condition. If a dog has received too much insulin or shows signs of hypoglycemia, caregivers must immediately test blood sugar levels and then call the veterinarian or take the dog to an emergency veterinary clinic.

Dogs with low blood sugar are typically sleepy, tired, and listless. More severe hypoglycemia may make the dog unresponsive, suffer seizures, lose consciousness, or fall into a coma.

Can I give my dog Novolin N every day?

Novolin N is a twice-daily insulin injection essential to the dog’s health and survival. Do not miss doses. 

Your dog will be on insulin therapy for the rest of its life. Novolin N is safe and effective in dogs, but you should report any problems or side effects to the veterinarian.

The dog may develop resistance to NPH insulin and start showing signs of hyperglycemia. Report this to the veterinarian so that a different insulin formulation can be prescribed.

How to give your dog Novolin N

Caring for a diabetic dog requires dedication. It’s important to consistently give insulin doses and feed the dog a diabetes-restricted diet twice a day. 

Caregivers must give Novolin N doses twice daily with a meal. They can use a syringe and needle or a pen injector.

Insulin treatment requires some getting used to, but here are a few general tips:

• Follow all the instructions given by the prescriber for giving injections, feeding the dog, and caring for the dog throughout the day.
• Do not give the dog more insulin than prescribed or more often than prescribed. If the dog shows signs of high blood sugar, test it and call the veterinarian for advice.
• Feed the dog exactly as instructed. 
• Novolin N injections must be given at a dog’s mealtime. 
  • Insulin should be injected after a dog has eaten a meal. 
  • However, a veterinarian may ask caregivers to give a Novolin N injection before a meal, which increases the drug’s duration of action.
• Do not miss doses or stop giving the dog insulin until talking to a veterinarian.
• When giving injections, caregivers can choose to use a 10 mL vial (1,000 units of insulin) with an insulin syringe or a 3 mL pen injector (300 units of insulin). 
• Before starting:
  • A veterinarian or veterinary technician will demonstrate how to prepare the medicine, draw the medicine into a syringe, and give injections.
  • Only use areas on the body that the veterinarian has told you to use. 
  • Switch injection sites with each injection. 
  • Follow the veterinarian’s instructions about using alcohol swabs to prepare the skin. Some veterinarians may advise against it.
  • Ask the veterinarian about whether you should pinch or stretch the skin when making an injection. It’s usually not required.
  • Make sure you understand all the directions.
• How to store insulin:
  • Novolin N will come in a small bottle or as an injector pen.
  • Unopened Novolin N vials or pen cartons should be stored in the refrigerator. Do not freeze
  • When the vial or pen injector has been used, it should be stored at room temperature. The veterinarian may ask you to keep storing it in the refrigerator.
  • Do not expose the medicine to direct light or heat. 
• How to administer an injection using a syringe and needle:
  • Examine the vial. Make sure it’s the correct insulin. Check the medicine to make sure it has a milky suspension.
  • If the medicine appears lumpy or grainy, do not use it.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water.
  • Gently roll the vial between your hands. Do not shake the vial.
  • Attach a needle to the syringe. Use only U-100 needles.
  • Pull back on the plunger until the black tip of the plunger lines up with the prescribed units.
  • Insert the needle into the vial through the rubber stopper.
  • Push down on the plunger to expel the air into the vial.
  • Turn the vial upside down with the needle and syringe inserted.
  • Pull the plunger back until it’s a few units above the prescribed dose.
  • Tap the syringe to expel any air bubbles.
  • Slowly push the plunger until the black tip lines up with the correct dose.
  • Pull the syringe out.
  • Inject the medicine into the skin in a body area indicated by the veterinarian.
  • Dispose of the needle and syringe in a sharps container.
• How to administer an injection using a pen injector:
  • Carefully read and follow the instructions for use that come with the package.
  • Always wash your hands with soap and water first.
  • Examine the pen injector, medicine, and dose counter. To give an injection, there must be at least 12 units left in the pen. If there are fewer, throw away the pen and start a new one.
  • To mix the suspension, hold the pen in one hand and gently bend your elbow so that the pen is pointing up. Do this gently 20 times the first time the pen is used and 10 times for each subsequent dose. Never shake the pen.
  • Always use a new needle to give an injection. Only use NovoFine, NovoFine Plus, or NovoTwist needles.
  • Select the dose using the dose selector. 
  • Insert the needle into the dog’s skin.
  • Push down the dosing button until the dose selector reads “0.”
  • Hold the button down for six seconds.
  • With the dose button still pressed down, remove the needle from the dog’s skin.
  • Remove the needle and dispose of it in a sharps container.

• What to do about a missed dose:

• • Ask the veterinarian what to do in case of a missed dose.
  • If an injection seems to have failed to deliver a full dose, do not give the dog another dose. Give the next injection as scheduled.

Novolin N alternatives for dogs

If Novolin N causes problems or becomes ineffective, veterinarians will prescribe other types of insulin products. Treatment options include:

• Pork lente insulin (Vetsulin)
• PZI (protamine zinc insulin) (ProZinc)
• Insulin glargine (Lantus)
• Insulin detemir (Levemir)

Summary

Novolin N is a human intermediate-acting insulin commonly prescribed to diabetic dogs. It is a safe, effective, and long-term treatment. Caregivers must inject the dose twice daily during a meal. Do not miss doses.