Ozempic for dogs

In this article:

• Is Ozempic safe for dogs?
• Ozempic alternatives for dogs

In this article

• Is Ozempic safe for dogs?
• Ozempic alternatives for dogs

Though doctors use Ozempic to treat Type 2 diabetes and obesity in humans, veterinarians do not currently use Ozempic. This may change, but the effects of Ozempic in dogs have yet to be studied. 

Studies have shown that drugs like Ozempic can reduce blood sugar in dogs with diabetes. Unfortunately, most dogs have Type 1 or “insulin-dependent” diabetes, so Ozempic and other common diabetes drugs are not appropriate therapies. Ozempic is also very expensive and current shortages mean there’s not enough to go around. Some people who need Ozempic can’t get it. 

The standard treatment for diabetes in dogs is dietary changes and insulin treatment. Exercise and weight loss are also critical components. Other drugs are not included in the guidelines.

RELATED: Save up to 80% on Ozempic

Is Ozempic safe for dogs?

Healthcare professionals don’t know if Ozempic is safe for dogs. Its active ingredient, semaglutide, has never been studied in dogs.

However, some clinical studies in dogs have examined drugs similar to those in Ozempic, such as GLP-1 receptor agonists. These studies have involved injecting healthy dogs or diabetic dogs (or both at the same time) with GLP-1 agonists. None of these studies involved semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy (the weight loss version of Ozempic).

These studies have found:

• The effects on blood glucose and insulin resistance were mixed. 
• A drug called liraglutide, which is sold under the brand name Victoza, did show significant effects on blood glucose levels in both healthy and diabetic dogs.
• Ozempic-like drugs were also studied to see if they could improve dogs’ heart muscle damage (cardiomyopathy). These studies showed great promise. Veterinarians may first start using Ozempic-like drugs in dogs with heart problems.
• None of these studies reported serious side effects.

Keep in mind that Ozempic and similar drugs raise the risk of thyroid cancer in humans. The carcinogenic potential of Ozempic-like medications have not been studied in animals. 

Ozempic can also cause pancreatitis in people. This is a rare and reversible side effect, but the condition is excruciatingly painful.

It is never safe to give a dog Ozempic or any other prescription diabetes drug on your own, especially as a shortcut to avoid insulin injections. Talk to a veterinarian. The veterinarian will give you good advice on veterinary medicine about alternative and proven diabetes treatments for dogs.

RELATED: How to manage diabetes in dogs

Side effects of Ozempic in dogs

Healthcare professionals don’t know how Ozempic will affect dogs or what side effects it could cause. They’ve never studied the drug by injecting it into dogs. 

In humans, the most common side effects of Ozempic are digestive system complaints, including:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain

The most serious side effects of Ozempic include:

• The increased risk of thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC)
• Increased risk of a type of cancer called multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
• Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
• Complications of diabetic retina damage
• Kidney damage
• Gallbladder disease

Keep in mind that the effects of Ozempic will differ in dogs. Their bodies work similarly to human bodies, but significant differences exist.

Interactions of Ozempic with other pet meds

Ozempic should only be given to a dog if a veterinarian prescribes it. However, veterinarians do not currently prescribe Ozempic for use in dogs.

Among Ozempic drug interactions, the biggest concern is insulin. The standard treatment for canine diabetes is daily insulin. Finding the right dose that keeps blood sugar under control will take one to three months. In some dogs, it may take six months to achieve glycemic control. Ozempic reduces blood sugar, so it throws off the stability of the insulin dose and raises the risk of life-threatening low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Taking the dog off insulin increases the risk of hyperglycemia. No pet owner should use Ozempic or any other human diabetes drug to avoid insulin shots.

In humans, Ozempic also interferes with many other drugs that are dependent on stomach acid to partly break down the tablet or capsule. Ozempic slows down the stomach’s emptying, so drugs are exposed to stomach acid for a longer time. This destroys some of the medicine, so many oral medications are less effective in people taking Ozempic.

Ozempic alternatives for dogs

The standard treatment for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes in dogs is daily insulin shots, dietary changes, weight loss, and exercise. Oral and injected diabetes drugs are not used in dogs, though some have been studied. 

Owners are expected to administer one or two insulin shots daily at about the same time they feed the dog. Most dogs get two insulin shots per day. Finding the right insulin dose that lowers blood sugar enough without causing low blood sugar usually takes one to three months. Sometimes, it takes longer.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two types of insulin for use in dogs: Vetsulin (porcine insulin zinc suspension) and ProZinc (protamine zinc insulin or PZI). Vetsulin is an intermediate-acting or lente insulin, and ProZinc is a long-acting insulin. Veterinarians may prescribe human insulins instead.

Owners will need to regularly monitor glucose levels in the blood, particularly at the beginning of therapy. They can do this with at-home blood glucose curve (BGC) kits or ask the veterinarian for a continuous blood glucose monitoring system. At-home kits may take a while to master. Continuous blood glucose monitoring systems work for only 14 days. Urine glucose tests are less accurate in dogs than they are in people.

Owners will also need to monitor daily food, water, and urine ketone bodies. They will also need to watch the dog for signs of low blood sugar.

The dog’s diet must change to a twice-daily feeding schedule. Dogs allowed to eat freely throughout the day must transition to a controlled, twice-daily feeding schedule. Veterinary guidelines recommend a well-balanced, high-fiber diet. Each meal should have the same amount of food and calorie count. Some veterinarians may prescribe soluble and insoluble fiber supplements. The dog may initially be put on a reduced-calorie diet to lose weight. Regular exercise is a key component of dietary management of diabetes. 

Dietary and insulin therapies work and can keep the pet alive with a high quality of life for years. Unfortunately, about 25% of companion animals are euthanized on day one. 

Treating a dog with diabetes requires a significant time and financial commitment from pet owners. Pet parents must schedule their days around regular feeding times and insulin injections. When pet owners are away, they will need to arrange for someone else to feed the dog its strict diet and administer injections.

For canine obesity, there are currently no FDA-approved weight loss drugs for dogs. The standard veterinary treatment for canine obesity is dietary changes and exercise.