Question
Are insulin pens an option for dogs?
Sunny, owner notes“I wish my dog lived as long as I do.”Updated
I'm an owner, not a vet. This is not veterinary advice, so check anything medical with your own vet.
Short answer
If the syringe feels fiddly or scary, it's natural to wonder about a pen. Pens are made for some insulins but not all, so a pen isn't always a straight swap. Ask your vet whether there's one that works with your dog's insulin and suits your hands. If you do switch, have the clinic show you how that exact pen works first.
I never give insulin amounts here. Yours comes from your vet's written plan.
What to know at home
Some people simply find one device easier to use than another. If your eyesight, grip or nerves make the syringe hard, tell your vet, because there may be an easier way. A pen still needs storing properly, and you still need to know what to do if a shot goes wrong.
Pens use their own cartridges and pen needles, so only use the pen and cartridge your vet prescribed. If you ever use a vial and syringe instead, check the vial and the syringe show the same U number, every time.
What to write down
- What is difficult with the current device
- The exact prescribed product
- Who else will need training
What to ask next
Ask the clinic to show you on the real pen, then watch you do it yourself before you go home. Ask what needles or supplies it needs. Also ask what to do if you're ever not sure the dose went in, so you're not guessing at night.
Sources
- Which insulins are used for dogs, and how do they differ?Which insulins are used for dogs
- How should insulin be kept at home?How to keep insulin at home
- Which syringe matches my insulin?Matching the device to the insulin
- Should I pull back the plunger, and how fast do I inject?What to do if unsure a shot went in
- Which syringes and needle size should I buy?Choosing syringes and needles
Every outside source I used is listed on the Sources page.
Related
Q&A
We are switching insulin types. What should we expect?
Get the new plan in writing before the first injection of the new insulin.
Q&A
My meter shows a number. What should I do?
Write down the number, the time and how he seems. Your vet is the one to say if it's good or bad.
Q&A
How should insulin be kept at home?
Follow what it says on the box. Keep it in the fridge, never frozen, and never in a hot car.
Urgent help
Emergency or low blood sugar
Call a vet now if your dog is weak, collapsed or having a seizure.