Thank you for responding. I want to get the right meds for him before I reorder this week.

I am sorry to hear about your dog, Fred’s Vetsulin problems and glad to help.

Walmart offers Humulin-N for $54.00 a bottle. Walmart also offers a generic version of Humulin-N for $20-$24.00 dollars a bottle. Based on using Walmart’s generic brand of DNA Based Insulin, for several other diabetic dogs that were also on Vetsulin, it works just fine.We have re-regulated these dogs in 3 to 5 days with no problems at all. Certainly either brand of Insulin would be fine for your dog.

Spending $200.00 dollars a bottle for Lantus Insulin is not necessary.
Lantus Insulin offers no benefits or your dog at all over Humulin, NPH or Walmart’s generic ($20.00 a bottle) brand of Humulin Insulin, called Novalin.

Regarding diet for diabetic dogs, Hills W/D is mostly corn and aside from all the preservatives and chemicals that are less than ideal for any dog, it does not offer much “real” nutrition at all. The thought process behind diabetic pets eating Hills W/D is “added fiber” which diabetic pet owners can easily achieve by offering and adding fresh vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, string beans, peas, etc to their pets meals. I have had success with my diabetic dog patients using a home made diet and/or switching them over to an organic dog food like Newman’s Own Organics, available at Whole Food Markets.

I am glad to discuss this with you. Feel free to contact our office toll free at 1-866-372-2765.

Best Wishes
Dr Carol

Since December, “Fred” has been on people insulin called Lantus. His level really hasn’t lowered and it is costing me $200 a bottle because of no insurance for my dog. Why did my vet prescribed Lantus when he has said it is for people and never been tested on dogs? Anyone having problems? I’m trying to educate the difference to persuade my vet for a cheaper insulin that I know is out there for pets.

Finally, anyone having problems with Hills W/D food? My dog eat twice as much and very little energy. I switched him to a low carbohydrates and high protein dog food called EVO. Sugar level about the same but eats half and a lot more active! Anyone use another dog food?

I understand your frustration and agree that the Vetsulin was responsible for Benny’s problems.
To join the Vetsulin Class Action Law Suit, call 419-255-5990.

You certainly should be able to enjoy many more good years with Benny and if I can help you with him, his diet, medical issues etc
please feel free to call my office toll free at 1-866-372-2765.

Best Wishes
Dr Carol

To the point that we took him to a eye specialist in Virginia, a mere 10 hour car ride, to save what cataract and glaucoma had left damaged in both of his eyes. Only to learn that within only two months the damage already was irreparable.

After this our main goal became just to keep Benny comfortable and pain free. However, we were struggling with keeping his glucose levels stable. As a 23 pounds dog we started with 6 units twice a day, soon to be increased to 8 units and just in Dec increased to 10 units.

With all the information now surfacing about potentially contaminated Vetsulin, which does not perform as specified, I cannot help but drawing my own conclusion in connecting Benny’s deterioration in health to a defective Vetsulin.

Dr. Carol, maybe you have some insights for us on this.

Not that the supply of Vetsulin runs out we are forced to switch him to human insulin and we contacted Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health asking at least for coverage of the cost to switch. The response I received was devastating: I was asked if we “had a problem with Vetsulin” and that they won’t cover such costs of change.

When I asked them to address the concerns about a contaminated product that may have caused greater damage that just having to switch to human insulin the response I received was nothing but denial. They insisted that there is no recall, which I’m stunned how under FDA rules they can get away without. They admit on their website Vetsulin “to be out of specification in regards to the long term stability of the crystalline” which I understand should stabilize the glucose levels.

To cut a long story short: now that more info is available which fits into what we had to experience with Benny and being shown attitude when contacting Intervet/Schering-Plough I have no reservation to join the class-action lawsuit anymore.

I sure hope we can have many more years with Benny and I’m sorry that I was not able to protect him from this.

I want to express my sympathy and understanding to you and am truly sorry for your loss.

If I can help or you just need to talk please let me know.

To join the Vetsulin Class Action Law Suit call 419-255-5990

God Bless
Dr Carol

W/the new refills of Vetsulin, Moose began showing showing some signs of thirst, disorientation, incontinence, increased urination, weakness, unsteadiness & fatigue; but I attributed this to his age (14?): he died unexpectedly 10/30/09. The ASPCA newsletter 11/6/09, alerted me (all dog/cat owners) to the Vetsulin instability problem. It has since been removed from the market.

I believe his death was due to the current batch of Vetsulin (A170A01, exp 12/10) that I was giving Moose. I reported the lots to Schering Intervet (not very sympathetic- “Well, he was an old dog”,) & FDA & called my vet office to report the death & return the remaining vials.

We miss Moose terribly. SP Intervet has sent me a ‘will not sue’ waiver letter; I will not sign this. I would like to participate in the class action.

W/the new refills of Vetsulin, Moose began showing showing some signs of thirst, disorientation, incontinence, increased urination, weakness, unsteadiness & fatigue; but I attributed this to his age (14?): he died unexpectedly 10/30/09. The ASPCA newsletter 11/6/09, alerted me (all dog/cat owners) to the Vetsulin instability problem. It has since been removed from the market.

I believe his death was due to the current batch of Vetsulin (A170A01, exp 12/10) that I was giving Moose. I reported the lots to Schering Intervet (not very sympathetic- “Well, he was an old dog”,) & FDA & called my vet office to report the death & return the remaining vials.

We miss Moose terribly. SP Intervet has sent me a ‘will not sue’ waiver letter; I will not sign this. I would like to participate in the class action.