Octreotide: veterinary dose and monograph

At a glance

Drug class

Veterinary drug

Also known as

Sandostatin, Octride, Somatostatin analogue

Species with doses

Dogs, Cats and Ferrets

Routes

SC

Last reviewed

1 October 2026

Indications

• Insulinoma — control of refractory hypoglycaemia (suppresses insulin secretion)
• Sulfonylurea-overdose hypoglycaemia (blunts insulin release)
• Gastrinoma / other functional neuroendocrine tumours (reduce hormone secretion)
• Severe secretory diarrhoea; GI/variceal bleeding (reduce splanchnic flow/secretion)

Octreotide dose by species

Doses are per administration unless stated. mg/kg doses scale with body weight; per-animal, per-quarter and infusion-rate doses are shown as the reference writes them.

Dogs

• Insulinoma — refractory hypoglycaemia: Plumb’s p.904: 10–40 µg total per dog SC two to three times daily with diet, glucocorticoid and diazoxide (Nelson 2007); 2–4 µg/kg SC q8–12h (Hess 2005). Response depends on tumour somatostatin-receptor expression. Not in Papich 5e.
• Chylothorax / gastrinoma (adjunct): Plumb’s p.904: chylothorax 10–20 µg/kg SC three times daily for 2–3 weeks — avoid prolonged use (gallstones) (Fossom 2006); gastrinoma 2–20 µg/kg SC three times daily with omeprazole (Simpson 2005).

Cats

• Chylothorax (adjunct): Plumb’s p.904 (Fossom 2006): 10–20 µg/kg SC three times daily for 2–3 weeks; avoid courses beyond 4 weeks. (The previous cat indication had no reference dose.)

Ferrets

• Insulinoma (refractory): Plumb’s p.904 (Meleo & Caplan 2000): 1–2 µg/kg SC two to three times daily.

Contraindications

Known hypersensitivity. Diabetes (alters glucose regulation — monitor). Biliary disease (somatostatin reduces gallbladder motility → sludge/stones with chronic use). Use judiciously — response in insulinoma is variable (depends on tumour receptor expression).

Adverse effects

• Variable efficacy (receptor-dependent)
• GI: nausea, cramping, altered motility
• Hyper- or hypoglycaemia (alters insulin/glucagon balance)
• Gallbladder sludge/stasis with chronic use
• Injection-site discomfort

Drug interactions

• Insulin / oral hypoglycaemics: altered glucose control (octreotide also lowers glucagon) — monitor glucose
• Cyclosporine: reduced absorption/levels reported
• Drugs requiring normal GI motility/absorption: octreotide slows gut transit
• Other agents affecting glucose/GI hormones: variable effects

Pregnancy and lactation

Limited data; use only if clearly required (reserved for serious disease).

Monitoring

• Blood glucose (the efficacy/safety marker in insulinoma and sulfonylurea overdose)
• Clinical response (hypoglycaemic episodes, diarrhoea, bleeding)
• Gallbladder imaging with chronic use (sludge/stones)
• GI tolerance

Toxicity and overdose

Generally well tolerated short-term; effects are extensions of its pharmacology — dysglycaemia (hyper- or hypo-), GI cramping/altered motility, and, with chronic use, gallbladder sludge/cholelithiasis from reduced gallbladder contractility. Acute overdose is rarely dangerous.

Management: No specific antidote. Supportive — monitor and correct blood glucose, manage GI signs; effects are short-lived for the immediate-release form. Discontinue if adverse effects predominate.

Clinical pearls

• A useful adjunct for refractory insulinoma hypoglycaemia — but efficacy depends on the tumour expressing somatostatin receptors, so responses are variable; combine with diet, prednisolone ± diazoxide
• Handy antidote-adjunct for sulfonylurea (e.g. glipizide) overdose hypoglycaemia — it shuts down the drug-driven insulin release (give with dextrose support)
• Watch glucose closely — it suppresses insulin AND glucagon, so the net glucose effect must be monitored
• Chronic use promotes gallbladder sludge/stones (reduced gallbladder motility); keep courses targeted
• Refrigerate the injection and dose in micrograms

Mechanism of action

Binds somatostatin receptors (chiefly subtypes 2 and 5) on secretory cells, mimicking natural somatostatin to inhibit release of insulin, glucagon, gastrin, growth hormone, serotonin and various GI hormones, and to reduce splanchnic blood flow and exocrine secretion. In insulinoma it suppresses tumour insulin secretion (when the tumour expresses the relevant receptors), raising blood glucose; the same broad inhibition underlies its use in other secretory disorders.

Formulations and products

• Injection 50 mcg/mL
• Injection 100 mcg/mL
• Injection 500 mcg/mL
• Sandostatin — 50 / 100 / 500 mcg/mL injection, Injection (human-label)
• Octride — 50 / 100 mcg/mL injection; LAR depot, Injection (human-label)

Storage

Injection: REFRIGERATE (2–8 °C); may be kept at room temperature for limited periods per label. Protect from light; do not freeze.

Before you use this dose

Reference doses for veterinary professionals. Confirm the dose against the product label, the patient’s condition, current guidance and local regulations before use; the attending veterinarian remains responsible for every clinical decision.

Other hormones, emergency drugs, supplements and other drugs

• Naloxone HCl
• Nandrolone Decanoate
• Neostigmine
• Oclacitinib
• Oral Calcium / Phosphorus Bolus (Calcimust)
• Oral Iron + B12 + Folic Acid (Feritas / Ferikind)
• Oxytocin
• Penicillamine (D-Penicillamine)

Frequently asked questions