# Octreotide: veterinary dose and monograph

> Octreotide is a veterinary drug. A synthetic somatostatin analogue that broadly INHIBITS hormone and exocrine secretion. Indications include insulinoma — control of refractory hypoglycaemia (suppresses insulin secretion); sulfonylurea-overdose hypoglycaemia (blunts insulin release); gastrinoma / other functional neuroendocrine tumours (reduce hormone secretion). This monograph lists 4 reference doses for dogs, cats and ferrets, each with route, frequency and source.

Source: https://vetmasterji.com/drugs/octreotide · Last reviewed: 2026-10-01

## 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

*Octreotide doses for dogs*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Insulinoma — refractory hypoglycaemia | 10–40 µg per dog SC q8–12h (or 2–4 µg/kg SC q8–12h) | SC | q8–12h | — |
| Chylothorax / gastrinoma (adjunct) | Chylothorax 10–20 µg/kg SC q8h for 2–3 weeks; gastrinoma 2–20 µg/kg SC q8h | SC | q8h | — |

- 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

*Octreotide doses for cats*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Chylothorax (adjunct) | 10–20 µg/kg SC q8h for 2–3 weeks | SC | q8h | — |

- 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

*Octreotide doses for ferrets*

| Indication | Dose | Route | Frequency | Duration |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Insulinoma (refractory) | 1–2 µg/kg SC q8–12h | SC | q8–12h | — |

- 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

> **Caution:** 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.

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## Frequently asked questions

### What is the dose of Octreotide for dogs?

Reference doses for Octreotide in dogs: 10–40 µg per dog SC q8–12h (or 2–4 µg/kg SC q8–12h) SC q8–12h (Insulinoma — refractory hypoglycaemia); Chylothorax 10–20 µg/kg SC q8h for 2–3 weeks; gastrinoma 2–20 µg/kg SC q8h SC q8h (Chylothorax / gastrinoma (adjunct)). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### What is the dose of Octreotide for cats?

Reference doses for Octreotide in cats: 10–20 µg/kg SC q8h for 2–3 weeks SC q8h (Chylothorax (adjunct)). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### What is the dose of Octreotide for ferrets?

Reference doses for Octreotide in ferrets: 1–2 µg/kg SC q8–12h SC q8–12h (Insulinoma (refractory)). Confirm against the label and the patient before use.

### When should Octreotide not be used?

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).

### What are the side effects of Octreotide in animals?

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.

## Sources

- Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook
- Merck Veterinary Manual, 11th edition
- Papich, Papich Handbook of Veterinary Drugs, 5th edition

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VetMasterJi is a clinical decision-support and education platform for veterinary professionals and students. It does not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis or treatment for specific animals. All drug doses, calculators and differentials are references that must be independently verified before clinical use; the attending registered veterinarian remains solely responsible for every clinical decision.