Effects of topical application of amitraz on plasma glucose and insulin concentrations in dogs.

Amitraz, a formamidine insecticide, is used topically in the treatment of demodicosis and other ectoparasitic infestations. When 3.78 L (containing 2.1 g) of amitraz (twice the recommended concentration) was applied to 5 dogs 4 hours before glucose (0.6 g/kg of body weight) was administered IV, plasma glucose concentration increased, but the increase in plasma insulin concentration, which usually follows IV administered glucose, was suppressed. The results suggested that amitraz induced hyperglycemia at least partly by inhibiting insulin release.