It is uncomfortable to watch a dog itch and scratch madly in response to an unknown allergy. It is even more uncomfortable when you can’t seem to give them any comfort. You may not want to use prescription medication for one reason or another, but it can provide great relief for your pet. However, it’s important to know how it might effect your dog. Let’s discuss some of the side effects of Apoquel.
The primary symptoms of allergies are itching and obsessive scratching, of course. However, those could lead to secondary skin problems like irritation, redness, swelling, and hot spots on dogs. Many pet owners have resulted in using drugs developed for humans in treating these problems—such drugs as Zyrtec and Benadryl. However, these are not FDA approved drugs for the treatment of these problems in dogs.
Apoquel is an FDA approved drug for the management of intense itching in dogs. Made up of Oclacitinib, a selective JAK-1 inhibitor, Apoquel provides instant relief from itching. It is an allergy medicine for dogs and it is capable of providing relief from itching in dogs within 4 hours. More astonishingly, it stops canine itching in less than 24 hours of administration of the drug. In addition, unlike other medications, it controls pruritus within the first 48 hours.
Side Effects of Apoquel for Dogs
We have seen big pharmaceutical companies come up with breakthrough products only to hear that there are issues with the drug. Recently, Apoquel has been garnering controversies because of its reported side effects. Its immunosuppressive properties can increase the dog’s vulnerability to infection. This includes neoplastic health and demodicosis infections conditions.
Other potential side effects of dogs taking Apoquel include:
- Lethargy
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Appetite loss
- Decreased globulins
- Decreased leukocytes
- An increase of lipase and cholesterol
- New cutaneous or subcutaneous lumps
Some dogs also experienced pneumonia, skin and ear infections, bloodied diarrhea, histiocytomas, and UTIs
In extreme cases, it is discovered that dogs developed polydipsia and an increase in appetite and aggression.
Side effects of Apoquel can often disappear on their own. In addition, they resemble the effects that would normally appear after a dog takes drugs containing steroids. Steroids are generally classified as anti-inflammatory drugs, and they help in treating mild inflammatory diseases in dogs.
Recently, there have been reports of cancer in dogs after taking the drug. According to an article on the DogsNaturally Website, this vet discovered a mass in her dog’s abdomen when she started giving it Apoquel. It was later discovered from clinical trials that the drug causes abdominal tumors. Further research studies have shown that the drug lowers red and white blood cell count. It also affects certain types of lymph nodes and lymphatic tissue as well as bone marrow.
So What Should You Do?
Look, we still give Norman Apoquel because it has been the only thing that allows him to have a halfway normal life. And that’s on top of the Cytopoint. But these are serious side effects for a drug acclaimed for treating skin allergies (atopic dermatitis) in dogs. Even though it may be cringe worthy to watch a dog agonize in pain as it scratches its body in pain, one may still have to consider the side effects of the drug.
We all want our pets to be happy and healthy. My advice – Don’t listen to other pet owners tell you what you should or shouldn’t give your dog. Talk to your vet. Understand the risks and decide what is best for your situation.
can i give my 100 pound dog 16mg of chlorpheniamine maleate x2 a day?
I’ve read that apoquel is bad, but I’ve ever found on these articles any info for the best substitution. We’ve been on cheaper medics that had way much more side effects. I’ve asked our vet about side effects. Our vet thinks dog should live a better quality shorter life instead of itching every day but living longer without medics. I’ve tried natural remedies, oils, baths anti-itching creams, but they don’t have long effect and at some point stop helping at all. Actually, apoquel doesn’t cure anything, it just deceives immune system…if you stop giving medics, itching comes again…..so devastating.
Yeah, the only thing that is close to Apoquel is the Cytopoint injection. Not as many side effects have been reported with it, so you might give it a try if you haven’t already.
My Frenchie, Sophie had environmental allergies which caused her to chew her feet and scratch her belly raw. Apoquel immediately stopped her itches, when she was put on it two yrs ago. She always had a slightly elevated liver enzyme with no symptoms and clear ultrasound. After 6 months on Apoquel her ATLs shot up from 300 to 1300. An ultrasound found a lump on her liver. A week later she had exploratory surgery to remove the lump, which was on the left node and we were given good prognosis for a full recovery it they found she had two… Read more »
Hi my Pug is on apoquel 2 yrs and has had no problem only he’s a changed dog no more itch or hair loss
That’s great!
Glad that Norman is happy, I have also put Pixie back on apoquel half daily and she is so much better, her legs look good and almost back to normal. She has not had her third cynopoint yet but I think between the both although her cynopoint is 6 weeks overdue it did something as she has never been so relaxed and actually snooring at night again although she does lick her paws but not to the extent she was before. So I am happy. Also the groomer who does my other dog put some purple drops in her ears… Read more »
Can you please message me the name please when you find out thankyou ?
Even though this helped my French bulldog Frankie with the itching we unfortunately were in the evidently small percentage where it made her aggressive. It started over food, ( which leads me to believe it also made her feel hungry). It got so bad my other one couldn’t even walk in a room without fear of her attacking him and when I would intervene she would turn on me. She would have a crazed look in her eye like she couldn’t control herself. Afterward she would always go back to him or me and keep licking us like she felt… Read more »
Wow, I hadn’t really heard of many dogs becoming aggressive on it. I’m glad you were able to figure it out and take her off of it. Hope she’s doing well!