Dry skin after Oclacitinib (Apoquel) in dogs

The FDA has received 32 reports of dry skin in dogs after Oclacitinib. That is 0.1% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.1% across reports for all dog medicines.

32Reports

22%Marked serious

9.4%Recovered

0.0%Died or euthanised

61 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

5 21%

1–2 days

0 0.0%

3–7 days

2 8.3%

1–4 weeks

3 13%

Over a month

14 58%

How the animals did

Recovered

3 9.4%

Still unwell when reported

14 44%

Not known

15 47%

Problems reported at the same time

Hair loss

11 34%

Itching

10 31%

Flaking skin

8 25%

Skin rash or irritation

8 25%

Didn't work as expected

7 22%

Skin redness

5 16%

Lethargy

4 13%

Liver problems

4 13%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

8–11 years

12+ years

About this medicine

Oclacitinib controls itching from allergies (tablet, a JAK inhibitor).

Products with this ingredient include Apoquel. The FDA hides brand names in its public data, so these reports cover every product with the same active ingredients.

Questions owners ask

Can Oclacitinib cause dry skin in dogs?: 32 reports link the two, but a report alone does not prove the medicine was the cause: other illnesses, other medicines or coincidence can be involved. Your vet can judge it for your animal.
How soon after a dose was it reported?: In half of the reports with dates, it started within 61 days of the first dose.
What should I do?: Don't give another dose until you've spoken to your vet, and keep the packaging so you can tell them the product and dose. Your vet can also report it to the FDA (or you can, through the manufacturer or FDA form 1932a).

Dry skin with similar medicines

Dry skin after Cyclosporine (Atopica) 23 reports · 0.2% of its reports

All reported side effects of Oclacitinib in dogs · Medicines most reported with dry skin