Gagging after Oclacitinib (Apoquel) in dogs

The FDA has received 64 reports of gagging in dogs after Oclacitinib. That is 0.2% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.2% across reports for all dog medicines.

64Reports

47%Marked serious

19%Recovered

13%Died or euthanised

10 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

13 28%

1–2 days

5 11%

3–7 days

4 8.5%

1–4 weeks

7 15%

Over a month

18 38%

How the animals did

Recovered

12 19%

Still unwell when reported

33 52%

Died

6 9.4%

Euthanised

2 3.1%

Not known

11 17%

Problems reported at the same time

23 36%

21 33%

20 31%

17 27%

12 19%

10 16%

Didn't work as expected

10 16%

Diarrhea

7 11%

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 gagging in dogs?: 64 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 10 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).

Gagging with similar medicines

Gagging after Cyclosporine (Atopica) 51 reports · 0.3% of its reports

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