Heart murmur after Oclacitinib (Apoquel) in dogs

The FDA has received 117 reports of heart murmur in dogs after Oclacitinib. That is 0.4% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.2% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

117Reports

60%Marked serious

6.8%Recovered

14%Died or euthanised

35 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

20 27%

1–2 days

2 2.7%

3–7 days

4 5.3%

1–4 weeks

9 12%

Over a month

40 53%

How the animals did

Recovered

5 4.3%

Recovered with lasting effects

3 2.6%

Still unwell when reported

74 63%

Died

5 4.3%

Euthanised

11 9.4%

Not known

19 16%

Problems reported at the same time

28 24%

23 20%

22 19%

22 19%

Didn't work as expected

19 16%

Blood problems

18 15%

Weight loss

18 15%

Breathing problems

18 15%

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 heart murmur in dogs?: 117 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 35 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).

Heart murmur with similar medicines

Heart murmur after Cyclosporine (Atopica) 30 reports · 0.2% of its reports

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