Leucopenia after Oclacitinib (Apoquel) in dogs

The FDA has received 856 reports of leucopenia in dogs after Oclacitinib. That is 3.0% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.3% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

856Reports

25%Marked serious

10%Recovered

4.3%Died or euthanised

70 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

41 7.7%

1–2 days

17 3.2%

3–7 days

14 2.6%

1–4 weeks

100 19%

Over a month

358 68%

How the animals did

Recovered

87 10%

Still unwell when reported

678 79%

Died

13 1.5%

Euthanised

24 2.8%

Not known

54 6.3%

Problems reported at the same time

388 45%

196 23%

153 18%

121 14%

107 13%

91 11%

Didn't work as expected

81 9.5%

Vomiting

68 7.9%

Age of the animals

Under 1 year

1–3 years

4–7 years

369

8–11 years

316

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 leucopenia in dogs?: 856 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 70 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).

Leucopenia with similar medicines

Leucopenia after Cyclosporine (Atopica) 131 reports · 0.9% of its reports
Leucopenia after Ilunocitinib (Zenrelia) 86 reports · 3.9% of its reports

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