Licking after Oclacitinib (Apoquel) in dogs

The FDA has received 173 reports of licking in dogs after Oclacitinib. That is 0.6% 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.

173Reports

39%Marked serious

5.8%Recovered

2.9%Died or euthanised

39 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

21 17%

1–2 days

7 5.7%

3–7 days

5 4.1%

1–4 weeks

20 16%

Over a month

69 57%

How the animals did

Recovered

10 5.8%

Still unwell when reported

117 68%

Died

3 1.7%

Euthanised

2 1.2%

Not known

41 24%

Problems reported at the same time

Didn't work as expected

46 27%

Skin rash or irritation

38 22%

36 21%

28 16%

26 15%

21 12%

20 12%

19 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 licking in dogs?: 173 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 39 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).

Licking with similar medicines

Licking after Cyclosporine (Atopica) 28 reports · 0.2% of its reports
Licking after Ilunocitinib (Zenrelia) 41 reports · 1.9% of its reports

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