Pancreatitis after Oclacitinib (Apoquel) in dogs

The FDA has received 231 reports of pancreatitis in dogs after Oclacitinib. That is 0.8% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.4% across reports for all dog medicines, so it is reported unusually often with this medicine.

231Reports

52%Marked serious

14%Recovered

20%Died or euthanised

30 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

17 11%

1–2 days

15 9.3%

3–7 days

20 12%

1–4 weeks

33 20%

Over a month

76 47%

How the animals did

Recovered

32 14%

Still unwell when reported

121 52%

Died

10 4.3%

Euthanised

36 16%

Not known

32 14%

Problems reported at the same time

110 48%

90 39%

77 33%

60 26%

57 25%

44 19%

36 16%

Abnormal ultrasound finding

35 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 pancreatitis in dogs?: 231 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 30 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).

Pancreatitis with similar medicines

Pancreatitis after Cyclosporine (Atopica) 111 reports · 0.7% of its reports
Pancreatitis after Ilunocitinib (Zenrelia) 25 reports · 1.1% of its reports

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