Walking difficulty after Oclacitinib (Apoquel) in dogs

The FDA has received 157 reports of walking difficulty in dogs after Oclacitinib. That is 0.5% of all reports for this medicine, compared with 0.4% across reports for all dog medicines.

157Reports

60%Marked serious

15%Recovered

24%Died or euthanised

18 daysTypical onset

How soon it started

Same day

22 18%

1–2 days

15 12%

3–7 days

11 8.9%

1–4 weeks

21 17%

Over a month

54 44%

How the animals did

Recovered

24 15%

Still unwell when reported

78 50%

Died

10 6.4%

Euthanised

27 17%

Not known

18 11%

Problems reported at the same time

52 33%

48 31%

36 23%

29 18%

28 18%

24 15%

23 15%

17 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 walking difficulty in dogs?: 157 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 18 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).

Walking difficulty with similar medicines

Walking difficulty after Cyclosporine (Atopica) 29 reports · 0.2% of its reports

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