atopic dermatitis is a very common disease in dogs. Among the most advanced treatments today is the apoquel, which stops the symptoms associated with this pathology (pruritus or itching, erythema and inflammation). The lesions caused by the itching usually worsen due to their infection. These symptoms must be treated as soon as possible, since although this type of dermatitis is not a vital problem, it greatly reduces the dog's quality of life.
If your dog takes apoquel as part of its treatment for dermatitis, or you have noticed the first symptoms of this skin condition and want to find out more, read on. In this article on our site we explain what apoquel for dogs is, its dosage, composition and uses.
Composition of the bowl for dogs
The apoquel is oclacitinib, a drug in tablets (without corticosteroids) that specifically prevents cytokines involved in the cycle of itching and inflammation in dogs with atopic dermatitis. By acting specifically on this variety of cytokines, secondary effects of inhibiting cytokines involved in physiological processes such as innate immunity, hematopoiesis, etc. are avoided. For this reason, apoquel is one of the drugs of choice in atopic dermatitis.
Atopic dermatitis is a pathology of the skin of dogs characterized by the manifestation of symmetrical erythematous and pruritic lesions distributed in the armpits, groin, abdomen, periocular area, pinna, etc. If the veterinarian suspects that our dog suffers from atopic dermatitis, he must first exclude other causes of itching and inflammation of the skin such as ectoparasites, adverse food reaction, malassezia infection, etc. These pathologies, in addition, can coexist or complicate the diagnosis and therefore the treatment.
Its typical age of onset is in dogs under 3 years of age and is genetically conditioned, with their immune system predisposed to hyperreact to environmental allergens. In addition, it has been observed that in these dogs the skin barrier is altered, allowing allergens to pass through more easily.
Apoquel dose for dogs
The effect of apoquel in dogs is rapid, so that after four hours from its administration you can begin to see the results. The first 14 days, a double dose of apoquel should be used and from then on try to lower it, looking for the effective dose for each dog. In principle, its administration is daily or with the corresponding dose divided into two doses (morning and night), but as we have said, each dog requires an optimization of the dose.
The recommended starting dose of apoquel for dogs is 0.8 to 0.12 mg oclacitinib per kilogram of body weight and the dose maintenance is 0.4 to 0.6 mg oclacitinib per kg. In any case, it will be the veterinarian who will indicate the most appropriate dose for each case, so we should never self-medicate our dog without the approval of the specialist. Offering an inadequate dose can not only have serious consequences, but it is also possible that we are giving the wrong drug.
This drug can be administered with or without food.
What is the bowl for dogs - Uses
The use of apoquel for dogs is limited to the treatment of atopic dermatitis or as an acute treatment of itching in very pruritic diseases, such as those generated by parasites in which it is essential to treat the cause simultaneously.
Apoquel alone should not be the only treatment used for atopic dermatitis, it should be supplemented with:
- Other pharmacological agents that treat the symptoms. These are corticosteroids, cyclosporine, etc.
- Champuterapia and topical products to maintain hygiene and care for the epidermal barrier. With baths with specific (treatment) shampoos we eliminate the load of allergens and at the same time restore the skin. With topical gels or ointments we treat localized areas.
- Immunotherapy to treat the cause. It is the administration of specific vaccines that are applied after performing serological and skin tests or a new injectable drug called lokivetmab, which is a monoclonal antibody.
- Skin support diet and nutritional supplements (essential fatty acids).
It can be used both as part of acute and chronic treatment, bearing in mind that atopic dermatitis is chronic and its symptoms must be controlled for life.
Apoquel side effects in dogs
Safety studies indicate that apoquel does not have the side effects of other drugs such as cyclosporine and corticosteroids. In addition, it does not interfere with other drugs such as vaccines, NSAIDs, antiparasitics, insulin, etc.
Yes, when modulating the immune system, we must monitor neoplastic conditions and/or infections in our dogs, as they can be exacerbated. In addition, as it is often a chronic treatment, review tests are recommended.
Its long-term effects are unknown, as it is a relatively new drug.
Contraindications of apoquel in dogs
Although the apoquel for dogs does not present secondary effects, it is necessary to highlight that there are a series of cases in which its administration is not convenient. Thus, in the event of any type of allergic reaction or hypersensitivity to the active ingredient, it is essential to withdraw the treatment and go to the vet.
On the other hand, it is not advisable to give apoquel to pregnant or lactating bitches or to puppies less than a year old without the consent of the veterinarian.
