Can Apoquel Give Dogs Loose Stool?

Side effects of APOQUEL reported most often are vomiting and diarrhea

.

Can you give Apoquel to dogs on an empty stomach?

Apoquel® can be given with or without food

. For some dogs, we prescribe it twice daily (morning and night) for a short period of time, then reduce to once per day. For others, we start at once per day. If given once daily, it can be given either morning OR night, depending on when your dog seems most itchy.

Does Apoquel shorten a dog's life?

A safety study by Apoquel manufacturer Zoetis reported

there were no fatalities and abnormal health events in a 28 day study

. But abnormal health events were reported in 11 of 179 dogs post-study. These include: 1 dog got euthanized after 450 days of the drug.

Do you have to wean off Apoquel?

Unlike steroids, (that

patients must be weaned off slowly over a number of weeks

), Apoquel can be stopped suddenly then restarted again at a lower dose.

Are there side effects to Apoquel for dogs?

Apoquel side effects listed for dogs in the product insert include:

vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, anorexia, SQ or dermal masses (unspecified), decreased leukocytes, decreased globulins, and increased cholesterol and lipase

.

Which is better Apoquel or Benadryl?

Not only is it safe, but it also doesn't need a hefty dosage to be effective. Essentially your dog can use it and stop it without any withdrawal symptoms. If your furry friend has any long-standing allergies that affect them occasionally or throughout the year, then

Apoquel is by far the better option

.

What does Apoquel do for a dog?

Oclacitinib (brand name Apoquel®) is an oral medication used to

manage itching associated with allergic dermatitis (including atopy)

in dogs at least 12 months of age.

Does Apoquel make dogs thirsty?

Why is Apoquel Better than Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids can cause polydipsia (increased thirst)

, polyurea (increased urination), polyphagia (increased hunger), and organ damage when used long term or at high doses. While there are Apoquel side effects, they do not include potential organ damage.

Can I give my dog 2 Apoquel a day?

For atopic and allergic dermatitis, Apoquel may be given to dogs at a dosage of 0.18 – 0.27 mg/lb.

For the first two weeks, this is to be given twice per day, and then once per day after the first two weeks for maintenance

. Avoid giving the medicine twice daily long-term.

What is a natural alternative to Apoquel?

Yucca and quercetin

are also great natural alternatives to Apoquel. Yucca has an effect similar to steroid drugs without the harmful side effects. Quercetin is a plant derivative that acts as a natural antihistamine and is a great option for dogs whose itching is reduced by Benadryl.

Does Apoquel cause weight gain?

In a review of her experiences with Apoquel for Pet Dermatology Clinic website, vet Melissa Eisenschenk agrees that

incidences of ear infections, weight gain and urinary tract infections are higher in dogs on Apoquel

.

Can Apoquel cause tumors in dogs?

Do not use APOQUEL in dogs less than 12 months of age or those with serious infections. APOQUEL may increase the chances of developing serious infections, and

may cause existing parasitic skin infestations or pre- existing cancers to get worse

.

Can Apoquel cause blood in stool?

Apoquel's most common side effects are vomiting and diarrhea.

Intestinal or stomach bleeding is not listed

. If you are also giving other medications this will need to be investigated.

Does Apoquel suppress the immune system?

Clinical trials have shown Apoquel suppresses the immune system

and Janus Kinase enzymes, the FDA only recommends it's used for up to 14 days. While helping dogs in the short term, extended suppression of the immune system can lead to devastating effects.

Why do you have to wash your hands after handling Apoquel?

Humans should make sure to wash their hands thoroughly after handling Apoquel tablets.

Apoquel is not a steroid, and so the list of possible side effects is much shorter compared to steroid drugs like prednisone

.

Does Apoquel make dogs constipated?

The most common side effects associated with antihistamines include:

Extreme drowsiness

.

Constipation

. Increased thirst.

Why is Apoquel not working?

Now, if Apoquel worked in the past and suddenly is not,

there may be a secondary infection

. You should take her to the vet to rule out infection. Typically vets will do a swab of the skin or tape prep cytology to look for yeast and bacteria under the microscope.

How long does it take for Apoquel to work?

Apoquel is a fast-acting medication and is known to take effect

within 4 hours

and completely control your dog's allergic itch within 24 hours.

Is Apoquel expensive?

Which is better APOQUEL vs Atopica?

Atopica treats the immune system cause of the itch, so is more effective at preventing skin infections, ear infections, and itch

; Apoquel and Cytopoint only suppress the itch and do not address the underlying cause.

Does APOQUEL have steroids in it?

ApoquelTM affects many of the inflammatory pathways that steroids inhibit, but

it is not a steroid

, so it does not cause any of the short-term or long-term side effects. A small percentage of dogs (comparable to those on pla- cebos) have a small amount of vomiting or diarrhea.

Which is better Apoquel or Cytopoint?

The main difference is the method of administration.

Cytopoint is an, on average, once a month injection into the skin. Apoquel, on the other hand, requires daily oral dosing

. Additionally, Cytopoint was specifically created to target itch associated with atopic (environmental) allergies.