Apoquel - what are your thoughts?

Snowie had been itchy his whole life. He came to us itchy. We later learned his mother was getting treated for allergies. But his three siblings I kept in contact with aren’t itchy.

He hasn’t had any particular medical intervention for it. Some prednisone in tiny doses about once a year when it’s really bad. A few Allergex (antihistamine) tablets. But mostly it’s been about diet (raw and fresh food) and bathing (special vet shampoo, although the best results have been with Head n Shoulders human anti dandruff shampoo!). He loves being shampooed but hates being rinsed, so I don’t think I bath him enough—it’s such an ordeal to get him to stand still to get rinsed. And he’s a lot of dog! It’s exhausting and time-consuming scrubbing and rinsing him!!

Was at the vet this morning. He’s been shaking his head on and off for a couple of months. Poor boy has a yeast overgrowth in his ears, one ear very inflamed in the canal. 🙁 On miconazole (anti-yeast) and cortisone (anti inflammatory) ear drops + prednisone tablets for the inflammation and allergies that the vet says are causing the yeast overgrowth. On this till next Wednesday when we go back for a follow up appointment.

She advised Apoquel. It is an immunosuppressant but she says not as bad as cortisone. Most common side effects are vomiting and diarrhea. Although she said it’s not easy finding much info about how it actually works. She said it should also prevent future ear problems cos yeast overgrowth comes from the allergies that Apoquel should prevent.

I feel that at 9 yo, Snowie should live out his life itch-free. If it affects his immunity, perhaps it’s not so much of an issue at this stage of his life vs the itchiness?

The vet did say that Snowie is not nearly as bad as other dogs she sees.

Does anyone know anything about Apoquel?
 
Quinn is on apoquel for seasonal allergies spring through first frost every year. It really is the only thing that brings relief and prevents infections (skin, ear and eye). I’ve discussed trying cytopoint with her vet this year to see if it helps prevent the really itchy periods where she typically needs two pills a day. No side effects at all in 5 years of use.
 
For one of my dogs Apoquel did not work. He was very very itchy with hotspots and yeast flare ups. He has now been on Cytopoint for over 2 years and all of it is gone. He has an injection every 6-8 weeks.
 
My friend rescued a Collie X who was red with scratching continually, she tried diets, shampoos etc and finally settled on Apoquel after a couple of years, the dog now has a glossy, shiny coat, very rarely scratches and is a much happier dog in every way.
 
Thanks everyone for your responses. What’s the difference between Apoquel and Cytopoint?
 
Last edited:
No experience of Apoquel, but cytopoint was brilliant for Pongo the first time we used it. It lasted nearly 8 months before he had another injection. That one didn't work quite so well, but still avoided steroid pills.
 
Top