Oclacitinib: veterinary dose and monograph

At a glance

Drug class

Veterinary drug

Also known as

Apoquel

Species with doses

Dogs and Cats

General dose range

0.4–0.6 mg/kg PO q12h × 14 days, then q24h — check the species tables for the indication

Routes

PO

Last reviewed

1 October 2026

Indications

• Canine allergic dermatitis (atopic / flea-allergic / food-allergic pruritus)
• Atopic dermatitis — control of itch and inflammation

Oclacitinib dose by species

Doses are per administration unless stated. mg/kg doses scale with body weight; per-animal, per-quarter and infusion-rate doses are shown as the reference writes them.

Dogs

• Allergic / atopic pruritus: Papich 5e (Apoquel label): 0.4–0.6 mg/kg (target 0.5 mg/kg) PO twice daily for up to 14 days, then once daily; with or without food. Not for dogs under 12 months or with serious infections. Plumb’s 10e p.949 (label dosage; FDA-approved): 0.4–0.6 mg/kg PO every 12 hours for up to 14 days, then every 24 hours for maintenance; long-term twice-daily use is not recommended. Papich 5e gives no cat dose — see the Plumb’s 10e cat rows.
• Atopic pruritus — relapse on once-daily maintenance: Plumb’s 10e p.949 (extra-label): for dogs whose signs recur when reduced to once-daily maintenance, 0.4–0.6 mg/kg PO every 12 hours (anecdotally 0.2–0.3 mg/kg q12h). Long-term safety of these dosages has not been rigorously studied.
• Pruritus of sarcoptic mange (with antiparasitic): Plumb’s 10e p.949 (extra-label): in conjunction with systemic antiparasitic treatment, 0.5 mg/kg PO every 12 hours for 14 days, then every 24 hours for another 14 days.
• Ischaemic dermatopathy (with prednisolone): Plumb’s 10e p.949 (extra-label, case series n = 4): 0.5–0.7 mg/kg PO twice daily with oral prednisolone 0.5–1 mg/kg/day; after prednisolone was stopped, reduction to once daily was attempted but 3 of 4 dogs needed twice-daily dosing. A case report used 0.6 mg/kg q12h for 60 days, then q24h.
• Hyperkeratotic erythema multiforme: Plumb’s 10e p.949 (extra-label, case report n = 2): 0.6–0.9 mg/kg PO twice daily; complete remission at 7 and 12 weeks.

Cats

• Feline atopic skin syndrome (FASS): Plumb’s 10e p.949 (extra-label): 1 mg/kg PO once or twice daily for 28 days. Not approved in cats; screen for FIV/FeLV first, and use only when drugs with known feline safety cannot be used or are ineffective (p.948).
• Hypersensitivity dermatitis / head and neck pruritus: Plumb’s 10e p.949 (extra-label): 0.4–0.8 mg/kg PO every 12 hours for 14 days, then every 24 hours for 14 more days — practically 2.7 mg per cat (NOT mg/kg), i.e. half a 5.4 mg tablet. Screen for FIV/FeLV first.
• Asthma: Plumb’s 10e p.949 (extra-label): 0.5–1 mg/kg PO every 12 hours. No adverse effects at 0.5 or 1 mg/kg q12h for 28 days in cats with experimental asthma (p.948). Screen for FIV/FeLV first.

Contraindications

Dogs < 12 months (demodicosis / serious infection risk). Pre-existing serious infection, demodicosis or neoplasia (may worsen). Breeding / pregnant / lactating bitches. Use cautiously with other immunosuppressants.

Species-specific warnings

Dogs: Do not use in dogs < 12 months or with serious infection, demodicosis or neoplasia — JAK-inhibitor immunosuppression can worsen these conditions.

Cats: Not approved in cats and long-term safety data are limited (Plumb’s 10e p.948): screen for FIV/FeLV before treatment (fatal toxoplasmosis was reported in an FIV-positive cat), and use only when drugs with known feline safety cannot be used or are ineffective. GI effects were seen at 2 mg/kg q12h.

Adverse effects

• Vomiting, diarrhoea (usually mild)
• Increased susceptibility to skin / ear / UTI infections, demodicosis
• Mild changes in WBC / lipase; rarely new or worsening neoplasia

Drug interactions

• Other immunosuppressants (glucocorticoids, ciclosporin): additive immunosuppression / infection risk — combine only with caution
• Modified-live vaccines: immune response may be blunted during therapy
• No significant cytochrome-P450 interactions reported

Pregnancy and lactation

Not for use in breeding, pregnant or lactating dogs — safety not established.

Monitoring

• Periodic CBC and biochemistry on long-term therapy
• Watch for recurrent pyoderma, otitis, demodicosis or UTI
• Reassess for masses / neoplasia in older dogs

Toxicity and overdose

Sustained immunosuppression predisposes to demodicosis, deep pyoderma, pneumonia and UTI, and may unmask or accelerate neoplasia; overdose causes reversible CBC changes. It is not an acute single-dose poison.

Clinical pearls

• Step down to once-daily after the 14-day induction — staying twice-daily long term is off-label and unnecessary
• Works within a day, so it is excellent for breaking an acute itch cycle while you investigate the allergy
• Avoid in dogs under a year and in any dog with active demodicosis or serious infection

Mechanism of action

Janus-kinase inhibitor (predominantly JAK1). Blocks JAK-dependent intracellular signalling of pruritogenic and pro-inflammatory cytokines — above all IL-31, the key "itch" cytokine of canine atopic dermatitis, plus IL-2/4/6/13 — dampening allergic itch and inflammation without the broad metabolic effects of glucocorticoids.

Formulations and products

• Apoquel 3.6 mg tablet
• Apoquel 5.4 mg tablet
• Apoquel 16 mg tablet
• Apoquel (Zoetis) — 3.6 / 5.4 / 16 mg, Film-coated / chewable tablet

Storage

Store at 15–25 °C, dry.

Before you use this dose

Reference doses for veterinary professionals. Confirm the dose against the product label, the patient’s condition, current guidance and local regulations before use; the attending veterinarian remains responsible for every clinical decision.

Other hormones, emergency drugs, supplements and other drugs

• N-Acetylcysteine (NAC)
• Naloxone HCl
• Nandrolone Decanoate
• Neostigmine
• Octreotide
• Oral Calcium / Phosphorus Bolus (Calcimust)
• Oral Iron + B12 + Folic Acid (Feritas / Ferikind)
• Oxytocin

Frequently asked questions