Thoughts on Appoquel

[Delarage]

For dog allergy issues. My lab mix had a very uncomfortable allergy issue in late spring. I home cook for her and hasn't had such an issue before (a relatively minor allergy issue last spring). So vet thinks it's something seasonal. Used up the Appoquel and was fine for about 5 weeks, now scratching again.

A friend told me Appoquel might be dangerous and suppresses the immune system. Her dog got a shot of Cytopoint and responded equally as well (the Appoquel seemed to act immediately and within a few days all her scratched up skin was returning to normal).

Has anyone tried either or know anything more about their affects? I want her to be comfortable but don't want to kill her, either! Both are expensive, of course.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

1. Every drug that suppresses the immune system is inherently risky

This is why auto-immune diseases are among the worst a living being can have.

But this run-down may make you feel a bit better ...

https://www.petdermatologyclinic.com/apoquel-information

[Delarage]

6. Thank you!

That does help. I'm glad to hear that anything suppressed by apoquel tends to return to normal when it is stopped.

[sinkingfeeling]

2. My dog, who passed in 2018, was on Apoquel for around 3 years.

He had severe skin allergies. We had no bad side affects. Hank was 16 when he died.

[Delarage]

7. Thank you!

Glad it helped Hank! It worked amazingly fast when I first tried it with Millie. But then I started reading more about it and freaked myself out.

[Keepthesoulalive]

3. It is expensive

But it works and my big guy has no side effects. He has been on it for 3 years.

[Delarage]

8. Yup

There is no generic version. Ugh. Does your dog take it year-round or as needed? I'm hoping I can just give it to Millie in late spring /early summer

[peacebuzzard]

4. I used Benadryl recommended by the vet in correct dose amounts.

It stopped the rabid itching which made her miserable with the intense scratching and crying. Side effects made her very sleepy.

[Delarage]

5. OTCs didn't work for us

Unfortunately. Seems to work for some, not others.

[peacebuzzard]

10. I am sorry; it really worried me when my rescue one-eyed shiu tzu had her attacks.

it always ironically happened regularly almost at the same time of day. I would bathe her with lotions and do a complete disinfection of the whole room she stayed in. Eventually, it diminished as the season progressed. She was an inside-only house dog and was a rescue from the Katrina floods. She was literally plucked from the floods and later had to undergo an eye enucleation because of an infection as a result of swimming through the flood of sewage waters. I always wondered if maybe she became infected with some unusual parasite from those waters. I will never know. She later contracted kidney failure and lost control of her hindquarters. I will never forget those itching horrors though...it would last for hours it seemed and she was in agony until the Benadryl would kick in. I still miss my little Maggie. ❤️

[Donkees]

9. One factor to consider is the higher genetic risk Labradors have to certain cancers

APOQUEL may increase susceptibility to infection, including demodicosis, and exacerbation of neoplastic conditions. (see Precautions, Adverse Reactions, Post-Approval Experience and Animal Safety).

New neoplastic conditions (benign and malignant) were observed in dogs treated with APOQUEL during clinical studies and have been reported in the post-approval period (See Adverse Reactions and Post-Approval Experience).

https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/drug-labels/animal-drug-safety-related-labeling-changes

Are you including omega-3's, anti-inflammatory ingredients, in her home-cooked diet?

[Delarage]

12. I'll read that.

Going to try cytopoint this time instead of Apoquel. I add tumeric & salmon oil in her food (along with a couple vitamins & supplements... including the Missing Link). But she generally eats chicken, fruits, and veggies on a bed of rice & quinoa cooked in the chicken broth with the tumeric.

[Donkees]

13. It may be certain ingredients in the "Missing Link" triggering an allergic response

Many dogs have an allergic sensitivity especially to the nutritional yeast, natural flavor, even the cane molasses. That would leave her more sensitive to fungal spores and mold in the environment. These types of supplements can give the appearance of a shiny coat, but the 'shine' also entraps environmental spores, etc. There may be more yeast allergens in the other daily supplements. It's just easier to pinpoint allergens when there is a limited ingredient trial elimination diet. All best wishes for improved health.

[Delarage]

14. Thank you

I will leave that out for a while and see what happens!

[Donkees]

15. In addition, when weather conditions favor the growth of these fungal spores ...

there are dog grooming products (shampoos, wipes, ear cleaners) based on vinegar (anti-fungal) which might help, and vinegar is helpful as a surface cleaner indoors. I have used these years ago on two of my dogs with good results.

[Delarage]

16. Thanks again!

It is pretty darn humid here in Delaware. And, not to be gross, I've had a couple fungal ear infections myself over the last 2 years (which only my good ENT doctor has reliably identified---all urgent care places think it's bacterial and prescribe antibiotics that make it worse--and then I end up with Dr. Shephard again). That's happened twice--now I'm going right to him at the first sign of trouble. I have ear cleaner that is anti-fungal for her; I'll look into shampoos right now. I've been using aloe and oatmeal type shampoos--as well Duoxo Calm--to no major effect.

[Donkees]

17. This is the brand I have used and trusted for years: ''Dechra''

Copied images from Chewy. I've also found that limiting carbs to the minimum percentage worked best dealing with these allergies.


This is one of their yeast/fungus shampoos:

MiconaHex+Triz Shampoo for Dogs and Cats is formulated to fight against dandruff, ringworms, yeast, fungus and other bacterial infections.

The ear cleaner was so good, I've used it on my own ears too (Otherwise, I just use vinegar)

Patented formula MalAcetic Otic AP is a natural medicated solution that cleans and dries the ear for dogs and cats.
Exclusive, acetic and boric acid base, and signature apple fragrance.

Antimicrobial – for mild to moderate bacterial/fungal infections.

Cleansing and degreasing solution supports healthy skin for animals with bacterial and/or fungal skin conditions.
Helps balance skin surface pH making it unfavorable for the overgrowth of fungus and/or yeast.

[Delarage]

18. Mal-A-Ket Plus

Is what I've been using in her ears---it's a liquid that I squeeze in with a cotton ball, let her shake, then wipe up with tissues. I have not used any wipes on her coat, though. I'll have to look for an anti-fungal / vinegar included shampoo. She swims a lot, so I clean her ears a lot more in the warmer weather.

[Donkees]

19. You're using the same brand Dechra, seems to be a stronger formula that wasn't available years ago

... new formulas of shampoos have been added to their product line too. I have also used over-the-counter medicated powder to help dry the dogs' ears after bathing (might have been Gold Bond)

[Delarage]

20. I ordered the shampoo version

Hopefully that will do it! Kind of expensive, but cheaper than vet visits every couple months, and I got a pretty good deal on Chewy. The "Duoxo" brand had a version, too, but it only had 4/5 stars. The Dechra shampoo had 5/5.

She fights baths so much* that it's too dangerous at home, so I take her to a pet store that has a self-wash area with several tubs. Even there, she has broken free and run naked through the store--making a bee-line to the exit. Fortunately, she hasn't left the store yet (people at the registers or I catch her).

I tried to barricade the bathing area the last time with whatever objects were nearby, but she just plowed through. I'll do a better job next time.

* and yet she'll hop into any body of water out in the community/loves swimming.

[Donkees]

21. I have to bathe my current dog in a fenced-in patio area. When he was rescued as a mangy stray ...

he was given weekly medicated baths, and so now he seems stressed by the indoor *acoustics* of bathing and grooming scents. I found that he's much calmer being bathed outdoors. I use a pitcher dipped in a big bin of warm water to wet him down, and if I decide to finish with a diluted white vinegar final rinse, the scent dissipates. He no longer needs medicated baths, so the vinegar rinse is just a precaution during fungal weather season.

You might consider pouring a diluted white vinegar rinse on her coat outdoors when she is done swimming. Or use it on a washcloth if her coat is short. I save the empty gallon containers of white vinegar, and use them to pour the rinse over the coat. I certainly understand the struggle you are dealing with

[DeeDeeNY]

11. A recent bad experience with Apoquel

After about a month on Apoquel, our dog started eating less and less and then would eat hardly anything, even treats, without extreme coaxing from us. She also became sluggish and lethargic with diarrhea and some throwing up. The vet took tests but couldn't figure out the loss of appetite. I then checked online for side effects from Apoquel and was upset to see it fit many of her symptoms. We stopped the Apoquel and within a day or so she was back to her old self, including her appetite.
It's possible it was all a coincidence, because she also had a urinary tract infection and had been on antibiotics. There's just no way to know for sure, but we plan to stay away from Apoquel in the future.