Veterinary school warns about feline oclacitinib chewable tablets ingestion
After seeing two cases of intoxication of in cats after they ingested oclacitinib chewable tablets (Apoquel) prescribed for their canine housemates, NC State Veterinary School doctors warn cat owners and veterinarians about the possible risk of cats getting into the flavored chewable formulation of this drug.
Veterinarians at NC State’s College of Veterinary Medicine have seen two cats with acute kidney injury—both consumed chewable Apoquel. Those doctors are warning that the cats “actively sought out” the medicine. They also noted that the number of cases they’ve seen increased since Zoetis received FDA approval of the medicine in June of 2023.
Apoquel is used to treat signs of allergic dermatitis in dogs, such as itching and inflammation. It is FDA-approved and labeled for use in dogs only. For households that have both cats and dogs, NC State veterinarians note that pet owners should be “extra diligent in keeping the chewable form away from their cats.”
In the release that was sent out by NC State, Dr. Tyler Johnson, a fellow in advanced emergency and critical care and extracorporeal therapies, added that the two cats “required hemodialysis for support but fully recovered after in-clinic care.”
From AAHA’s Guidelines
Read more about AAHA’s 2023 Management of Allergic Skin Diseases in Dogs and Cats Guidelines here. The guidelines include summaries of oral medications indicated for the treatment of allergic skin diseases in dogs (including oclatinib) and can help you choose an appropriate treatment option for your patient. For cats, treatment options such as steroids, antihistamines, immunosuppressants, essential fatty acids, and allergen-specific immunotherapy are discussed.
When prescribing oclacitinib chewable tablets for canines, asking the client if they have cats in the household is a simple way to mention the risks upfront with the client, according to those scame doctors.
In the same release, Dr. Shelly Vaden, who is a professor of small animal internal medicine at the NC State College of Veterinary Medicine and the president of the American College of Veterinary Nephrology and Urology said, “we believe that households with cats should rely on the original, nonchewable form of Apoquel or be extra diligent in keeping the chewable form away from their cats.”
Zenrelia (ilunocitinib tablets)
In September of 2024, Elanco Animal Health announced that the FDA had approved Zenrelia (ilunocitinib tablets). The drug, an oral JAK inhibitor in the same family as Apoquel. The Zenrelia label and prescribing information include a black box warning regarding the use of the drug in conjunction with vaccines in dogs.
Note to readers: Zoetis participates in AAHA’s mission partner program at the summit level, supporting the organization through education and guidelines sponsorship, exhibiting, and advertising.
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