Canine Skin Allergy
Seeing your canine love scratch like crazy is not the best feeling. Other than persistent itching, if your dog is rubbing, licking or biting its skin and has developed rashes, your companion might be suffering from allergic dermatitis. Allergic dermatitis is subjected to parasites such as fleas and ticks, allergens including dust, grass, dust mites, etc. When the dog’s immune system reacts to any of these elements present in the environment, it results in allergic reactions such as inflammation, scratching, etc. But there’s an anti-allergic treatment that provides dogs relief from such conditions, i.e., Apoquel.
Apoquel is a vet-recommended treatment that helps dogs with a variety of skin conditions. This blog provides all the information you should know about this product. Continue reading to learn more.
Apoquel – Quick & Safe Itch Relief
Apoquel is a fast-acting, highly effective oral treatment that provides rapid relief from pruritus in dogs from 12 months of age. The formula effectively controls itching associated with allergic dermatitis and helps control atopic dermatitis.
Composition & Action Mechanism
Apoquel contains oclacitinib, an immunomodulator that blocks enzymes Janus kinases (JAK1 and JAK3) responsible for itching and inflammation with minimal effects on immune system (JAK2).
Apoquel relieves itching and swelling by targeting the itch signal in the dog’s body and stops itching before it starts. This fast-acting formula begins controlling allergic itching within 4 hours in dogs with allergic dermatitis.
Specifications
Apoquel is known to be the first treatment, developed precisely to target pruritus (itching) and inflammation caused by allergic and atopic dermatitis in dogs. Take a look at the advantages of this treatment.
Fast & effective
Apoquel begins alleviating allergic itch within 4 hours and provides effective control within 24 hours.
Works at the root cause
It targets the itch signal in the dog’s body and inhibits the activity of proinflammatory and pruritogenic cytokines responsible for pruritus and swelling.
Indicated for various allergic conditions
Apoquel is effective in relieving,
- atopic dermatitis
- flea allergy
- food allergy
- contact allergy
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Comparable to steroids
Apoquel is shown to be as effective as steroids in reducing skin inflammation caused by allergic dermatitis.
Minimal effects on the immune system
Apoquel works differently from steroids and cyclosporines and targets specific enzymes that cause itching and swelling, leaving minor effects on the dog’s immune system.
Flexible dosing
It can be administered for long-term maintenance therapy or as a short-term treatment to dogs from 12 months of age.
Dosing
Apoquel is formulated in easy-to-dose tablet form that should be given orally to puppies and dogs from 12 months of age.
- The tablets may be offered with food or without food.
- Initially, Apoquel should be given twice daily for up to 14 days. Thereafter, it should be given once daily as maintenance treatment.
Refer to the dosage chart mentioned below to administer appropriate dose.
Safety & Precautions
The use of Apoquel comes with wide safety margins. Take a look at the safety guide.
- Apoquel should not be used in puppies under 12 months of age.
- This treatment is not for human use and should be kept away from the reach of children and pets.
- Dogs treated with Apoquel should be monitored for demodicosis and neoplasia infections.
- Apoquel should not be used in combination with cyclosporine, glucocorticoids and other immunosuppressive agents.
- The use of Apoquel should be avoided in dogs suffering from serious skin infections.
- It should not be used in breeding, pregnant and lactating dogs.
In the End
Casual scratching is common in dogs, however, when your canine is persistently itching or licking their skin, can be a sign of an allergic skin condition that should be addressed immediately. Talk to a veterinarian to unveil the underlying cause and administer the most recommended dog skin allergy treatment, Apoquel.