Does your dog take Apoquel?

[Jessica08]

My lab is going on 13 years old, and he has been on cyclosporine for the past several years for his allergies. It works well enough, but it hasn't been all that effective this summer, so the vet is wanting to try him on Apoquel. It's a little bit cheaper route, but I'm curious if it has to be given every day in the winter? With cyclosporine, my dog could get by with taking it every other day in the winter, which saved me money.

It looks as if Apoquel will have to be given every day after the intial 2x daily for two weeks. What is your experience with the drug? Do you give it every day or can you get by with every other day? Would that make it less effective? I'm curious because his first dose will be Thursday.

Thanks!

[Meeps83]

No experience with either of those. I give mine Zyrtec for allergies. Hope it goes well!

[Snowshoe]

We went from Atopica to Apoquel for such a short time I couldn't tell if it was working or not. Apoquel would have to given, for Oban, more frequently even after the loading dose, making it much more expensive. This was when we discovered Oban had a gut issue, we got that cleared up and he has been off drugs for three years and does not itch. He is on TCM.

[Nancy0]

We use it, but only as an on needed basis. Niner takes it for a cyst between his toes (long story) that comes and goes. He is currently finishing up another 30 day supply. It's expensive here. I paid $109 for a 30 day supply.

[outrag]

We went from Atopica to Apoquel for such a short time I couldn't tell if it was working or not. Apoquel would have to given, for Oban, more frequently even after the loading dose, making it much more expensive. This was when we discovered Oban had a gut issue, we got that cleared up and he has been off drugs for three years and does not itch. He is on TCM.

How did you clear up his gut and what is TCM?

Thanks - Bob

[Snowshoe]

Easy question first - TCM is Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Oban's gut was many things but the first big step and the one that showed immediate results was the new Holistic/Integrative Vet taking him off kibble and feeding a home cooked diet, then moving to a raw diet. Now, up front, the gut issue re-occurred many months later and the specialist Vet is anti raw so he is back on a kibble but it's, well it was, a novel protein. That's what the home cooked was too, novel protein and novel carb. Off all traditional meds for itching and for his massive diarrhoea ( the diarrhoea ones weren't helping anyway). He also had a faecal transplant, B12 injections and later on some liver med I forget as the liver values dropped off. At the very beginning, if the Vet at the time had only jumped on it, Oban's albumin levels were low which is a hallmark symptom with Lymphangiectasia. To be fair, Oban did not show one single other symptom at the time. This is the short form.

[outrag]

Easy question first - TCM is Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Oban's gut was many things but the first big step and the one that showed immediate results was the new Holistic/Integrative Vet taking him off kibble and feeding a home cooked diet, then moving to a raw diet. Now, up front, the gut issue re-occurred many months later and the specialist Vet is anti raw so he is back on a kibble but it's, well it was, a novel protein. That's what the home cooked was too, novel protein and novel carb. Off all traditional meds for itching and for his massive diarrhoea ( the diarrhoea ones weren't helping anyway). He also had a faecal transplant, B12 injections and later on some liver med I forget as the liver values dropped off. At the very beginning, if the Vet at the time had only jumped on it, Oban's albumin levels were low which is a hallmark symptom with Lymphangiectasia. To be fair, Oban did not show one single other symptom at the time. This is the short form.

Thanks...what were Oban's symptoms for you to try Apoquel? My dog Griffin does not display any gut symptoms that I can see. He eats well, poops great, although occasionaly will vomit ( from an empty stomach I presume as it's just bile). He does eat grass though as does my older dog (who does not have allergies). Griffin's symptoms are just scratching, itching, biting legs and feet, occasionally getting eye and ear infections, etc. Steroids helped him dramatically, but he's on very little now, mostly benedryl, which doesn't seem to do much. He's also shedding like crazy with his very thick coat..vacuum rug and next day have to do it again...

Thanks again

I hope I'm not hijacking this thread but it is Apoquel and allergy related

[Snowshoe]

Oban was already on Atopica (lesser evil than steroids like Prednisone) for itching and had good luck with it for three summers. But that summer he never got over the initial vomiting so we decided to try Apoquel instead. Ironically Atopica and other immune suppressing meds are often used successfully to treat Lymphangiectasia.

[Macy]

Macy is currently on Apoquel as needed. The Apoquel keeps her comfortable when she has itchy days. Apoquel was a game changer for us. It works quickly too. I think she gets an Apoquel twice a week at the very most. My 30 day supply is $45.

[Dakota18]

Timber takes Apoquel mostly from May to November. It has helped him so much, but I am paying 150 for a 30 day supply. How is yours so inexpensive Macy?
He is 100 pounds so I'm sure that doesn't help. It does work fast though!