FDA warns of rising accidental overdoses in pets from Apoquel Chewable tablets

The US Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning after a surge in accidental overdoses involving Apoquel Chewable, a tablet for dogs that has led to concerns over safety in households with cats.

The US Food and Drug Administration is warning pet owners after a steady rise in accidental overdoses involving Apoquel Chewable, a pork-liver flavoured tablet approved for dogs, not cats. The agency said it had logged 259 overdose reports in dogs and 64 in cats since the product’s approval in June 2023, with reports continuing to mount through April this year.

Apoquel Chewable contains oclacitinib and is prescribed to relieve itching linked to allergic skin disease and atopic dermatitis in dogs aged at least one year. But the chewable format appears to have increased the risk of accidental ingestion, particularly in households with cats, which are more likely to suffer severe reactions.

According to the FDA, signs of overdose can include vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy, eye redness and swelling, as well as damage to the heart, brain, kidneys and liver. Symptoms usually emerge within 24 hours.

Veterinary poison specialists have also reported a sharp increase in exposure calls since the chewable version reached the market in late 2023. In a separate warning, North Carolina State University vets described severe kidney injury in two cats that ate the tablets, underscoring how quickly the drug can become dangerous if it is left within reach.