Oclacitinib for Controlling Pruritus and Associated Skin Lesions in 16 Horses With Allergic Dermatitis.

Oclacitinib effectively reduces pruritus in equine allergic dermatitis but requires monitoring for hepatic and renal effects.

This study evaluated oclacitinib, a Janus kinase inhibitor approved for canine allergic dermatitis, in 16 horses with allergic dermatitis. Horses received 0.25 mg/kg orally once daily for 21 days. Pruritus Visual Analog Scale (PVAS) scores improved significantly from median 5 to 2.5, veterinarian lesion scores (VLS) decreased from 19 to 10, and veterinarian alopecia scores (VAS) improved from 2 to 2. Clinical improvement was observed in 15 of 16 horses for pruritus and 12 of 16 for skin lesions. Hematological and biochemical analyses revealed significant increases in aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and creatinine, with decreases in white blood cell and lymphocyte counts. Oclacitinib demonstrated efficacy in managing equine allergic dermatitis; however, careful consideration is warranted in horses with underlying renal, hepatic, or muscular disease due to observed laboratory changes.

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