Common Medications

A reference for medications often used to manage itch and skin conditions in dogs. Your vet will choose based on your dog's history and severity. Always follow your vet's prescribed dose and schedule.

Anti-itch medications

Medication	Type	How it works	Typical use	Onset	Common side effects
Apoquel (oclacitinib)	Tablet	JAK inhibitor; blocks itch signals	Allergic itch	Hours	GI upset (vomit, diarrhoea) in some dogs; not for very young dogs or those with mite infections
Numelvi (atinvicitinib)	Tablet	Second-generation JAK1 inhibitor; highly selective for itch pathway	Allergic itch (atopic, flea allergy, seasonal)	~2 hours	Mild: diarrhoea, vomiting, lethargy, reduced appetite; from 6 months+; give with food once daily
Cytopoint (lokivetmab)	Injection	Targets IL-31 (itch cytokine)	Allergic itch	1–3 days	Rare; occasional injection-site reaction
Prednisolone	Tablet	Steroid; anti-inflammatory	Acute flares	Hours	Thirst, hunger, panting, weight gain if used long-term; best for short courses
Atopica (ciclosporin)	Capsule	Immunosuppressant	When other options fail	4–6 weeks	GI upset, gum overgrowth, hair changes; slower to work
Antihistamines	Tablet	Block histamine	Mild cases or add-on	Variable	Drowsiness; success varies by dog

Infection treatments

Medication	Type	Used for	Typical duration	Notes
Cephalexin	Antibiotic	Bacterial skin infection (pyoderma)	3–4 weeks	Continue 7 days after lesions clear; full course important
Ketoconazole	Antifungal	Yeast (Malassezia) skin/ear infection	2–3 weeks	Also available as shampoo; liver monitoring in some cases
Itraconazole	Antifungal	Yeast infection	2–3 weeks	Alternative to ketoconazole
Chlorhexidine shampoo	Topical	Bacteria and yeast on skin	Weekly baths	Supportive; removes allergens and microbes
Benzoyl peroxide shampoo	Topical	Bacterial skin infection	Weekly baths	Can be drying; follow vet advice

Skin care (supportive)

Product	Purpose
Fatty acid supplements	May help skin barrier; safe add-on
Moisturisers / barrier creams	Support skin barrier; reduce dryness
Ear cleaners	Drying or antifungal; used before ear drops

Immunotherapy

Allergen-specific immunotherapy — Shots or drops given over many months to desensitise the dog to specific allergens (e.g. pollens, dust mites). The only treatment that can modify the underlying allergy. Effects take months to develop.

For your vet
Track the Itch reports include active treatments and dates. Use them to assess compliance and correlate treatment changes with itch score trends.