Pet Poison Helpline says calls about Apoquel are climbing, and one case explains why. A dog’s refilled bottle held 13 tablets. It turned up empty on the floor of an Indiana home with five cats and one dog, while the dog was at work with its owner.
Only one cat showed signs. Tangerine had a raised third eyelid and was squinting. Bloodwork at an Indianapolis emergency clinic found the liver and kidneys already affected, and toxicologists said the amount she swallowed could have been fatal without treatment. Two days of IV fluids, liver support, treatment to clear the drug and heart monitoring turned it around. She went home healthy and the other four cats stayed well.
Why the chewable worries vets
Apoquel is a useful drug at the dose your vet prescribes. Trouble shows up with large accidental doses, and cats handle it badly. The FDA flagged the pork liver flavored chewable in July 2026 because the taste appeals to cats as much as dogs. As of April 2, 2026 the agency had logged 259 overdose reports in dogs and 64 in cats since the chewable was approved in June 2023, with signs including vomiting, lethargy, eye swelling and effects on the heart, kidneys and liver, usually within 24 hours.
What this means for your dog
Store every medication in its original packaging, in a cabinet a pet cannot reach. Multi-pet homes carry the most risk, since a cat will sample a flavored pill meant for the dog. If you suspect an ingestion, call your vet or an animal poison control line right away instead of waiting for symptoms, and have every pet checked even when only one looks sick. Our guides to what happens when a dog eats naproxen and to over-the-counter allergy meds for dogs cover other household pills, and if you have cats, ask your vet whether the plain tablet works as well as the chewable.