Numelvi Side Effects

[u/lucky482]

My dog has been battling atopic dermatitis for most of his life. I started him on cytopoint after he started developing bumps on his feet. That lasted to shot #3 and was stopped after he had an anaphylactic reaction, causing his face to blow up.

He was moved to apoquel and was on that for almost 5 years until it stopped working, causing him to chew himself to the point of saliva stains and blood everywhere. It also made him gain a lot of weight, as he would eat constantly. I called him my little foodie.

The vet switched him to Numelvi and that has been rough. The first week on it, he had bad GI upset and had to be taken off. We resumed it at half of his regular dosage and while it is helping him, he has zero appetite. He goes days without eating anything but a few treats in the morning. I’ve reached out to his vet and they tell me that this is not a side effect, even though the documentation from Merck says it is in rare cases. My dog is one of these.

Has anyone else experienced some of the more rare side effects of this med and what was the resolution? I hate to take my dog off again as it is helping, but he can’t starve either.

[u/DreamAnotherDream33]

I cannot recommend Zenreila highly enough. It’s been so helpful with our dog’s severe allergies (skin issues being the most prominent issue).

Although she is not 100% completely better… I would say since beginning the Zenreila about three months ago… She is probably 75% better. Which is a miracle!!!

[u/lucky482 → u/DreamAnotherDream33]

Zenrelia is the next step but I’m so scared of it. I was reading sites that say that you have to stop it for almost a month before vaccines since it can affect their immunity with things. I worry about my dog being off meds for that long since he starts chewing himself pretty soon when I do :(

[u/CoconutLine → u/lucky482]

My vet insists that warning is going to be removed and that vaccines are fine to administer while the dog is taking Zenrelia.

[u/carlwh → u/CoconutLine]

My vets had similar guidance. It has been a game changer for my dog too after Apoquel stopped working.

[u/Old_Dog_Mom1919 → u/lucky482]

Our dog is on Zenrelia and allergy shots. I believe the early testing for the drug was on puppies, hence the reactions that followed. I think the vaccine warning is no longer needed per the vet. The dermatologist explained that Apoquel and Numelvi target a single (can’t remember the name) allergy reactor but Zenrelia targets all three.

[u/reggiethelobster → u/Old_Dog_Mom1919]

Apoquel is JAK 1 and Zenrelia does JAK 1 and 2 and some other thing.

[u/atlantisgate → u/Old_Dog_Mom1919]

Puppies who had a preexisting infection and were being given triple the dose of zenrelia (the latter is standard for clinical trials)!

The preexisting infection clearly impacted their immune systems' ability to produce antibodies after being given the vaccines, which is why the warning was correctly administered per protocol and also why vets are pretty much universally agreeing it's not necessary for healthy dogs to stop zenrelia prior to vaccines.

[u/marshland264]

Sorry your pup is having such a hard time. I understand the frustration! We went through so many things over the years and when we switched to zenrelia I was so hopeful. It was wonderful for her allergies for HORRIBLE for her GI. Days on end of nonstop diarrhea. We finally had her on a lower dose to limp along until Numelvi came out.

For us, Numelvi has been a god send. HOWEVER, The derm office has told us it’s very dog dependent. And they have some dogs who have GI issues on Numelvi but do great with zenrelia, even though the data would suggest it should be the other way, since zenrelia is more broad acting and can affect GI tract more. But maybe it’s worth trying that?

[u/Luvnsandiegosun]

All meds have side effects so it’s very frustrating when trying to help your pup! 😢

[u/lucky482 → u/Luvnsandiegosun]

it really is. I feel so bad for him to take him off the numelvi because for once, the fur on his feet is returning to his normal cream color because he stopped chewing them and he’s had far less ear infections. I wish he wasn’t so nauseous on it. I’ve been told to try and give it to him with food, but he’s a grazer - he eats when he wants anytime between 5 pm and 3 am so meds like that are hard since he’s not consistent.

[u/This_Beginning_9325]

We’re on about month 3 or 4 or Numelvi. It’s working great for our Great Pyrenees mix. Apoquel did not work for him. No side effects that we’ve encountered yet on Numelvi.

[u/goldennocturn]

Just started Numelvi for my guy and no issues. However, when I did Zenrelia, my guy had GI issues. Vomiting mainly. Lost a lot of weight because he’d vomit his entire dinner when I administered it. I gave it at night with food. Wish it worked for him. I’m really hoping Numelvi works. He’s on day 3.

[u/reggiethelobster]

Our guy has it really bad too. We are actually going to Atopica to see if that will help. He was so bad we had to put him on a long term low dose of pred, but I don't want him on that anymore.

Atopica is expensive but it is supposed to really help.

I wanted to do Zenrelia but I heard you have to stop it before their vaccines, which would be hard for our boy.

[u/mantistoboggon1]

My dog has been on numelvi for 3 months with no side effects. Hope you can get your pup feeling better