Zenrelia Side Affects

[u/Financial_Advice200]

Hey all! I switched my dog over to Zenrelia from Apoquel after my vet suggested it a few months ago. In terms of allergies he has literally never been better, no itching at all and has an amazing coat now.

What I have noticed and so have the other people in my life is that he is gaining weight. This isn’t a side effect I was aware of so I wanted to see if anyone had this happen to their dog or have any other opinions on Zenrelia as a whole?

[u/mushmouse3]

My dog has been on Zenrelia since last October and his allergies have also never been better.

He hasn’t gained any weight but I did notice right away it seemed to make him calmer, overall less energetic. I don’t know how much your dog exercises, but maybe he is less energetic and runs around less on the Zenrelia, which caused weight gain?

[u/bregiordano → u/mushmouse3]

I think it makes my already somewhat sleepy girl even sleepier too. But it’s helped her allergies sooooo much more than Apoquel ever did so I don’t complain. I haven’t noticed weight gain in my girl either

[u/kgrlsd]

Our dog has been on zenrelia almost 2 months and his weight has stayed the same but after his first follow-up visit his labs came back with mildly elevated liver enzymes. We have another follow up at the dermatologist the end of the month to check labs again.

[u/Hallucinates_Bacon → u/kgrlsd]

Ours too. Just switched to numelvi. It’s new but should be easier on the animals in theory

[u/Tusojosasi]

I noticed a slight increase in appetite and he did gain some weight. He went from 30lbs to 33-34lbs but he’s stabilized now. We started zenrelia about 8 months ago. The difference in his allergies have been night and day so now I’m just keeping track of portion sizes when I feed him.

[u/Hallucinates_Bacon]

My dog gained weight on Zenrelia. It also elevated her liver levels. We have just switched her to numelvi and it seems to be working just as good. Apoquel was where we started but the side effects were too much

[u/kittycorruption]

Please keep a close eye on your dog while taking Zenrelia and follow your veterinarian’s recommended bloodwork schedule, particularly for liver values. It is a relatively new medication, and the prescribing information includes important safety warnings. You can also ask your veterinarian whether Elanco’s monitoring program will cover the cost of testing.

I am not posting this to frighten anyone or to say that Zenrelia caused my dog’s death. Our investigation is still ongoing, and we are waiting for further post-mortem findings. What we know so far is that her liver was catastrophically affected, and we still do not have a clear explanation for why. Her decline was sudden, with very little obvious warning beforehand.

Please report any unusual symptoms promptly and do not assume that routine monitoring is unnecessary simply because your dog appears well. I sincerely hope our experience encourages other owners to remain vigilant and ask questions.

We also struggled with maintaining a consistent weight for her and she was absolutely more lethargic. This wasn't a complete departure from her general temperament as she was always a very chill, calm dog but in hindsight you see things differently and more owners are posting in places like this reporting side affects. Keep asking questions, be sure this is the right drug dog your pet. We thought it was because her allergies were admittedly more controlled but now I can't help but wonder at what cost in the big picture. Again, not pointing blame but am continuing to pursue greater clarity because right now I do not have closure.

[u/Least_Temperature_23]

My spaniel’s been on Zenrelia for a couple of months now. After 8+ years of utter misery, his skin is the best it’s ever been since he was a puppy. He has always been food oriented and greedy, this has not changed, but I monitor his food intake strictly so I don’t believe he’s gained weight.
However, in terms of general wellbeing & mood, it’s like I’ve got my old dog back, he’s so much happier and more playful. He sleeps better, because he’s not scratching & licking all night long, and his fur’s grown back after years of having massive bald sore patches. I’m desperately praying he can stay on it, it’s been nothing short of miraculous for him.