The Role of Oclacitinib in the Management of Ischemic Dermatopathy in Four Dogs

The study described the use of oclacitinib, a nonselective Janus-kinase inhibitor, in managing ischaemic dermatopathy in four mixed-breed dogs that were refractory to conventional immunosuppression. The dogs, aged 6 to 9 months, presented with generalized patchy alopecia, scarring, and ulcerative dermatitis. Initial treatments with glucocorticoids and adjuvant immunosuppressants failed to achieve complete remission. However, the administration of oclacitinib at 0.4-0.7 mg/kg twice daily, alongside a tapering regimen of oral prednisolone, led to full clinical remission within four weeks, with prednisolone being discontinued within eight weeks. Remission was maintained in two dogs with reduced oclacitinib doses, while the other two required continued twice-daily administration. The findings suggested that oclacitinib could be a valuable immunosuppressive adjuvant for treating severe or refractory ischaemic dermatopathy, warranting further investigation into its safety, efficacy, and mechanism of action.