Hannah Zulueta The Itch Was Never Just an Allergy
What two rounds of Apoquel taught me, and how I look at a dog’s itch now.
When our dog gets sick, it cuts deeply. We all want our furry best friends to be healthy and thriving. In the summer of 2016, I learned this the hard way.
My dog Maggie was prescribed Apoquel for what seemed like a routine issue. We completed two 30-day courses of treatment before I discovered something troubling: Apoquel should never be given to dogs under one year old. Maggie was still a puppy.
Apoquel (oclacitinib) is not approved for dogs under 12 months of age. Maggie was still a puppy through both courses.
Looking back, her itching was likely triggered by a vaccine reaction combined with the wrong shampoo, one that stripped away her skin’s natural protective barrier.
I managed what I thought were allergies reasonably well, but Maggie remained vulnerable to what Traditional Chinese Medicine calls wind, a condition rooted in weak wei qi, or defensive energy. She broke out in hives several times. The first time, the vet gave her a Cytopoint injection. The second time, they recommended Benadryl.
As she grew older and I shifted to feeding her fresh food, her skin strengthened. But during the Covid lockdowns, when curbside drop-offs were standard, she developed a severe itch that wouldn’t stop. She was scratching constantly, so I brought her in. The vet administered a Cytopoint shot without asking my permission first.
I was furious. But when I picked her up, Maggie was calm, almost peaceful, as if her skin had finally stopped burning. I decided to use that month to try a different approach. That’s when I turned to TCM herbs. I gave her Qing Ying Tang to cool the blood, along with a wind-clearing formula, for about thirty days. Her itching hasn’t returned since.
The question is not, is this an allergy? It is, where is the qi stuck, and what is invading the body?
Under the Western framework, any persistent itch gets labeled an allergy. I approach it differently. That shift in perspective changes everything that follows.
I’ve noticed something when I meet with dog parents: a look of guilt or shame. Often it stems from having advocated for their dog’s care, only to be publicly shamed in online groups for choosing medications like Apoquel.
Never feel guilty about the decisions you made for your dog in that specific moment, in your unique circumstances.
I have deep respect for every dog owner navigating these difficult choices and doing their best. Medicine serves an important purpose. What it does exceptionally well is stop acute inflammation fast.
Naturally, the next question I hear is, should I stop the medication? I don’t ethically interfere with the care your vet has prescribed. That decision has to be yours alone.
I’ve worked with dog owners who chose to stop Apoquel or Cytopoint on their own to see what happens. Sometimes this backfires and the inflammation returns intensely. Fortunately, these owners reach out to me after their experimentation, and we can turn to herbal formulas, similar to what I used for Maggie, to manage the flare.
But this approach requires caution.
Never give cold, bitter herbs when an external pathogen is present. You risk driving the pathogen deeper into the body. I’m specifically talking about Lyme disease. If a dog tests positive for Lyme and develops itching, the approach changes: diaphoretic formulas that help lift the pathogen out and resolve the itch from the source, not cold draining ones.
I shared this next part with a client, and I’m including it here because I think it will help others. Under the Western framework, any persistent itch gets labeled an allergy. My process is to rule out the obvious first, in order.
Notice what I’m not doing. I’m not asking whether this is an allergy. I’m asking where the qi is stuck, or what is invading the body. That shift in perspective changes everything.
People seek security in specificity. They want a precise herb, an exact recipe, a clear timeline. But TCM doesn’t work that way, because every dog is unique.
A dog in North Carolina faces different conditions than one in San Diego, Ireland, Florida, or Indonesia. Climate, environment, genetics, diet, stress, all of it shapes the body’s terrain and vulnerabilities. That’s why everything must be tailored to your individual dog. Before I can help bring a dog’s body back into balance, I need to understand context. Health history. History of symptoms. How is life for your dog?
So I apologize that I can’t give a straightforward answer. Until I know why your dog is the way they are, I can’t develop a plan for what food or herbs will serve them best.
It’s possible. It takes time and commitment. And if you’re willing to try, I’ll be in the trenches with you, every step of the way.
Work with me on your dog’s itchUntil I know why your dog is the way they are, I won’t pretend to have your answer. But together we can find it.
This article is educational and reflects the author’s clinical perspective. It is not veterinary advice. Decisions about starting or stopping any medication belong with you and your veterinarian.
Hannah Zulueta obtained her Certificate in Canine Nutrition from CASI Institute. She is also studying for her Doctorate in Acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Herbalism from the esteemed Pacific College of Health and Medicine. If you’re as keenly interested in health for yourself, visit her website for human health: Satori Acupuncture and Herbs.
She resides in San Diego with her three dogs, Maggie, Orbit, and Mr. Higgins.
She is available for one on one consultations. She develops evidence-based recipes that meet both NRC and AAFCO nutritional standards while integrating the therapeutic food principles of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine into her formulations.
Additionally, you can find her sharing free content on Instagram.
