Apoquel and Cytopoint are the two allergy treatments vets prescribe most for itchy dogs, and once a dog is on one of them, it’s often for months or years. Over that time, the price difference can add up to more than a thousand dollars.
Which one is cheaper isn’t fixed. The two are priced in completely different ways, and the cheaper choice flips depending on your dog’s weight and how long each Cytopoint injection lasts for your dog.
How They Differ
| Apoquel (oclacitinib) | Cytopoint (lokivetmab) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Daily tablet that blocks itch signalling inside the body | Antibody injection that neutralizes one of the main itch signals |
| How often | Twice daily for up to 14 days, then once daily | One injection every 4–8 weeks, at the clinic |
| How fast | Usually within a day | Usually within about 24 hours |
| Age | Labeled for dogs 12 months and older | No equivalent age restriction |
| How it’s priced | Per tablet; strengths are often priced alike | By body weight; bigger dogs need more product |
Neither drug cures the allergy. They control the itch while the cause — environmental allergies, a food allergy, or fleas — is identified and managed.
Why the Pricing Works Differently
Apoquel is sold per tablet, and pharmacy price lists often charge the same for the 3.6 mg, 5.4 mg and 16 mg strengths. The label dose chart, which works out the tablet count from your dog’s weight, uses half tablets for some weight bands:
| Dog’s weight | Label dose (per dose) | Tablets per day after the first 14 days |
|---|---|---|
| 3–4.4 kg (7–9 lb) | ½ × 3.6 mg | ½ |
| 4.5–5.9 kg (10–13 lb) | ½ × 5.4 mg | ½ |
| 6–8.9 kg (13–19 lb) | 1 × 3.6 mg | 1 |
| 9–13.4 kg (20–29 lb) | 1 × 5.4 mg | 1 |
| 13.5–19.9 kg (30–43 lb) | ½ × 16 mg | ½ |
| 20–26.9 kg (44–59 lb) | 2 × 5.4 mg | 2 |
| 27–39.9 kg (60–87 lb) | 1 × 16 mg | 1 |
| 40–54.9 kg (88–121 lb) | 1½ × 16 mg | 1½ |
| 55–80 kg (121–176 lb) | 2 × 16 mg | 2 |
That’s why a 15 kg dog can cost less to keep on Apoquel than an 8 kg dog: one takes half a tablet a day and the other a whole one.
Cytopoint is dosed by body weight. A 40 lb dog uses one 40 mg vial, while an 80 lb dog needs two. The cost climbs steadily with size, and how often it’s repeated — every four weeks or every eight — doubles or halves the yearly bill.
What Each Costs
Using about $2.94 per Apoquel tablet (one animal hospital’s published price list) and published per-injection ranges for Cytopoint:
| Per month | Per year | |
|---|---|---|
| Apoquel, ½ tablet a day | About $44 | About $540 |
| Apoquel, 1 tablet a day | About $88 | About $1,070 |
| Apoquel, 1½ tablets a day | About $132 | About $1,610 |
| Apoquel, 2 tablets a day | About $176 | About $2,150 |
| Cytopoint, small dog ($50–$100 per injection) | About $27–$108 | About $325–$1,300 |
| Cytopoint, medium dog ($90–$180) | About $49–$195 | About $585–$2,340 |
| Cytopoint, large dog ($150–$260) | About $81–$282 | About $975–$3,380 |
| Cytopoint, giant dog ($200–$300+) | About $108–$325+ | About $1,300–$3,900+ |
Cytopoint figures cover the range from one injection every 8 weeks to one every 4 weeks. The first month of Apoquel costs more because of the twice-daily start: about $129 for a dog that ends up on one tablet a day.
What this means in practice:
- Small dogs, and dogs on half a tablet: Apoquel is often the cheaper option, unless Cytopoint lasts the full 8 weeks.
- Large and giant dogs: Apoquel is usually cheaper, especially if Cytopoint only lasts 4–6 weeks.
- Seasonal itch: Cytopoint can be cheaper if your dog only needs a few injections a year, because you pay nothing between flare-ups.
- Exam fees: Cytopoint is given at the clinic, and some clinics charge a visit fee each time. Ask whether a technician appointment is enough.
Prices vary a lot between clinics and online pharmacies, so ask for the actual per-tablet and per-injection price before deciding.
Things That Matter More Than Price
- Pills or injections. Some dogs refuse tablets and some owners struggle to give a daily dose. With Apoquel, missed doses let the itch come back quickly; a Cytopoint injection is done for the month.
- Age. Apoquel is labeled for dogs 12 months and older. Cytopoint is often chosen for younger dogs.
- Other health conditions. Apoquel’s label warns against use in dogs with serious infections, suppressed immune systems or progressing cancer, and advises monitoring for infections. Your vet will weigh that against your dog’s history.
- How long the itch control lasts. Some dogs get 8 weeks from Cytopoint and others only 4. Tracking itch helps you see when it wears off — our Pet Itch Score Tracker lets you score it at home.
Where Zenrelia Fits
Zenrelia (ilunocitinib) is a newer once-daily tablet, approved by the FDA in September 2024 for allergic and atopic itch in dogs 12 months and older. It works on similar pathways to Apoquel and has no twice-daily start.
Its label carries a boxed warning: dogs taking it may not respond adequately to vaccines. The label says to stop it at least 28 days to 3 months before vaccination and wait at least 28 days afterwards before restarting. An earlier warning about fatal vaccine-induced disease from modified-live vaccines was later removed after the FDA reviewed the evidence. If your dog is due for vaccines, plan the timing with your vet.
Finding the Cause Saves the Most
Both drugs control itch only while they’re being given. Finding the cause is what lowers the long-term bill:
- Fleas cause itch that no allergy drug fixes well. Year-round prevention is often the first step — see Flea & Tick Prevention Cost.
- Food allergy is diagnosed with a strict elimination diet trial lasting at least 8 weeks. Our Elimination Diet Trial Planner builds the dated schedule.
- Recurring ear infections often travel with allergies. The Ear Infection Recurrence Checker helps you spot the pattern.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, Apoquel or Cytopoint? It depends mainly on your dog’s weight and how often Cytopoint needs repeating. Apoquel is usually priced per tablet with little difference between strengths, so its monthly cost follows how many tablets the dose chart calls for — about $44 a month for a dog on half a tablet a day and about $88 for one tablet. Cytopoint is dosed by weight, so it costs more for bigger dogs: roughly $50–$100 per injection for a small dog and $150–$260 or more for a large one, repeated every 4 to 8 weeks.
How much does Cytopoint cost? Roughly $50–$100 per injection for a small dog, $90–$180 for a medium dog, $150–$260 for a large dog and $200–$300 or more for a giant breed, because larger dogs need bigger or multiple vials. One injection usually lasts 4 to 8 weeks, so a year of year-round use typically costs about $325–$1,300 for a small dog and about $975–$3,400 for a large one, plus any exam fees.
How much does Apoquel cost per month? At about $2.94 a tablet — the price on one animal hospital’s published list — a dog on one tablet a day costs about $88 a month in maintenance. The first month costs more, because the label dose is twice daily for up to 14 days before dropping to once daily: about $129 for a one-tablet dog. Dogs whose dose is half a tablet pay about half that, and dogs needing two tablets pay about double.
How quickly do Apoquel and Cytopoint work? Both work quickly. Apoquel generally starts reducing itch within a day of the first dose. Cytopoint usually starts working within about 24 hours of the injection and lasts 4 to 8 weeks. Neither treats the cause of the allergy, so the itch returns when the drug wears off or is stopped.
Can puppies take Apoquel or Cytopoint? Apoquel is labeled only for dogs at least 12 months old and at least 3 kg. Cytopoint doesn’t have the same age restriction, which is one reason vets often use it for younger dogs. Zenrelia, a newer once-daily tablet, is also labeled for dogs 12 months and older.
What is Zenrelia, and how does it compare? Zenrelia (ilunocitinib) is a once-daily tablet approved by the FDA in September 2024 for allergic and atopic itch in dogs 12 months and older. It works on similar pathways to Apoquel. Its label carries a boxed warning that dogs may not respond adequately to vaccines, so it should be stopped at least 28 days to 3 months before vaccination and not restarted until at least 28 days after. An earlier warning about fatal vaccine-induced disease was later removed.
Related Articles
- Pet Itch Score Tracker — score itch at home to see when treatment wears off
- Elimination Diet Trial Planner
- Flea & Tick Prevention Cost for Dogs and Cats
- How to Reduce Vet Costs Without Compromising Your Dog’s Care