# Case Report: Clinical manifestations reported in a canine after ingesting ruxolitinib phosphate (Opzelura®)

**Authors:** Leah D. Swanson, Renee D. Schmid, Steven Butt, Lynn R. Hovda

PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2026.1757633 · 2026-02-12

## TL;DR

A dog showed heart and eye issues after using a cream containing ruxolitinib phosphate, highlighting potential risks of JAK inhibitors in animals.

## Contribution

This case report adds to the understanding of JAK inhibitor toxicosis in veterinary medicine through a specific canine case.

## Key findings

- The dog developed cardiovascular and ocular abnormalities after ingesting ruxolitinib phosphate.
- The case shows similarities in clinical manifestations to oclacitinib maleate overdoses in dogs.
- The report emphasizes the need for awareness of JAK inhibitor toxicosis in veterinary practice.

## Abstract

This case report describes a canine patient that developed cardiovascular and ocular abnormalities following ingestion of ruxolitinib phosphate 1.5% topical cream. The objective of this report is to characterize the exposure history, clinical presentation, diagnostic findings, therapeutic interventions, and to evaluate ruxolitinib phosphate within the context of its pharmacologic class, emphasizing similarities with related veterinary medications. Building on a recently published retrospective study of oclacitinib maleate overdoses, this case highlights shared clinical manifestations of ruxolitinib phosphate overdose and contributes to a broader understanding of JAK inhibitor toxicosis in veterinary medicine.

## Linked entities

- **Chemicals:** ruxolitinib phosphate (PubChem CID 25127112), oclacitinib maleate (PubChem CID 44631937)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** TLR4 (toll like receptor 4) [NCBI Gene 7099] {aka ARMD10, CD284, TLR-4, TOLL}, JAK3 (Janus kinase 3) [NCBI Gene 3718] {aka JAK-3, JAK3_HUMAN, JAKL, L-JAK, LJAK}, TNF (tumor necrosis factor) [NCBI Gene 7124] {aka DIF, IMD127, TNF-alpha, TNFA, TNFSF2, TNLG1F}, CCL2 (C-C motif chemokine ligand 2) [NCBI Gene 6347] {aka GDCF-2, HC11, HSMCR30, MCAF, MCP-1, MCP1}, IL1B (interleukin 1 beta) [NCBI Gene 3553] {aka IL-1, IL1-BETA, IL1F2, IL1beta}, TXK (TXK tyrosine kinase) [NCBI Gene 7294] {aka BTKL, PSCTK5, PTK4, RLK, TKL}, IL31 (interleukin 31) [NCBI Gene 386653] {aka IL-31}, IL12B (interleukin 12B) [NCBI Gene 3593] {aka CLMF, CLMF2, IL-12B, IMD28, IMD29, NKSF}, GPT (glutamic--pyruvic transaminase) [NCBI Gene 2875] {aka AAT1, ALT, ALT1, GPT1, SGPT}, TYK2 (tyrosine kinase 2) [NCBI Gene 7297] {aka IMD35, JTK1}, ADRB2 (adrenoceptor beta 2) [NCBI Gene 154] {aka ADRB2R, ADRBR, ARB2, B2AR, BAR, BETA2AR}, IL23A (interleukin 23 subunit alpha) [NCBI Gene 51561] {aka IL-23, IL-23A, IL23P19, P19, SGRF}, IL6 (interleukin 6) [NCBI Gene 3569] {aka BSF-2, BSF2, CDF, HGF, HSF, IFN-beta-2}, JAK2 (Janus kinase 2) [NCBI Gene 484185], CRP (C-reactive protein) [NCBI Gene 1401] {aka PTX1}, SLC17A5 (solute carrier family 17 member 5) [NCBI Gene 26503] {aka AST, ISSD, NSD, SD, SIALIN, SIASD}, JAK1 (Janus kinase 1) [NCBI Gene 3716] {aka AIIDE, JAK1A, JAK1B, JTK3}, CMPK1 (cytidine/uridine monophosphate kinase 1) [NCBI Gene 51727] {aka CK, CMK, CMPK, UMK, UMP-CMPK, UMPK}, IL13 (interleukin 13) [NCBI Gene 3596] {aka IL-13, P600}, IL5 (interleukin 5) [NCBI Gene 3567] {aka EDF, IL-5, TRF}, TBCE (tubulin folding cofactor E) [NCBI Gene 6905] {aka HRD, KCS, KCS1, PEAMO, pac2}, JAK2 (Janus kinase 2) [NCBI Gene 3717] {aka JTK10}, IL2 (interleukin 2) [NCBI Gene 3558] {aka IL-2, TCGF, lymphokine}, JAK1 (Janus kinase 1) [NCBI Gene 442952], IL4 (interleukin 4) [NCBI Gene 3565] {aka BCGF-1, BCGF1, BSF-1, BSF1, IL-4}
- **Diseases:** inflammation (MESH:D007249), sinus bradycardia (MESH:D012804), hyperinflammatory syndromes (MESH:D013577), muscle (MESH:D019042), ocular abnormalities (MESH:D005124), pancytopenia (MESH:D010198), PPH (MESH:D011041), NK (MESH:D054066), vitiligo (MESH:D014820), electrolyte abnormalities (MESH:D014883), anxiety (MESH:D001007), edema (MESH:D004487), respiratory failure (MESH:D012131), splenomegaly (MESH:D013163), Tachycardia (MESH:D013610), arrhythmias (MESH:D001145), uveitis (MESH:D014605), myositis (MESH:D009220), acute renal injury (MESH:D058186), myelofibrosis (MESH:D055728), hypotension (MESH:D007022), ARDS (MESH:D012128), pruritis (MESH:D011537), hypoxia (MESH:D000860), bradycardia (MESH:D001919), Anemia (MESH:D000740), neutropenia (MESH:D009503), infection (MESH:D007239), cardiovascular disease (MESH:D002318), sudden death (MESH:D003645), effusions (MESH:D000080324), hypophosphatemia (MESH:D017674), bone marrow suppression (MESH:D001855), thrombocytopenia (MESH:D013921), neurological, gastrointestinal, ocular, cardiovascular, hematological, and multi-organ injury (MESH:D005767), ischemic injury (MESH:D017202), toxicities (MESH:D064420), lethargy (MESH:D053609), toxicosis (MESH:C565846), myocardial involvement (MESH:C564676), decreased systolic and diastolic blood (MESH:D006337), ptosis (MESH:C564553), Sinus tachycardia (MESH:D013616), glaucoma (MESH:D005901), hypokalemia (MESH:D007008), hepatic insult (MESH:D056486), allergies (MESH:D004342), cardiovascular and ocular abnormalities (MESH:D018376), allergic eye diseases (MESH:D005128), keratoconjunctivitis sicca (MESH:D007638), atopic and allergic dermatitis (MESH:D003876), disseminated intravascular coagulation (MESH:D004211), overdose (MESH:D062787)
- **Chemicals:** pacritinib (MESH:C561234), lactate (MESH:D019344), butorphanol (MESH:D002077), atropine (MESH:D001285), S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine (MESH:D012436), Apoquel (MESH:C588062), Jakafi (MESH:C540383), Denamarin (-), silybin (MESH:D000077385), catecholamines (MESH:D002395), omeprazole (MESH:D009853), maropitant (MESH:C518176), lipid (MESH:D008055), acepromazine (MESH:D000075)
- **Species:** Canis lupus familiaris (dog, subspecies) [taxon 9615], Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606], Felis catus (cat, species) [taxon 9685]

---
Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12940015