Send me a derm question or story through text or voicemail!A new JAK inhibitor has officially entered the veterinary market but where does it fit into managing allergic dogs?In this episode of The Derm Vet Podcast, I sit down with boarded veterinary dermatologist Dr. Christine McKinney from Merck Animal Health to discuss Numelvi, the newest JAK inhibitor approved in the United States for canine allergic dermatitis. We break down what makes this medication unique, how it compares to other allergy therapies, and why having multiple treatment options matters when managing complicated allergic patients.We also dive into practical approaches for itch control, infection management, and building confidence when treating chronic allergy cases in practice. If you manage itchy dogs regularly and want to stay up to date on the latest dermatology treatments, this episode is packed with valuable clinical insights.Watch The Episode: https://www.youtube.com/@thedermvet3932Follow The Derm Vet Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvetpod/Follow Me: https://www.instagram.com/thedermvet/Timestamps and references: 7:26: At the recommended treatment dose, Numelvi is at least 10X more selective for JAK1 over the other JAK enzymes in in vitro assays. Reference: Kowalski T, Schuette S. The second-generation Janus kinase inhibitor atinvicitinib is a potent and highly selective inhibitor of JAK1. Vet Dermatol. 2026;37(2):179.8:03: At the recommended treatment dose, Numelvi is at least 10X more selective for JAK1 over the other JAK enzymes in in vitro assays. Reference: Kowalski T, Schuette S. The second-generation Janus kinase inhibitor atinvicitinib is a potent and highly selective inhibitor of JAK1. Vet Dermatol. 2026;37(2):179.8:07: JAK1 is the primary driver of itch and inflammation. Reference: Huang I, Chung W, Wu P, Chen C. JAK-STAT signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis: an updated review. Front Immunol. 2022;13:106826010:36: At the recommended treatment dose, Numelvi is at least 10X more selective for JAK1 over the other JAK enzymes in in vitro assays. Reference: Kowalski T, Schuette S. The second-generation Janus kinase inhibitor atinvicitinib is a potent and highly selective inhibitor of JAK1. Vet Dermatol. 2026;37(2):179.21:52: Numelvi, starts reducing itch within 2-4 hours in a canine interleukin-31 (cIL-31)-induced pruritus model Reference: Kowalski T, Prohaczik A, Locke K, Samson C, Hope K. The second-generation Janus kinase inhibitor atinvicitinib significantly reduces pruritus 2-4 hours after dosing dogs in a canine interleukin-31 model. Vet Dermatol. 2026;37(2):179-180.23:13: Numelvi, starts reducing itch within 2-4 hours in a canine interleukin-31 (cIL-31)-induced pruritus model Reference: Kowalski T, Prohaczik A, Locke K, Samson C, Hope K. The second-generation Janus kinase inhibitor atinvicitinib significantly reduces pruritus 2-4 hours after dosing dogs in a canine interleukin-31 model. Vet Dermatol. 2026;37(2):179-180.Timestamps00:00 Intro02:29 The Complexity of Canine Allergic Dermatitis06:44 What is Numelvi and How Does it Work?13:50 Dosing Guidelines and Tablet Specifications16:57 Candidate Selection and Infection Control21:37 Onset of Action and Efficacy Timeline24:08 Final ThoughtsThis episode is sponsored by Merck Animal Health