Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Arthritis advice please - anyone used Galliprant or Librela?

36 replies

Freysimo · 01/07/2023 12:39

Our 12 year old rescue lurcher has arthritis, and is noticeably uncomfortable on walks. A course of Loxicam didn't help (she's had this in the past and it was really helpful), even with paracetamol added in on vet advice.

Vet has now suggested Galliprant, which I planned to start Monday after three days off Loxicam. I've just read the leaflet and my heart sank. She has to have a tablet an hour before she eats, which is going to be tough, and a common side effect is vomiting apparently.

As she's an elderly dog, I just wonder if I should get her on a Librela injection once a month rather than mess about with tablets.

Has anyone any experience of either Galliprant or Librela please? The Galliprant is free for first month, but cost isn't a consideration. I think Librela is around £100 pm.

OP posts:
RHOShitVille · 01/07/2023 12:41

We have recently started librela after delaying the decision for a while. It's meant DDog is off the gabapentin which they felt was contributing to sings of dementia.

It's definitely helped and we are glad we did it.

I know it doesn't work for everyone though.

Localher0 · 01/07/2023 12:43

My dog has been on Galliprant for ages! I always give it with his food and he's had no problems. When I run out I can tell he's getting antsy after a day or two so even giving with food mean that it's working. He's also had the librela injection and I though that worked really well too. I just find it easier to give a tablet every day than take him to the vet every month. And it's cheaper! He's also a rescue and is about 11 but a big dog so classes as geriatric!!

Cactusali · 01/07/2023 12:48

Galliprant didn’t help my dog much. She’s been on Librela for about a year. Initially it made a huge difference but now is less effective. I suppose just natural progression of her arthritis (15 year old terrier), but I’m sure she’s better on it that she would be otherwise. No side-effects at all. It’s quite expensive, about £75 per month but worth every penny.

Fakeairpodsfakeoodie · 01/07/2023 12:55

My dog has been on librela since earlier this year after a few months taking tablets. We find librela much easier to remember once every 4 weeks than the tablet every day. It's about £65 for ours but he's a terrier so if you have a bigger dog might need a bigger dose. And you can see from other responses vets seen to vary in what they charge. He has to have a review with a vet every 3 months so it's like a free little check up that we don't get with the tablets. The ones in between one of the v.nurses does and they just ask some generic questions to check he's doing ok.

It's noticeable when it's nearly time for the next injection but he's running about loads again as soon as he's had it.

IngGenius · 01/07/2023 12:58

We unfortunately had a negative experience with Librela and now or dog is on galliprant.

He has had no side effects at all on galliprant at all. We do try to fed an hour before his food but it does not always happen and there has been no difference in him either way

Original poster
Freysimo · 01/07/2023 13:24

Localher0 · 01/07/2023 12:43

My dog has been on Galliprant for ages! I always give it with his food and he's had no problems. When I run out I can tell he's getting antsy after a day or two so even giving with food mean that it's working. He's also had the librela injection and I though that worked really well too. I just find it easier to give a tablet every day than take him to the vet every month. And it's cheaper! He's also a rescue and is about 11 but a big dog so classes as geriatric!!

So you don't give it an hour before? I think DD would be ok if I gave her tablet, then food but instructions say an hour before, which she wouldn't be happy about!

OP posts:
Localher0 · 01/07/2023 13:32

@Freysimo Nope! And I never have - I put it in a Greenies Pill Pocket and give it before breakfast then he goes straight into kibble. Seems to be working well 😬

Peridot1 · 01/07/2023 13:35

Our lab has been on Librella for almost two years I think. Made a huge difference to her. We have insurance though and it’s covered so we only pay the excess every month I think.

Gabapentin sent her loopy.

Loxicom and paracetamol helped a bit but the Librella has been amazing.

tabulahrasa · 01/07/2023 14:11

Why is it an issue to give it an hour before food?

LovelyLooby · 01/07/2023 15:27

My 15 year old lab has been on librella for a year or so now. She thinks she is invincible and unfortunately sometimes overdoes it. She was a bit agitated in the evenings at first but hasn’t had any issues since.

It has completely changed her life.

Darklane · 01/07/2023 16:20

My little old lady was on Librela for two years. It did help her a lot. It wasn’t too costly for me as she was tiny, weighed just five pounds, so the smallest vial lasted her three months. My vet used to keep it in their fridge with her name on it between doses.

Corgilicious · 01/07/2023 16:45

Our old terrier was on Galliprant and paracetamol (and then Gabapentin? At a dose that my pharmacist SIL was Shock at) and it kept him going for at least a year longer than we expected. Librela would have been my next suggestion - friends had good experiences with their old creaky dogs - but the other drugs were working ok until the end.

You might already be doing it, but I found hydrotherapy really helped - he loved his weekly swims and it built up the muscle around his bad leg so he wasn't stressing the joint so much. He also had a monthly therapy massage which really blissed him out. And of course keeping him skinny.

Oh, these old dogs. I used to offer the universe a deal where I'd take half his aches and pains for him, yet he never stopped wagging his tail. We still miss him enormously.

Original poster
Freysimo · 01/07/2023 17:43

tabulahrasa · 01/07/2023 14:11

Why is it an issue to give it an hour before food?

Because she expects breakfast when I get up and I'd have to divert her for an hour. I'm pathetic I know!

Thanks for all advice/suggestions. We love our oldies, don't we? I'll definitely take the hydrotherapy idea on board, although being a lurcher she's not keen on water. She's the right weight and we did see a bit of improvement with laser treatment.

I'll start the Galliprant tomorrow and see how we go. Vet says we should see improvement within 5 days if it's going to work. If it doesn't we'll give Librela a go.

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 01/07/2023 17:46

But it’s once a day isn’t it? Just give it before her dinner...

Iheartmysmart · 01/07/2023 17:50

I’ve just swapped my elderly spaniel onto Librela after the Metacam he’d been on for about a year stopped being as effective and was giving him some stomach issues. He had his first jab about 10 days ago and I was warned that it might not appear to be helping until his second jab. He still seems to be a bit stiff in both hips but is managing the stairs a bit better and seems to be a bit more settled in general. Fingers crossed it gives me a bit longer with him.

shockthemonkey · 01/07/2023 17:51

Another vote for Librela here.

Original poster
Freysimo · 01/07/2023 17:52

tabulahrasa · 01/07/2023 17:46

But it’s once a day isn’t it? Just give it before her dinner...

Instructions say one hour before meal on empty stomach so that would mean breakfast. After reading other posts I'm probably being too pedantic though!

OP posts:
Levriers · 01/07/2023 17:53

Greyhound on Librela here for about 2 years ? Shortly after it came out anyway. Saw a difference in 4 days it’s been a Godsend for him

ScribblingPixie · 01/07/2023 17:55

I wasn't sure Librela made much difference with our terrier but then we noticed that she was sunnier-natured with other dogs and less keen to head towards home on walks, so it must be.

Missingmyusername · 01/07/2023 17:56

I do. 12.5 Yr old lab. You’re meant to give it an hour before to aid with absorption I believe…. #not a vet! My Lab has ibs and no issues with Galliprant at all. Been on it years. Had a postal strike and he missed an around a week and declined, so it works (for us at least).

Ddog also has Librela - I don’t think this makes much of a difference if I’m being honest. It seems a miracle for some. Just keep in mind it’s a pain blocker only. They can do irreparable damage to joints/legs as they don’t feel pain …apparently. It’s a last chance saloon for us so he has it. I know people who have used it and the dog has returned to usual levels of activity before injuring itself. You have to limit exercise, watch them, or they could end up doing more damage which may need surgery (torn ligaments etc).

We tried Cartrophen but he had chronic diarrhoea - but to me this is a better solution as it builds up a barrier/cushion in the joints I believe.

DDog also has 3 human paracetamol per day as per the vet.

Gabapentin caused strange behaviour- barking, staring at walls occasionally, very odd - so we stopped.

Missingmyusername · 01/07/2023 17:58

Galliprant tastes like beef, not that I’ve tasted it or anything… my dog eats the tablet like a treat.

Missingmyusername · 01/07/2023 18:02

And get a prescription-after trying it out- so much cheaper. We have 100mg tabs £65 a month.

tabulahrasa · 01/07/2023 18:16

Freysimo · 01/07/2023 17:52

Instructions say one hour before meal on empty stomach so that would mean breakfast. After reading other posts I'm probably being too pedantic though!

Show quote history

Unless you feed dinner real early... her stomach will be just as empty at dinner time as at breakfast time.

I get why you’d think breakfast for empty stomach, but, stomachs don’t reset when the day does, lol.

pigsDOfly · 01/07/2023 19:13

My 12 year old dog has just started on Librela.

It's supposed to take about a week to start making a difference but it's been three days and she's been running around on her walks since the second day and has been doing zoomies when we get home.

Don't know what's in it but it certainly seems to have perked her up; it's a bit freaky tbh.

Lonecatwithkitten · 01/07/2023 19:57

Food inhibits the absorption of galliprant making it less effective. It doesn't matter what time of day the empty stomach is so an hour before dinner is fine.
Liberla has side effects to, as do all medicines.
There is no one solution for every dog with arthritis it is matter working out the best solution with your vet. If you are really uncertain it could be worth having a referral to a specialist pain clinic who do a really in depth holistic look and the dog and it's lifestyle as well as drug options.