Anyone's dog having monthly Librela injections for arthritis?

[DecisionTime123]

Good idea? Does your insurance cover it? DDog is nearly 10, had my suspicions for a while, now vet is saying likely arthritis hips and spine. He's a lot better on the rheumacam but the vet is saying Librela is less risky long term. Ideas & experiences please

(Oh and is that turmeric paste worthwhile for arthritis too?)

Librela made a big difference to our dog. She was able to last about 5 weeks between injections. We could tell when it was wearing off because she started finding it difficult to jump on our bed. We didn't claim on the insurance because the excess was more than the Librela cost.

Ours has been on librella for over a year now. Initially the improvement was dramatic! Still get improvement, but not as long lasting. I pushed for shots every 28 days.

Also, I give adequan shots to her every 2 weeks. Both have provided her with increased quality of life. Not on insurance.

i haven’t tried turmeric for her.

I'd be careful with Librella, I think its currently being investigated because of reports of severe neuro side effects in dogs - vet might be able to offer an alternative.

My dog took it for a couple of years, eventually had to put to sleep when lost use of back legs, which I found out isn't that uncommon with dogs on librella. There's a Facebook group about people's experiences...I know we should take things online with a pinch of salt but I wish we'd never started my beloved dog on it, he does seem to have had several worsening neuro symptoms while on it and it never did that much for his arthritis tbh.

I'm not saying keep clear, but I am saying do some careful research and if there's an alternative (begins with S can't remember the name) then look into that instead.

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1581490/full

Please research this very thoroughly. The vet chains do push it as it’s an easy money maker. I wouldn’t consider it except possibly as palliative treatment in an old dog’s last months. There’s a Facebook group worth looking at about the catastrophic side effects and apparent collateral damage.

There are lots of options for prescription oral pain relief, different drugs suit different dogs, and you can safely give ordinary uncoated paracetamol.

I make bone broth and golden paste for my oldies but more as preventative as they age. Green-lipped mussel is the most useful single supplement, or look at the Riaflex range, their Joint Plus Pro which combines GLM with glucosamine, chondroitin and hyaluronic acid, or the cheaper Canine Joint Plus, and then get GLM separately. They’re better than any of the YuMove range, with higher levels per dose of everything. Feed oily fish, eg tinned sardines in water, a few times a week too.

You can look at lifestyle too, minimise stairs, jumping down from the sofa and car, use rugs to avoid slippery floors, and no ball-chasing.

Google arthritis in dogs, there’s lots of targeted support, but I’d honestly try to do without Librela.

Cross-posted with the one above - my friend’s 6 year old Labrador had about a year on Librela for elbow dysplasia, before the Farrell study was published, and it has apparently destroyed her hocks. It took a lot to persuade the vet (chain) to agree to refer her for X-rays but they exactly match the ones in the study linked, the orthopaedic consultant at the university vet school acknowledged it may be linked to use of Librela and she is now on strong prescription tablets instead, absolutely heartbreaking.

Thanks everyone, blimey that's a shock you just feel like you can't trust the vet!! Much appreciate warning and also info about other supplements and foods etc.

Mine has been on it for almost 2 years and he was like a new dog. Only now are we starting to see that its maybe less effective than it has been during this time, but hes 16 years old now.

I purchase online with a prescription, inject at home and claim on insurance.

I have monitored my dog closely while on it as I really wanted it to work and I've had to admit that it just doesn't for her.
Others have said it's a miracle cure.
Vets do push it. They also say there's no side effects which I find hard to believe.

Interestingly, my vet discussed something similar for my cat and I raised my concerns about librella - they said there are concerns about serious side effects in dogs but what they suggested for my cat was a different drug without those concerns - wish I could remember what it was called!

Was it Solensia @MousseMousse ? That is the same as librella eg monoclonal antibody therapy.

Our dog had a very negative experience on Librella. We stopped after 2 injections due to the adverse reaction to Librella.

Yes that sounds like it - vet told me it was a different version (I guess? Not her words) but that the Librella side effects hadn't been reported in cats who used it - don't actually know if that's also true of dogs on Solensia but could be worth checking out

I'm heartbroken we put our dog on something that now seems likely to have harmed him- we just had no idea at the time

Solensia is implicated in exactly the same way as Librela. I’m appalled that bedinvetmab was ever approved for veterinary use, I think the link with inhibiting nerve growth factor, and rapidly progressive osteoarthritis is only a part of the issue; nerve growth factor should not be interfered with in the quest to relieve pain EXCEPT perhaps as palliative treatment near the end of life.

Zoetis certainly haven’t covered themselves with glory. They’re proven to manipulate reports of adverse effects and are without shame, yet the profit-driven big chain vets continue to push their drugs.

I dread the day that my fabulous independent vets retire, I will never use a vet that places profit over pets.

My 14 year old greyhound x has had 2 librela injections. To be honest we're not sure how much we think it helps him. I think I'll only be able to tell when the second one he had wears off and I see if he goes downhill. Re side effects, I certainly wasn't told about the things mentioned on this thread. But tbh at his age I'm not too worried as we're at the palliative end of things, realistically. I've not found that my vets pushed this particularly, it was very much suggested as a last option and up to us. He can't take many things due to stomach issues. He's been on paracetamol, you move type supplements and turmeric for ages. We have no where else to go to keep him comfortable. We don't have insurance at this point. It's £120 a go at the vets.

Thanks for this, I wasn't aware.

@Monvelo my dog was also old but I wish I could have spared him losing the use of his back legs - the last 24 hours were wretched for him. Its what led to find out about the problems with librella - seems to be a pattern of dogs losing the use of their hindquarters and not many seem to recover.

Same. Never knew for sure if it was the injections but apart from the athritis she was perfectly OK . She had a stroke and sadly had to be put to sleep.

I will never, ever give it to one of my dogs again. I gave it to one of my older labs. She’s was fine, but stiff with arthritis. After 2 injections she entirely lost the use of her back legs. No function or movement at all. Such a massive, dramatic change and I’ve had labs for years, I’ve never seen that. Was it the librella? I don’t know, but I’d never risk it again.

My lab had Librela for her elbow arthritis in the last several months of her life. I knew there was a risk of side effects but at the time it seemed worth it for the relief it gave her. I felt that it was much more likely that the pain of arthritis would "take her", if you will, before any of Librela's unwanted side effects were likely to hit her.

And it happened as I guessed. She was put to sleep when her arthritis pain got to a level I could not accept for her. So I don't regret the Librela because it definitely bought her many months of comfort, and it definitely did not seem to harm her.

She also had loads of supplements including GLM, but there was a strong feeling of "stable door - horse" there, in that I am convinced supplements work much better as prevention, not cure.

Insurers tend to not touch labrador elbows. So they'll turn down claims, if they possibly can, by pointing to the fine print in your contract.

I wish you luck and courage because it's hard when our angels start to suffer.

Fwiw my dog has been a long term user - started before the additional studies came out. She’s 13 1/2 and has done brilliantly on it. Still running, jumping on sofa etc, happy to do an hour plus walk etc etc
However I’ve discussed it with my vet who said at the age she was (9) he wouldn’t now prescribe it for a younger dog. He has zero qualms for an oldie though

I am worried by reading this. Just started DDog on Librela .three injections so far and they seem to work with no side effects. He was already on Yumouve and green lipped mussel powder. What is the alternative to Librela ? I also read that NSAIDs can cause liver damage and require regular blood tests. He’s 9 and his issue are his elbows, … so torn what to do 😢

I know loads of dogs who have been on it fine with no side effects, including my mother’s dog, Satan. She’s been on it for 3ish years and flourishing. She had struggled to walk even 2 miles at about 9. She’s now around 12/13 and can walk 6 miles a day happily (and more importantly want to).

Oh , that’s reassuring. Thank you! My dog is doing really well as well although been sick after the 3rd one , hopefully just a coincidence, recovered in one day.
on another note , interesting choice of name for your mother’s dog 😁

Thanks for posting this - it couldn’t have been more timely and I have been tearing myself inside out with doubt 🥺
My 13 1/2 yr old greyhound cross (35kg) has been struggling on his back legs for a while now.
He had a librela shot in May last year but didn’t notice any significant difference so didn’t bother with a second.
But recently he has been struggling; one of his feet twists when he walks and he has worn the nails down. It makes him walk sideways.
While not showing signs of sharp pain, he seemed a bit fed up.
I took him to the vet last Monday.
I voiced my concerns about librela after I’d read about it from last year but she said she’d been giving it to numerous dogs with great results and no side effects.
The medical alternatives were likely to upset his stomach which we’ve battled with for years and have been able to finally stabilise him after all this time - so I made the decision to give the librela another go.
We’re a week in - the improvement has been significant. He is much brighter, happy to break into a jog on his walks and seems genuine much better. I’ve bought a boot to protect twisty foot and a hock support - the leg was significantly weaker before the shot so I’m under no illusion that there was probably already some neuro decline.
He was a bit wobbly when he came back from walk this morning and I immediately thought it was librela “damage” - the guilt was real 🥺
but he’s been ok this afternoon and not any more wobbly than before so maybe he was just tired? 🤷🏼‍♀️
I honestly don’t know if I’ve done the right thing but for now I can see improvement.
He’s on youmove and salmon oil daily as well
What are people recommending as an alternative?

My elderly dog did - large cross breed, now died. It helped ease the pain. Insurers paid 80%.

I put off putting my dogs on librella due to various postings on the Facebook group mentioned above. Of course people who have had no issues don’t tend to post. Anyway, after a year and with my girls on various tablets (galliprant etc) but still in pain, I gave in. They have now been on librella for 2 years plus and it’s made a massive difference to their daily lives. My only regret is I didn’t do it sooner and let them suffer.

@ZoeyBartlett
Why did you stop the Galliprant? Was it that it wasn't working or did it upset her stomach? I think it's making mine eat grass. Have tried Librela and doesn't seem to work for her so not sure what to do. She seems to be doing well on tablets she's getting but I'm worried about her tummy.