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?)

Are you able to post the study with fb @YourWinter?
I can't access fb.

One thing I would say is that Andrew Armitage uses stem cells to treat arthritic pain and there's lots of questions about that.

I'd just add that I spoke to my vet about Librella yesterday. She was very very frank and noted that all arthritus medication has (frankly) awful side-effects for many dogs, it's literally a matter of picking which one you're happy with.

She also said the studies that are being done to show muscle loss in back legs are alarming BUT that no one has done any studies on older dogs that aren't on librella but are experiencing arthritis. One of the side effects of arthritis is actually muscle loss, so it's impossible to know just how much worse librella is making it.

A bit like human medication in a way and makes total sense.

Everyone raves about WLI, for example, but there's nasty side-effects with them - including acute kidney problems in people who never had them before. All medication has side effects, it's just about deciding what you're willing to knowingly risk.😊

Happy to report that after stopping the metacam we do indeed have nice plump stools now!

I've got a physio referral for him and am going to ask the vet about galliprant for the time being at least. Its been so helpful to come on here and discuss it thank you.

I believe the alarming findings are not so much around muscle loss, but catastrophic damage to the joints (changes to hocks particularly explored by Farrell’s study published last year, and elbows in the newly-published study by Armitage). Whilst X-rays may well have prompted the prescription of Librela, its effective pain relief for the initial osteoarthritis mean the rapidly progressing damage goes unseen. The monthly injections continue routinely, obviously without frequent repeated X-rays which would show the harm being done. Those using it, however regularly is your dog x-rayed? Cost probably precludes frequency.

I’d maintain there may be a place for it only as a palliative remedy in an old pet, where irreversible collateral damage is balanced against pain control.

https://lookaside.fbsbx.com/file/armitage-2026-identification-and-possible-pathogenesis-of-bedinvetmab-associated-adverse-joint-events.pdf?token=AYRlfCcwwQtckV5AB4hl1vJuCVYxTBGKGpziUCgVODmAtQPs5lORta3SkLemr9dnhI9YcpswFYqZqAkLd9RlrJtgzVWjIvMC3JCYRJWxodjE5IjIn65bQ4hVSCOEFuCAWmITFtCQACxp5dat7wD-S9WhBwuz0ZIBsI6EG0laxFtVtTzP7rRdZV0yIqK-o5MZDUmjclcYXMrIV_cbtdnG7JKpa98JuOCVWzG-kPFAF7mTJHzDf7g

does this work? I’m not sure I can copy and paste the whole file

It does! Thanks @YourWinter

The more research I have done, the more I’m inclined to think my dog is more likely to have degenerative myelopathy than arthritis 🤔
He doesn’t appear to have pain or stiffness but is knuckling on one leg and seems uncoordinated.
I believe there’s no cure for this?
Started Neurovet today. Antinol is on the way 🤷🏼‍♀️
poo report is good 👌🏻🤣

@YourWinter Those using it, however regularly is your dog x-rayed? Cost probably precludes frequency.

To answer you……never. I personally wouldn’t want to put my dog through unnecessary procedures at 13yrs plus.Luckily for me, Librella has been a great success for her. She still jumps on the sofa with ease, swims a full hydro session weekly and does hour plus walks daily and is perfectly capable of running and jumping still (not that I encourage the nutter!)
At 13 1/2 and a large breed dog, I really couldn’t expect more. That said, I’m not sure I’d put a younger dog on it now more is known of the downsides.

Absolutely. At 13 giving her freedom from pain is all that matters. There are different considerations for a dog half her age though.

just an update, vet has now put him on Robexera , I have no real confidence this can be used beyond a few days and once again, loose stools. She suggested Librela again I said no due to "mixed" (!) reviews so we will have to see. He's due to see the physio on 21st. Dog isn't even 10 years old so we've a while to go and need to find a solution for pain and some way of slowing the progression surely? (assuming it is arthritis and it does seem a reasonable assumption).

Are you sure it’s arthritis? Is your dog showing signs of arthritic pain? Eg reluctance to move, stiffness, panting, visible wincing?

I ask because as I have researched more and monitored my dogs symptoms - I’m erring more toward a neuro issue (degenerative myelopathy). It’s been 3 weeks since the librela shot and he became very wobbly (a side effect 🥺) as it’s worn off, he has improved a lot and this week started on Neurovet which after only a few days I think are making a big difference

If it is arthritis, I’d start small amounts of golden paste (turmeric) and see how he goes with his stomach before increasing.
Im waiting for Antinol to arrive which is a natural anti inflammatory and pain relief.
might be worth a try rather than the meds which are upsetting the stomach?

My 13 year old mixed breed terrier has been on it monthly for nearly 2 years now, and it has been great for her, a massive improvement in her mobility when she started it. Similar to another poster, you can really tell the difference when her jab is due, as it is much more effort for her to get on the sofa etc.