About 8 months ago we noticed that our 6 year old giant schnauzer was having issues moving after getting up from her sleep. This issue persisted, and she appeared stiff and in pain. Initially, we thought it was her hips that were causing the problem, but after a visit to the Vet and some X-rays, the doctor confirmed she was suffering from arthritis in her mid-back.
The doctor initially prescribed carprofen (Rimadyl) to help with her arthritis pain, but that medication came with possible side effects to her liver and kidneys. She would need blood testing every 6 months to monitor the function of those organs.
The Vet then suggested a new medication that would not require any type of follow up testing and was a once a month injection. That medication was Librela. We decided to give the Libreal a try, and our giant schnauzer had her first injection in December 2023. We were told that it may take 1-2 months to see any benefit from the medication. To our surprise, within 3 days she was acting like a new dog, and the stiffness she had been experiencing was gone. Since then we have been back for an injection each month, and she is doing very well on the medication.
If your dog is suffering from the effects of arthritis, it is definitely worth trying to help your dog live a happier and healthier life. While there are side effects to this medication, it’s been our experience that our giant schnauzer has not been affected by them.
As always, please consult with your Veterinarian to weigh the pros and cons of this medication.
Information from the FDA on Librela
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Librela (bedinvetmab injection) to control pain associated with osteoarthritis (OA) in dogs. Librela is the first monoclonal antibody (mAb) the FDA has approved for use in dogs. The FDA approved a mAb for cats on January 13, 2022, which was the first mAb new animal drug approved by the FDA for use in any animal species and the first treatment for the control of pain associated with OA in cats.
OA is the most common form of arthritis in dogs; it is estimated that it affects at least 25 percent of dogs at some point in their lifetime. OA is a degenerative and painful condition of the joints in which the normal cartilage cushion in the joints breaks down. Eventually, the bones in the joint rub against each other, causing pain, decreased joint movement, and sometimes the formation of bone spurs or other changes in and around the joint. OA continues to get worse over time; however, Librela can help control the pain associated with the condition. Bedinvetmab, the active ingredient in Librela, works by binding to and inhibiting the biological activity of a protein called canine nerve growth factor (NGF), which has been found to be elevated in dogs with OA and is involved in the regulation of pain. When bedinvetmab binds to NGF, it prevents the pain signal from reaching the brain.
Two field studies were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Librela – one in the United States and one in the European Union. Both studies enrolled client-owned dogs diagnosed with OA. Half the dogs received Librela and half the dogs received a sterile saline injection every 28 days for a total of three doses. Before treatment and on various days throughout the study, owners used the Canine Brief Pain Inventory (CBPI) assessment tool to measure the severity of the dog’s pain and the degree to which the pain interfered with the dog’s daily activities. The weight of evidence from the two field studies demonstrated that Librela is effective at controlling pain associated with OA in dogs when at least two doses are given 28 days apart.
Librela is only available by prescription from a licensed veterinarian because professional expertise is required to properly diagnose pain associated with OA in dogs, administer the injection, and monitor the safe use of the product, including treatment of any adverse reactions. Librela is given by subcutaneous injection once a month and dosed by weight range to target a minimum dose of 0.5 mg/kg.
The most common side effects seen in dogs treated with Librela included increased blood urea nitrogen (an indicator of kidney function), urinary tract infection, bacterial skin infection, skin irritation (dermatitis), rash (erythema) or pain at the injection site, vomiting (emesis), and weight loss (anorexia).
Veterinarians should advise owners about the possible adverse events and side effects before using the drug. The FDA encourages dog owners to work with their Veterinarians to report any adverse events or side effects potentially related to the use of any drug, including Librela.
Librela injectable solution is supplied as a sterile buffered solution of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 mg bedinvetmab/mL in single-use vials containing an extractable volume of 1 mL of clear solution.
Librela is sponsored by Zoetis, based in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Rob Jameson, Board Vice President