Q: We have an 11-year-old pit bull mix who has a moderate case of arthritis in his legs and shoulders. We have tried cold laser therapy once a week for a few months, but the positive effects fade after a few days. We also have tried a few pain and anti-inflammatory medications prescribed by our veterinarian, but our dog, Ipo, gets digestive upset from all of them. Now our vet is suggesting Librela injections once a month; he highly recommends them. But since Librela is relatively new (especially to us), we would love to see what your veterinary team thinks about its safety, side effects, and efficacy. Thank you.
Joel Fischer
Honolulu, Hawaii
Dear Dr. Fischer,
A: The Food and Drug Administration only approved Librela (bedinvetmab injection) last May, so there are not a lot of U.S. data yet on the general canine population. But veterinarians in Europe have been using the drug for more than two years, administering a combined 4.6 million doses, with good results. Although not all dogs respond, vets give the treatment an overall satisfaction rating of 8.6 out of 10.
Librela, a monoclonal antibody, 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 arthritis and is involved in the regulation of pain. When the drug binds to NGF, it prevents the pain signal from reaching the brain.
The most common adverse events reported have included urinary tract infections, bacterial skin infections, dermatitis, increased blood urea nitrogen (an indicator of kidney function), a rash or pain at the infection site, vomiting, and loss of appetite. You might want to talk to Ipo’s vet about whether he might be predisposed to some of these reactions.
If you do decide to give it a try, the medicine comes in five different amounts, each corresponding to a particular weight range.
