Librela - Hero or Villain (2025)

skinnydipper

skinnydipper

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"Dr. Mike Farrell, a board-certified specialist and expert in canine pain control with no conflicts of interest, presents vital new research on the potential risks of Librela for dogs. Dr. Farrell discusses the science and regulatory data, including insights from official databases, to highlight concerns about rapidly progressive osteoarthritis and neurological issues. This lecture, aimed at veterinary professionals but accessible to all, shares the stories of real dogs and their families who faced severe, sometimes fatal, side effects after Librela administration. While discussion and sharing is strongly encouraged, please engage respectfully and consider the profound impact these experiences have had on the affected families.

Watch time: 31 minutes"


 
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My vet was telling me about this a couple of weeks ago, I had asked about it as a possibility for one of my dogs who has been slowing down a bit.
It does not sound good and I will not be going down that route.
 
I have two on it.
For both, it has been a game-changer. Two dogs, now 13.

Dog 1 has been on it 3 years. Her arthritis is bad and has got worse. Librela made a massive improvement abd gave her 2 years back if being pretty mobile. The arthritis is really bad now and she is also on subcutaneous ketamin and cartrophen snd acupuncture. She is comfortable for now but I am keeping a very watchful eye.

Dog 2 has been on it 6 months. Her arthritis affected her quite suddenly and i had to cut her exercise right down. After 3 jabs her limp had gone and she is back doing her walks with gusto.

I know it has risks and side effects - all drugs do. But for my dogs, it has been amazing.
 
I have heard some stories of it working almost miracles but I agree for me it was a last choice before pts, the vet said if it works still be careful not to let the dog overdo it ad it's not stopping the decline in the joints just masking the pain, if that's the case it's obviously never going to be a long term solution and is just to be used towards the end for as long as it works. I think I remember reading that they had done trials for humans with it but found it actually sped up the decline in the joints.
 
My nearly 12 year old Toller has been on it for a few months now and it’s been brilliant for him - he’s had no adverse side effects at all and he’s happily trotting around on walks thoroughly enjoying himself. He’d started to look very old but since being on librela his quality of life is much better. He’s 12 next month and unfortunately his breed isn’t particularly long-lived so I don’t think worries about long-term use should outweigh the very obvious benefits he’s getting now.
 
The problem is that it does indeed mask pain and that can exacerbate damage, as a lot of we humans think 'Great, business as usual!" and the dog in their teens is sometimes back to the same workload and exercise they were doing before they slowed down, because that's what we want to see and what we believe the dog wants.
Rather than wrapping our heads around the fact that when dogs (and humans) get older, we have to adapt.

As with most drugs it would be fairer to think 'medication AND reduced expectations/exercise' not 'medication = back to what we were doing five years ago'.
 
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If that’s aimed at my post we’ve reduced his exercise and don’t let him hare around so obviously he’s not doing what he was doing 5 years ago - that would be ridiculous - at 7 he was in the prime of his life at 12, sadly he’s old
 
Muddy unicorn said:
If that’s aimed at my post we’ve reduced his exercise and don’t let him hare around so obviously he’s not doing what he was doing 5 years ago - that would be ridiculous - at 7 he was in the prime of his life at 12, sadly he’s old
Click to expand...

Nope, that's why I said 'sometimes', if I want to aim something directly at another poster I will usually quote them, like this.
 
skinnydipper said:
"Dr. Mike Farrell, a board-certified specialist and expert in canine pain control with no conflicts of interest, presents vital new research on the potential risks of Librela for dogs. Dr. Farrell discusses the science and regulatory data, including insights from official databases, to highlight concerns about rapidly progressive osteoarthritis and neurological issues. This lecture, aimed at veterinary professionals but accessible to all, shares the stories of real dogs and their families who faced severe, sometimes fatal, side effects after Librela administration. While discussion and sharing is strongly encouraged, please engage respectfully and consider the profound impact these experiences have had on the affected families.

Watch time: 31 minutes"


Click to expand...
Thank you for posting this.
 
My little terrier lad has been on it over a year. He is 9 but has appalling conformation. He had surgery aged 2ish to his left hind but really needed all 4 legs doing.

He's intolerant of crates, he is reactive to being handled by strangers. He loves his physio and regular water treadmill. He has IVDD in his cervical spine and arthritis in his other legs. We have said no more surgery but he had steroids to his neck early this year and is doing well.

He walks most daysif he wants to. He paddles in the stream and occasionally has a funny five minutes but is quite sedate most of the time.

When we took him on we knew he was a walking vet bill. We said if we got him to 8 we'd be lucky. He's 9 and doing well. He'll be PTS when he's no longer comfortable. Librella definitely helps him and it can't really shorten his life. He'd not be here without it as everything else upsets his over sensitive stomach. I know it's not perfect but for Moti it's been helpful.
 
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