Librela thoughts or experiences

[paisley]

I'm considering Librela for my whippet Alfie. He's 13, and starting to really show his age, he is currently good for 2-3 miles a day on Metcam, parcetamol and Yumove, with physio.
I only want him to be as comfortable as possible, and Librela is a possible option. Gabapentin isnt really doing it (ataxia and sleepy), but I might give Onsior a go before commiting to the cost of Librela.
So, any thoughts on it? Thanks!

 

[Clodagh]

Librella and paracetamol worked out cheaper for Brandy than the cocktail she was on before it.
It was, I think, better than the alternatives. No negatives really. I’d always say it was worth a go.

 

[Unicorn]

It's been great for my girl. She's only 8, but her joints are a state. Librela has given her a new lease of life - she's been on it since last July. It's not cheap, but for her it's been great....and she's had no side effects.

 

[paisley]

Thanks Clodagh- I'd read about asscociated incontinence, but probably thats anecdotal. Will definately see how it goes.

 

[paisley]

It's been great for my girl. She's only 8, but her joints are a state. Librela has given her a new lease of life - she's been on it since last July. It's not cheap, but for her it's been great....and she's had no side effects.

Thats sounds great Unicorn- I 'll have to get another job to afford it though!

 

[wren123]

It has been a game changer for my nearly 15 year old lab. No side effects at all. She has that and yumove 360.

My vet says most dogs respond well, some don't but you'll know, the improvement was even better on the second injection.

 

[paisley]

It has been a game changer for my nearly 15 year old lab. No side effects at all. She has that and yumove 360.

My vet says most dogs respond well, some don't but you'll know, the improvement was even better on the second injection.

Thanks Wren123- it looks like it must be worth a try I had looked into the Yumove 360, but wasnt sure if it was worth the extra. The levels of the ingredients looked the same as the human verision so had wondered if he could just have those !

 

[paisley]

Could I ask if once Librela was used, other pain relief wasnt needed? Could I stop the Metcam and paracetamol?

 

[Clodagh]

Thanks Clodagh- I'd read about asscociated incontinence, but probably thats anecdotal. Will definately see how it goes.

I asked my vet about that and she said she had not heard or encountered that at all. Brandy did become fecally incontinent at the end and was pts but it was not, I feel, medication related.

 

[BallyJ]

Could I ask if once Librela was used, other pain relief wasnt needed? Could I stop the Metcam and paracetamol?

My 9yo JRT started it 1 month ago. She was on daily Metacam and we were advised to stop so we could see if the Librela was working. But he said to keep some around incase we needed it towards the end of the month. We are going for her second Jab tomorrow and she has never looked better.
Prior to this we were considering PTS, but decided to try this as a last ditched attempt and we're so pleased we did!

 

[paisley]

My 9yo JRT started it 1 month ago. She was on daily Metacam and we were advised to stop so we could see if the Librela was working. But he said to keep some around incase we needed it towards the end of the month. We are going for her second Jab tomorrow and she has never looked better.
Prior to this we were considering PTS, but decided to try this as a last ditched attempt and we're so pleased we did!

Thats really lovely to hear, you must be so happy! Fingers crossed it keeps working

 

[BallyJ]

Thats really lovely to hear, you must be so happy! Fingers crossed it keeps working

Very happy!

We're still cautious with how much she does, but to see her practically pain free is amazing.

 

[scats]

Unfortunately I had a negative experience with librela and I won’t ever touch the stuff again. Dog became incontinent for 3 months- peed herself all the time and developed odd symptoms such as panting, wandering around the house looking lost, confusion, stress, depression. Again, this took about 3-4 months to clear up.
There is a FB group about Librela experiences, some good and some pretty horrific, including some dogs who died very suddenly.

There’s plenty of dogs that have good experiences with it, but ours didn’t.

 

[CorvusCorax]

I know it is not what you were asking, but I would not expect my 12 year old or indeed my ten year old, both who have had heavy workloads in their younger years, to be doing 2-3 miles on a daily basis, so I would be modifying exercise and expectations as well as looking at medication, in your shoes.

 

[Clodagh]

I know it is not what you were asking, but I would not expect my 12 year old or indeed my ten year old, both who have had heavy workloads in their younger years, to be doing 2-3 miles on a daily basis, so I would be modifying exercise and expectations as well as looking at medication, in your shoes.

That is very true. I missed that.

 

[MurphysMinder]

I haven't used Librela but have heard lots of good reports. A CC say I have always reduced exercise as my dogs age, bit of a pain to have to do extra walks but better for the dog.

 

[paisley]

I know it is not what you were asking, but I would not expect my 12 year old or indeed my ten year old, both who have had heavy workloads in their younger years, to be doing 2-3 miles on a daily basis, so I would be modifying exercise and expectations as well as looking at medication, in your shoes.

I totally agree that it seems too much but it is always a steady walk with some trotting, split into two or three walks and adjusted down as I feel he is coping on the day. I honestly understand what you are saying but its unusual for him not to be pulling into the lead, keen to explore. I am mindful of excitement powering up the exercise, but know him well enough to spot the signs of 'enough now'. I'm also trying to balance the exercise with the picky eating, not enough and he just wont clear his plate.
Unless its like last night, when I had literally clipped him back on lead to go gently down a slope when a deer bombed past- that was a hearfelt 'thank you god' he was back on lead!
Thanks to everyone for your input

 

[CorvusCorax]

No worries but it is just worth remembering that the adrenaline/drive will carry them through the initial exercise and the pain/stiffness comes later (I know I am still aching from the weekend!!), so they don't generally link the two things, so they always look happy to go out.

 

[SadKen]

I asked this same question late last year. My GSD had one dose. He started whimpering at 3am. He was anxious and it did nothing positive for him. Took a while to wear off and we had to make him very warm at night, something we still do. Can I say for sure it was librella? No, but it started the day he had it, did him no good, snd cost a fortune. I won’t give it to any of mine again and wish I’d read the Facebook group before he had it. A lesson to me in doing research beforehand rather than trusting what you’re told. Not that I think the vet was fibbing, but because they don’t have as much direct experience as a group of experiences. Stories are worth considering in context of course, but for me, once it’s injected it takes a weeks to wear off whereas drugs take hours at most, so less risk. I also cut down my lad’s walks based on similar points from CC, he’s happier for it, sometimes I think we expect too much based on the very active lives our dogs have had before. Good luck whatever you decide!

 

[meesha]

Poppy our 10 year old BC had her first jab of Librela 5 days ago, she already seems better ...had arthritis in one hip ..wasn't on anything b4 as she seemed to improve then would slip or do something stupid and go back to square 1. No side effects so far, I read up and it has about a 45% success rate. We were told no side effects, I have read the Facebook group but only after having the injection

 

[fiwen30]

CC has the right of it - it’s a real multi modal approach that’s needed with ageing dogs. Environment, exercise, weight, medication, and alternative therapies will all be necessary to balance to keep comfort.

My 12 year old has been on Gabapentin for 3 years, and librella injections for maybe a year? Can’t remember. But it has been wonderful for him. My senior cat gets Semintra (cat version) and it works wonders for her as well.

 

[paisley]

CC has the right of it - it’s a real multi modal approach that’s needed with ageing dogs. Environment, exercise, weight, medication, and alternative therapies will all be necessary to balance to keep comfort.

My 12 year old has been on Gabapentin for 3 years, and librella injections for maybe a year? Can’t remember. But it has been wonderful for him. My senior cat gets Semintra (cat version) and it works wonders for her as well.

I can honestly say every aspect of his life is considered and managed for maximum benefit- absolutely not overweight, real sheepskin bed for comfort and warmth, walking correctly for maintain muscle, post walk stretches, massage coat, physio, weekly massage from me, trips out with me if its appropriate, dog sitter if I'm on a long day at work. Not swimming, it was tried and he swims with a tense neck so not ideal.
Thanks again to everyone for their experiences and input. Its been very helpful

 

[misst]

I have had a great response from librela for my 7yo terrier with awful joints. He is so much more comfortable. It tends to wear off in the middle of the 4th week so he often is not walked for a day or so and then immediately he has an injection he is like a puppy again. No ill effects at all but he is much more vocal since his first injection! He was a quiet dog but now "talks" all the time and is quite yappy. The vet just thinks he rediscovered his mojo!

 

[Landcruiser]

Our 12.5 yr old collie/lurcher has been on it for about 8 months. It's been miraculous for him, taken years off him. Within a week or two he had a spring back in his step, and people can't believe he's the age he is. He plays, and he looks so bright and happy. He's not on anything else now (was on Yumove Advance for years, plus Metacam and/or Pardale as needed).
I work at a vet's - my experience of Librella is shared by a lot of our clients with old dogs. I haven't heard of any issues with it, but do know of a few that haven't seen the big positive changes that most seem to.

 

[Thistle]

AncientStaffie has been on it for 2 years, she was on the point of pts and a cocktail of pain killers when it was licenced for use in dogs. It literally saved her life.