Thoughts on Librela?

[MerryMaxmas]

My 9 year old Lab/Patterdale cross was diagnosed with arthritis a few months ago, I have had him on vet strength Yumove over the last few months but have had to top it up with painkillers on a few occasions, my vet has recommended Librela monthly injections, I have read up about it and wondered what everyones experiences of it have been? Any side effects I should look out for?

 

[scats]

Following because the vet has recommended it for my 13 year old Dane/Husky cross. I don’t know anyone who has tried it for their dog.

 

[Chiffy]

Thistle should see this post and has used it with success.
I have a friend who has just started it with a flatcoat and is delighted. Early days though.

 

[danda]

My dog has had 1 librela injection but I saw no improvement at all so have not continued. He is very old so maybe if this had of existed when he was younger he could have profited from it.

 

[fiwen30]

We use the cat version - Solensia - for our 10ish old cat, who was showing signs of stiffness and pain in her real legs and hips. She’s been in it for about 6 months, and it’s absolutely wonderful. The minimum time between jabs is 4 weeks. She was up to 6 weeks over Xmas, and was pretty uncomfortable, so now she’s strictly 4 weeks.

 

[StableMum]

There is a very informative Facebook page 'Librella Experiences' which has some very useful content.

 

[FFAQ]

My Spaniel has been on monthly librela injections for about a year and they've been miraculous. She wouldn't be here now if it wasn't for the injections. Having said that, she is starting to decline in other ways now but at least she has been able to potter about pain-free in her twilight months. At £75-100 a month it's not that cheap I suppose, but I think it's well worth the money.

 

[Thistle]

Lily my 14 year old staffie is on it, she had her monthly jab yesterday, and has been on it for a year. She was non weightbearing left hind, now she's fully mobile. It's been life changing for her.

It's no longer in short suppy and IMO is worth every penny.

 

[Landcruiser]

Lots of clients have their dogs on it at our vet's. I haven't heard anything against, (except the price, if people don't have insurance covering it). Lots of people say it's life changing for their dogs.

 

[MerryMaxmas]

Following because the vet has recommended it for my 13 year old Dane/Husky cross. I don’t know anyone who has tried it for their dog.

Although I couldn't find any opinions about it from owners, talking to my vet was really useful she uses it for her own dog with great results, and the feedback she has had from clients who are using it has been really encouraging, so my boy had his first dose yesterday - some have seen results almost straight away but even the Librela website says it can take until the second dose to see improvement, so we'll wait and see.

 

[MerryMaxmas]

Thistle should see this post and has used it with success.
I have a friend who has just started it with a flatcoat and is delighted. Early days though.

That's great, my boy had his first dose yesterday so I'll see how it goes, it sounds encouraging though.

 

[MerryMaxmas]

My dog has had 1 librela injection but I saw no improvement at all so have not continued. He is very old so maybe if this had of existed when he was younger he could have profited from it.

Would it not be worth continuing? The Librela website says some see improvement straight away but it can be after the second dose before most see an improvement.

 

[MerryMaxmas]

There is a very informative Facebook page 'Librella Experiences' which has some very useful content.

Oh that's great I'll look that up, thank you.

 

[MerryMaxmas]

My Spaniel has been on monthly librela injections for about a year and they've been miraculous. She wouldn't be here now if it wasn't for the injections. Having said that, she is starting to decline in other ways now but at least she has been able to potter about pain-free in her twilight months. At £75-100 a month it's not that cheap I suppose, but I think it's well worth the money.

Wow that's great, my boy had his first dose yesterday so I'll see how we get on, but from what I've read and what the vet was telling me the results seem to be really encouraging. Fortunately it is covered on my insurance, but yes its definitely not cheap if you are not covered!

 

[fankino04]

It was suggested for noodle last year and I joined the Facebook group to see how others found it and so.e of the before and after videos are amazing, that said the state of some of them in the before videos was far worse than I would consider letting a dog get.

 

[fidleyspromise]

My dog has had one injection and there have been a couple times recently he's run (a very very short distance) which he hasn't done for ages.
He's a 14 Yr old GSD with advanced arthritis.
He's due the second vaccine tomorrow but I'm waiting on vet calling me back so we can discuss pts.

 

[fiwen30]

Our 11 year old dog just had his first librella jab this afternoon - he’s been on 400mg Gabapentin twice daily for a year since his cruciate surgery, but has been grumblier and gruntier when lying down/getting up, a bit more stiff after walks, and a bit less tolerant of boisterous young cat, in the last month. Vet believes he’s a great candidate for librella, so he’s staying in full dose Gabapentin for the first week till the librella kicks in, and then we’ll reduce the dose and see how he gets on.

 

[COldNag]

I hadn't heard of this but sounds interesting. One of ours has arthritis, and can't take previcox any more.
She has paracetamol when required, and is on Youmove plus. I am interested to see if there is anything else that could help. Cartrophen had minimal impact, if any.
What sort of cost am I looking at (not insured for arthritis. (She is 5.5kg if that helps?).

 

[fiwen30]

I hadn't heard of this but sounds interesting. One of ours has arthritis, and can't take previcox any more.
She has paracetamol when required, and is on Youmove plus. I am interested to see if there is anything else that could help. Cartrophen had minimal impact, if any.
What sort of cost am I looking at (not insured for arthritis. (She is 5.5kg if that helps?).

I’d def speak to your vet, it can be a great alternative/in addition to pain meds. It can take up to 8 weeks (2 injections) to know if it’s of benefit to your dog.

For price context, I paid £68 for the librella + £20 for the injection fee today, for a 21kg dog (not sure if it’s weight dependent?). For our cat’s solensia jab, it’s £67. It’s a minimum of 4 weeks between jabs, so not cheap, but works wonders for the ones it works for.

 

[COldNag]

I’d def speak to your vet, it can be a great alternative/in addition to pain meds. It can take up to 8 weeks (2 injections) to know if it’s of benefit to your dog.

For price context, I paid £68 for the librella + £20 for the injection fee today, for a 21kg dog (not sure if it’s weight dependent?). For our cat’s solensia jab, it’s £67. It’s a minimum of 4 weeks between jabs, so not cheap, but works wonders for the ones it works for.

Thanks Fiwen. Will have a chat with vet. For the moment she us coping but good to have a next step.

 

[COldNag]

Had chat with vet.
Upshot is we are trying galliprant. If that doesn't work she said we could try gabaprntin but she isn't confident that will work. So if galliprant doesn't work I think we will go for Librella.

I have been told Librella is £100 a month with the appointment included. I am on their vet plan which gives me 20% off meds, ir it would have been more. That's for <6kg dog, but in South East.

Edit to add, she is already on Yumove senior(has been for a couple of years and iis now also on their senior vits/mins.

Also edit to say she was worse this weekend and it didn't improve after a couple of days like it used to, so definitely time to be trying something stronger .

 

[Thistle]

protocol for Librela allows vet nurse to give injection once the vet is happy with the dog, should save you £40 or so each time.

 

[COldNag]

protocol for Librela allows vet nurse to give injection once the vet is happy with the dog, should save you £40 or so each time.

That's interesting- thank you.

 

[fiwen30]

Our vet also suggested I could learn to inject Librela myself, and then just pay for the medication & syringes, so that might be an option? Not sure if I have the stomach for it, think I’d rather pay the vet/vet nurse!

 

[COldNag]

Our vet also suggested I could learn to inject Librela myself, and then just pay for the medication & syringes, so that might be an option? Not sure if I have the stomach for it, think I’d rather pay the vet/vet nurse!

Must admit, I'd rather a professional do it!

No reaction to Galliprant as yet.. but also I'm not seeing any improvement. I thought it was supposed to work fairly quickly?

 

[MerryMaxmas]

Our vet also suggested I could learn to inject Librela myself, and then just pay for the medication & syringes, so that might be an option? Not sure if I have the stomach for it, think I’d rather pay the vet/vet nurse!

I'd much rather a professional do it - the first dose was given by the vet, and now will be given by a vet nurse unless I actually need to see the vet with my boy.

 

[COldNag]

Well, she had first dose of Librela yesterday.
I think it was more painful for me (£95) than dog - dog also got a treat so I feel I got the raw deal there

Vet said she has very rarely known it not to work and is hopeful.

I did ask about Boswellia. Vet hadn't come across it but did a quick Google and said no harm in trying it and let me know.

So, will monitor for improvement. Going to keep her on paracetamol for the first week while Librela is (hopefully) taking effect.

 

[misst]

I have resurrected this post as my little terrier x who is about 6 years old has just had his first dose earlier this week. It cost £50 he weights 6kg and he had an appointment anyway so they did not charge for administering it just £30 for examination etc.

He has awfully wonky legs (rescue/rehome aged 7 months having been a stray so who knows what breeding/nutritional problems he had).

He had luxating patella in his left hind which had to be operated on 3 years ago and the wires holding his tibial tuberoscity in place were removed 2 years ago as all was solid and healed. I have been advised he may need joint replacement or further surgery in future but he is a stress bunny and I am very very reluctant to put him through more surgery if I can avoid it. Fitzpatricks saw him and advised it would be unethical to do much more surgery on him given his stress levels so I am aware he might not have a long life but a happy life would be fine even if a bit shorter than average.

He is limping in front now and struggling with his hind legs and back the last few weeks and it was very sad to watch him rest on a walk and not be able to get on the sofa. Nsaids helped but he has a delicate stomach so I didn't like them and they cannot be a long term solution for him., hence the Librela.

I can already see a massive difference. He is running freely and playing happily with our other dog. His face looks "happier" if that is a "thing" , and he is moving freely through his back. I am so pleased with it and having read the online reports and the posts on here am very glad my vet suggested it.

Just thought this might help anyone else wondering if it works.

 

[scats]

JD had her first injection 10 days ago and I’m seeing a difference now. Even the regulars who see her out walking have noticed she’s running more freely.
She weighs 37kg so it was £117 for her first injection, though vet said the vet nurse can do it next time so it will be a bit cheaper.

 

[misst]

It's really lovely to see them rediscover fun. My little chap is so young I am thrilled to see hope for him to have a longer life.