Librela: Osteoarthritis management

Librela is an antibody treatment that addresses a primary cause of Osteoarthritis (OA) pain in dogs. It helps mitigate pain signals, enhancing mobility and playfulness in your dog. By diminishing OA pain, Librela increases your dog's physical activity and overall well-being.

Maintaining your dog's optimal weight and getting the right amount of exercise are crucial components in managing OA pain effectively. Your vet will collaborate with you to tailor an OA pain management strategy that aligns with your dog's specific needs.

What to Expect:

Librela's benefits may not be immediately apparent and typically manifest after the second dose. However, some dogs might start experiencing reduced OA pain symptoms as early as a week following the initial injection. The response to the treatment varies among individual dogs. The recommended dosage schedule is a monthly injection. Although newly introduced to Bishop Ranch Veterinary Center & Urgent Care and the broader U.S. market, Librela has been employed in Europe since 2021 for treating OA pain.

Concurrent Medication Usage:

Discussing your dog's current medications with your vet before starting Librela is crucial. Your vet will assess and advise on the compatibility of Librela with other medications your dog may be taking. Suppose your dog is already on oral medications for OA pain, such as Carprofen, Galiprant, or Gabapentin. In that case, you might find that the dosage of these drugs can be reduced or even discontinued after beginning Librela treatment.

Adverse Side-effects:
Since its introduction in Europe in 2021, this medication has been associated with a few infrequently reported side effects, including discomfort or swelling at the injection site, fatigue, urinary tract infections, and bacterial infections.

Cost of Librela:

The price of Librela monthly injections ranges between $122 and $250 or more, varying based on factors like your dog's weight and the dosage administered.

Click to see if your dog could have osteoarthritis: Quiz!