I’m curious whether anyone else has tried this new treatment in their arthritic dogs? It’s from the same company who produced Cytopoint.

I have a 15 year old golden retriever who amazingly has only recently started to show signs of deterioration, and I popped her to the vets today who was excited to try it on her!

Would just be interested to follow the experiences of others, I’ll update this with how she does too.

Here’s some info:
https://www.zeropainphilosophy.com/post/ground-breaking-treatment-for-arthritis

I hadn't heard of it but investigating further it would be something I would consider if my dog was having problems.  Cost ?

I do have a very arthritic cat and they are launching ( is that what u do woth drugs? )a cat version next month.  Shall be discussing with my vet so thank u

Lots and lots of info on Holly's Army fb page. Lots of dogs have started taking it, from reading it can a little while for it to kick in though.

Wonder if this is the medication my friend's dog is starting on Tuesday?
Have sent her the link

> Cost ?

Approx £60 for my golden.

> Lots and lots of info on Holly's Army fb page. Lots of dogs have started taking it, from reading it can a little while for it to kick in though.

Thanks, I know CAM did a live on it fairly recently too. My colleague has her GSD on it and is starting to see improvements after a couple of weeks. She’s just starting to reduce her metacam.

That's not bad.  I found it on viovet so wonder if u can buy with a  prescription so need for monthly trips to the vet and possibly cheaper

I have seen you on there, I do find the page very helpful and interesting.

You should be able to buy online with a prescription but will require check ups every six months as a written prescription is  only valid for that long. It's a subcutaneous injection and small volume (1ml) so easy enough for owner to learn to administer (often vet will require a demo in clinic first to confirm owner has correct technique). The cat version is brand as Solensia.

is there a human form of this treatment?   In real trouble with arthritis here and if its available for people would be interested

> is there a human form of this treatment?   In real trouble with arthritis here and if its available for people would be interested

I was reading earlier that the same science isn’t approved in humans yet unfortunately.

> In real trouble with arthritis here

Have you tried boron? A friend in the states swears by boron for arthritis, she says that intensive farming has leeched all borax/boron out the soil and we're all suffering from a lack of it.

You buy 20 mule team borax online and dilute it one level teaspoon per 500ml of water, keep that in the fridge, shake and take about 100mls a day in a glass of water, juice or milk. This is apparently much better and much cheaper than buying the boron supplements available.

Contacted my vet about the cat version . She is very pleased with the results with the dogs they are using it on and more than happy to start my cat on it when it arrives
Fingers crossed it as successful as it seems to be with the  dogs
Thank you tectona for the information and hope u find it good too

My friend's dog started on it today

Well I am trying to be objective, and hopefully it’s not a placebo effect on me, but I’m seeing good results so far. She has a lot more spring in her step, she’s more keen to engage with me and she’s using her tail a lot better (she had lost that golden ‘flag’ and went like a saggy rat tail). She’s also less reactive to touch and feels generally less tense. Fingers crossed but promising first week.

I will say she vomited some of her food the day after the jab, which is extremely unusual for her. My colleague’s dog was off her food for about a week after her Librela jab. Possibly incidental, and no great worry for mine as she was back to eating fine from the next meal. Neither of us could find any reason why it might have an effect like that or any mention of any similar side effect, but it was very mild really, so possibly not reported? Who knows. Happy though.

Glad things are better with your dog One thing my friend noticed was he's drinking a lot more. She let her vet know

Funny you say that as I’ve noticed the same in the last few days but assumed it was down to something else, what with her being an elderly dog. Will keep an eye, thanks.

Is there any evidence that it affects the kidneys at all ?

I've had  a look at the data sheets and cant find anything that would account for extra drinking .
It says it has little of no impact on liver or kidneys .
It would  be interesting to know if people using it are finding increase in drinking a common change and is it temporary?

As it's a monoclonal antibody (like Cytopoint is), it shouldn't be having any effect on the body. It's just temporarily installing in the dog's body some antibodies.

However, when pain or itching stops sometimes behaviour changes. For eg - my dog was incredibly itchy before she had her first Cytopoint. She hadn't slept well in days. After the Cytopoint she slept solidly for about 6 hours in a deep sleep. If you look online, you find many accounts of people claiming Cytopoint causes drowsiness. Which just isn't true. But if you stop a dog from being chronically itchy, they are going to regain some of that lost sleep.

Same goes for pain, I'd imagine. If a dog has been in pain, they may have been reluctant to move unless they absolutely had to, before. Perhaps the effort of getting up to drink water was just not something they wanted to go through very often. Now they are not in pain and can easily get up and move when they want to, perhaps they are going to drink more water....

Understand what u are saying bit I would.still keep a close eye. I am possibbly over sensitive because I have a cat who is likley to be going in to cat version . Cays and drinking can be a nightmare anyway and having recently lost one to ckd I am probably wary.
Wouldn't be put off using it though

> It says it has little of no impact on liver or kidneys .

One of the main ‘selling’ points is that it’s safer than NSAIDs.

As said above I assume the ‘side-effects’ to be behavioural and in response to a change in pain levels.

Though normally this new drinking behaviour I would associate with her moving less, not more. She is drinking for longer, rather than with greater frequency. To my knowledge there’s no physiological reason why Librela would cause it. It could be that she finds holding the drinking position more comfortable now.

Friend says her dog doesn't seem to be drinking as much. He had the injection last  Wednesday.

Well my bitch has done brilliantly. Her entire demeanour was improved, improvement in mobility and she was generally much more keen to interact.

It wore off about a week ago and due to poor planning on my part her second jab isn’t until Tuesday. But I now have a slightly subdued, creaky old lady with a floppy rat tail again. So hopefully she’ll perk up again quickly and I’ll remember to get her booked in regularly. There was no more vomiting, the drinking did persist and has stopped again now it’s worn off.

All in all would certainly recommend.

Thats brilliant . I am finding similar with my cat who had solensia the cat equivalent although I think cats can be harder to read.
Long may it continue

My 14 year old arthritic old boy had the Librela 10 day ago. It cost £43. He was at a point where he was truly hopping along and after laying down for any length of time would struggle to get up and then to put weight on his leg. Something had to happen. Anyway, we noticed an improvement in him really quite quickly. OK he's still got something neurological going on (and no, we're not having it investigated given his age and frailty and past history) so he is discombobulated when he walks but it is clear he is in less pain and as such is moving around much more. Already booked in for his next dose.

Have booked cat 2nd dose but we are having a little early as she is clearly limping again and not comfortable  vet was happy to do this and said she wasn't surprised  . It will be about a week early

My 12 year old toy poodle is going to start this next week as he has OA; cost quite per jab is £52.20 / month. I will ask the vet about a prescription and injecting it myself to save in the cost ; I will report back with an update on his progress in due course.

That's what I am doing and as its a new drug i will be taking her in for a check every few months.

I asked about a prescription to inject it myself and the vet declined stating that the injection should only be given by a vet.

Sounds like Cytopoint in that regard, which is also a monoclonal antibody and only a vet (or vet nurse) can give it - even though owners are allowed to give immunotherapy injections.

When my old boy went in for his third injection last Friday my vet told me that this treatment has become so popular that the makers have run out! They are asking vets not to prescribe it to new patients currently but they are guaranteeing supplies for animals already being treated.

Yes that’s right, there are supply issues. I have seen a couple of people having their appointments cancelled even though the dog was already on it my girl has her next one on Thursday and I’m hoping there’s one there for us!

OMG that's awful :(

My vet said they guarantee for existing patients up to the end of the year.

I've just book the next one for my cat no mention of supply issues. I will get a prescription for next lot as viovet are stocking the cat one which also makes it cheaper even with the prescription charge

My friend has had good results with both her dogs. Will give her a heads up

I haven’t heard any guarantee but I understand they’ve been told they can keep current dogs on it but not start new dogs on it. But there were a couple posts on Holly’s Army with people having their appts cancelled, one was pretty worried as the dog had been doing really well. I expect they’ll be in the minority and hopefully there is stock for most people. My vet had to check there was enough when I booked it, that was a couple weeks ago and our appt is Thursday.

Just seen another one can’t have their 4th injection.

Hopefully its a temporary hitch in the supply chain

Ok so just back from our 4th (?) jab. Between the last one and this one I had my vet report the increased water intake as it seems quite a few are finding the same thing and Zoetis are collating info on it. Teak had the odd incidence of incontinence before librela, but the polydipsia has meant that’s become more frequent. So we have added propalin and that’s under control now.

Unfortunately my vet has booked us in for 4 weeks time but will phone me nearer the time to confirm whether they have it there for us or not; the supplies are an issue and though Zoetis have told them they will ‘drip-feed’ enough to them to supply current patients, they cannot guarantee anything.

I really hope she can have it; she turns 16 in about 6 weeks and I know we are in our last months together. I just want her to be comfortable. But if not then we will just try something else. Got a bit teary after my appt as I know this works for her. Fingers crossed for the next one.

My friend's first dog to be injected drank more but not sure about second one. Hard to tell with the weather being so not

Lots of info on the Holly's Army fb group on this. Run by CAM if you aren't already on the group

I am on the group, but thanks. That’s where I saw people’s appts getting cancelled and some of the (seemingly) common side effects like the drinking.

> Hard to tell with the weather being so not

Yes, for some the weather will be awkward timing in that respect. Mine started before though, and lasts for about 2 weeks with each new injection. But it’s awkward timing for some I’m sure.