Librela is a medication for dogs designed to control chronic pain caused by osteoarthritis (OA).Librela is a monoclonal antibody that specifically targets a key driver of OA pain. It works to reduce pain signals, making it easier for your dog to move and play. This once monthly injection has been used to great effect in Europe for the past 5 years. So while it may be new to us here in the US, we can confidently say it is a safe long-term option for dogs suffering from OA pain.

Librela is safe to use in conjunction with NSAID medications that are commonly used to treat pain, such as Carprofen. These two medications work in different ways, with Librela putting much less strain on the liver and kidneys. This makes it ideal for dogs that already have liver and/or kidney issues. In fact, the goal with Librela is to eventually taper dogs off of NSAIDs.

Since Librela is administered as a monthly injection, this makes it much more convenient for owners as well. A quick shot every 30 days is much less hassle than having to make sure your dog gets its daily pills. While some dogs may not see improvement until after the 3rd dose, 1 in 5 will see improvement as early as 7 days after the 1st dose. Librela is a lifelong therapy, so it is important for your dog to receive the injection monthly to continually receive the benefits. It is not a one and done injection.
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​If you would like to talk to someone that this injection changed their pet's quality of life for the better, call and ask for Crystal, our Practice Manager.