The truth is that animals age much faster than we do, which means that age related problems humans encounter are seen much earlier in our pets’ lives. One of the most debilitating progressive painful conditions they deal with is osteoarthritis pain (OA). Over the years, there have been advances to help dogs with pain such as cold laser treatments, Adequan injections, a variety of joint supplements, omega 3 fatty acids, mobility prescription diets, anti-inflammatory medications, and platelet rich plasma injections, to name a few. To an certain extent, these can really help our canine friends move better and can manage their pain for some time.

Dogs suffering from chronic pain become sedentary and overweight, which further leads to joint deterioration. This pain may cause them to stop eating or even become irritable.  Clinical signs of osteoarthritis pain can include:

• Abnormalities of movement/lameness

• Musculoskeletal deterioration

• Anxiety

• Loss of vitality, energy, and enthusiasm

• Sleep impairment

• Cognitive dysfunction

These signs can dramatically affect a pet’s quality of life which can lead pet parents to decide to keep them from suffering after exhausting all the available options.

The amazing news is that we now have another option to help dogs with chronic osteoarthritis pain. This new drug, called Librela, has been used in Europe since 2021, and was just approved by the FDA here in the US. It is a monthly injection, given by your veterinarian, that blocks nerve growth factor (NGF) using a newer technology called monoclonal antibodies. These antibodies function like naturally occurring antibodies that are easy on your dog's liver and kidneys. NGF is one of the primary mediators that creates inflammation and pain. Librela

binds to NGF and blocks this pain pathway.

Librela can be given as an adjunct to other current treatments for chronic OA pain. In many cases, you will no longer need to give other pain medications. It is not labeled to be effective for acute pain and is not a substitute for surgery, if indicated. It is recommended to give 3 monthly injections to determine the full benefit of the product, but you may see results in as soon as 7 days. Because it’s just blocking the pain pathway, you must continue the injection monthly indefinitely to be effective long term.

Solensia, the feline version, has been available in the US for just over a year and has been used with great success. OA in cats is far less recognized by pet owners since they are much better at hiding their pain.

We are all very excited about this new breakthrough in veterinary medicine and look forward to helping many patients get one step closer to improved mobility and comfort. Ask your veterinarian if Librela or Solensia are right for your pet today.