A medication used in dogs suffering from osteoarthritis is facing backlash after thousands of patients have experienced unexpected side effects.
What some have been calling a miracle drug for the breakdown of cartilage in their pet’s joints, bringing their sore pups back to normal jumping and playtime, others have been facing seizures, lethargy, and in some cases, death.
Librela is a monoclonal antibody drug, meaning that it is made to act like a protein in your body.
This is according to the Cleveland Clinic, where researchers say these antibodies are made to seek out antigens, or foreign materials, and bind to them in order to destroy them.
Librela was approved by the FDA in May of 2023, but by April of 2024, the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine database had more than 3600 reports associated with the medication.
In December of last year, the FDA released a letter to veterinarians warning about these adverse side effects as well.
Today, the medicine has updated its side effects to include ataxia, which is a loss of muscle coordination, seizures, anorexia, muscle weakness, and even death, including euthanasia in some cases. That was the case for one couple in New Bern who lost Sebastian after what they say were adverse side effects from Librela.
Sebastian was like any other pup, he enjoyed fetch, tricks, and was a big fan of popsicles.
He was just so sweet, but he was having a little bit of difficulty walking, his little back end. He was nine and a half years old at the time.
In May of 2024, Barbara and George Anderson say they took him to the vet, who diagnosed Sebastian with osteoarthritis and recommended Librela.
“About 10 days after the shot, he started having tremors—like a person with Parkinson’s. Then he would shiver uncontrollably for 10, 15, 20 minutes. We’d wrap him in a warm towel or blanket, and nothing would help him.”
“Ultimately, we were hand feeding him, giving him water. He was coherent, but you know—he was incapable of—of a normal
Sebastian was known to suffer from seizures for years, and the couple gave him a different medication multiple times a day. The Andersons say if they had known any of these risks of Librela, they would have turned down the medication.
“We were very guarded in what he got, and would get. If we had been told of one thing, the urinary tract infection, ataxia, excessive thirst, anything—partial paralysis, anything—we would have said no.”
In the end, their playful boy became a pup they didn’t know.
He collapsed, he had him outside, just like he melted. He couldn’t straighten out his feet, couldn’t stand.
They hope to prevent other pet owners from having the same experience.
“That little guy, he fought for 154 days to try and get past this. I mean, we do believe he would be here today if it weren’t for that shot. There’s no doubt in my mind.”
On their website, Zoetis has a statement where they say that the suspected adverse reactions are taken seriously by their team, it says they have systems in place to monitor these reactions, and they suggest that you contact your veterinarian as well as representatives from Zoetis, if you suspect your dog is experiencing those symptoms.
In an informal poll on Facebook of over 200 votes, nearly 80% said they had a bad experience with the drug.
Click here to find out more information on Librela.
Visit this webpage to see the FDA's letter to veterinarians.
