Pet owners preparing class action against osteoarthritis drug maker over dog deaths

Above Courtney Christie's fireplace is a shrine to her beloved dog, Lotte.

“We were completely inseparable, she went everywhere with me — she was my great friend,” she said.

After the 12-year-old kelpie koolie cross started “slowing down”, her vet clinic suggested a new medication which had just launched in Australia called Beransa — a monthly antibody therapy injection to alleviate osteoarthritis pain in dogs.

“‘Safe and side effect free' was the messaging that I got and the messaging that the clinic got,” she said.

But she said after the second injection, Lotte started becoming confused and lethargic, and her condition deteriorated.

During the following weeks, Lotte was found to have no platelets (thrombocytopenia) and underwent a plasma infusion, steroid medication, and chemotherapy type immune therapies.

“I maxed out every credit card I had, I borrowed money, and I gave her every chance to live,” she said.

But eventually Ms Christie had to make the difficult decision to euthanase Lotte.

“I just looked down and she started haemorrhaging. She was losing blood from her back end,” she said.

Vets notified in United States

After extensive research, she found that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had issued a letter to veterinarians about adverse events reported in dogs treated with the medication, called Librela in the US and Europe.

“The adverse events identified and analysed include: ataxia, seizures, other neurologic signs, including but not limited to, paresis, recumbency, urinary incontinence; polyuria, and polydipsia,” the letter read.

“In some cases, death (including euthanasia) was reported as an outcome of these adverse events.”

After reviewing the drug, the FDA forced Zoetis to include “death” as a possible side effect on its labelling in the US. But the Australian regulator is yet to follow suit.

In a statement, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) said it was aware of public commentary regarding adverse experiences associated with Beransa, and was seeking evidence from international regulators.

It said it registered Beransa in 2022 and updated the label in August 2024 to include “the addition of rarely identified side effects”, including blood disorders such as thrombocytopenia — which Lotte was diagnosed with.

“The APVMA will take immediate action if we determine that there is a significant imminent threat to the Australian community,” the statement read.

Ms Christie also discovered that a class action had been filed in the United States, alleging the drug had been associated with “thousands of reported adverse events”.

She said if she had known that earlier, she never would have treated Lotte with Beransa.

Now, Ms Christie and a group of other pet owners around the country are seeking to launch a similar class action in Australia.

Vets describe positive experience

The ABC has contacted veterinary clinics around Australia, who say their experiences with Beransa have been mostly positive.

“Generally, it's been a real benefit to dogs … we're not saving their lives forever, but we're giving them six to 12 months they probably never would have had,” said veterinarian Andrew Spanner.

His Adelaide clinic has issued about 1,200 doses, and he estimates about half of elderly dogs are being treated with Beransa.

He is concerned legal action and bad reviews on social media could affect the treatment's availability.

“When you Google it, all you get is all the bad things, because the people who are having good experiences are just quietly going about their day, not saying anything about it,” he said.

He said reports side effects are impacting multiple bodily system raises alarm bells because “true adverse effects” are “quite focused”.

Dr Spanner said he wished it was available sooner because he would have used it to treat one of his own dogs, who was euthanased.

But while he understands grief is often linked to a search for answers, he fears Beransa could be pulled from the market.

That sentiment is echoed by veterinarian John Carruthers.

“We don't expect any medication to be zero risk … with any medication, the question you have to ask before you prescribe it is what's more dangerous — the disease or the medication?”

Integrative veterinarian Digby Ambrose's clinic has administered more than 1,400 doses with little to no side effects.

“It's our last line of treatment … we'd like clients to have informed consent before we use this product, so we list the possible side effects and what we think the incidents may be,” he said.

Manufacturer backs product

In a statement, Beransa's manufacturer, Zoetis said reported adverse events represented fewer than 10 occurrences per 10,000 doses.

“We understand that when any dog experiences an adverse event, these statistics are a small consolation,” the statement read.

“All medicines come with some potential risks. Pet owners should weigh the benefits of using any product against the potential risks in consultation with their veterinarian.

“Since launching four years ago, Beransa has been used effectively with millions of dogs around the world, helping dogs suffering from osteoarthritis pain live with less pain and greater mobility.”

Pet owners advocate for better information

For Ray Dalli, informed consent is exactly what he wants to see.

He and his family nursed their Jack Russell terrier Daisy around the clock for 161 days, until they eventually had her euthanised.

“We couldn't see any light at the end of the tunnel … we felt it was unjust, and she couldn't go through any further testing,” he said.

Mr Dalli also wants to be part of a class action. 

He meticulously documented Daisy's decline, which he claims was the result of Beransa.

He said after Daisy was administered the drug, she started having spasms, became confused, lost weight, sought out dark corners and appeared in a “drunken state”.

“She would stagger, she would sway, she would fall over. It was not a slow collapse, but just, bang, I'm dead, frozen, dead,” he said.

He said while Zoetis had listened to his concerns, he wished there had been communication about potential risks.

“The answer is not to withdraw the drug from the market — the answer is to make people aware of it, that there are serious adverse effects,” he said.

“Our dog didn't deserve this. She deserved a normal, dignified end to her life.”

Ms Christie added that there was evidence stating the drug had helped dogs.

“[But] it should be for dogs that have exhausted every other treatment opportunity, not happy little 12-year-olds with a bit of a stiff hip,” she said.