Popular dog arthritis medication Librela linked to illnesses, deaths: FDA

A popular arthritis medication for dogs has sickened thousands of pets and likely caused others to die, the Food and Drug Administration said in an urgent warning.

Dangerous side effects from the injectable canine drug Librela — used to treat osteoarthritis joint pain — have been linked to seizures, lameness and loss of muscle control, the agency said.

More than 3,600 cases of debilitating dog health problems caused by the medication were reported between January 2023 and March 2024, the FDA said in the cautionary letter, published Monday.

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

The medication is produced by the pet drug firm Zoetis and was approved by the FDA last year.  

In April, several dog owners told the Wall Street Journal the meds had hurt or killed their pups — including Phil Jordan, who said his 12-year-old rescue, Daisy, began to limp and wobble a couple weeks after her first shot.

The dog then became lethargic, lost her appetite and ability to walk after another dose a week later. Her kidneys soon failed, and Jordan’s heartbroken family was forced to euthanize her, according to the report.

Zoetis has claimed the drug is safe and effective, with the number of dangerous side effects representing just a fraction of the millions of shots administered.

“We continue to have the utmost confidence in the safety and efficacy of Librela. Since launching in Europe over three years ago, Librela has been used effectively with millions of dogs suffering from osteoarthritis pain,” Zoetis told The Post in a statement.

“With more than 21 million doses distributed globally, no individual adverse event sign is reported at a rate higher than rare, as defined by the European Medicines Agency.”