The Facts About Librela and Canine Osteoarthritis Pain
As fellow pet parents, we’re committed to creating products that are groundbreaking, effective, and most importantly, provide the highest quality of care for your dog.
Is Librela Safe for Dogs?
Librela has been approved by the FDA and similar drug agencies in other countries to be safe and effective. But every dog is different, and yours may or may not be an ideal candidate for Librela. Your veterinarian can help you come up with a treatment plan that best suits your dog.
Over 14 million doses given across the US, Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and more.1
In 2 clinical studies, Librela proved to be effective in controlling dog osteoarthritis pain
when administered monthly.2,3
Side effects were shown to be similar to what is expected for dogs diagnosed with osteoarthritis.2-4
The Approval Process
Any new drug must undergo a rigorous testing and approval process to show that it’s safe for dogs and that it consistently does what it claims to do. It can take years for a product to hit the market after testing begins.
What's The Process?
- Zoetis’ scientists begin formulating a new drug for a specific use in a specific animal.
- Extensive research is done in the lab to figure out proper dosing and to ensure the product is safe for pets and safe for the environment.
- Field trials are conducted on pets to further make sure the product does what it’s supposed to do and determine what the most common adverse effects are.
- Once these studies are completed, the results are provided to the FDA for their independent review.
- The FDA's team of veterinarians, scientists, toxicologists, and more review the research and, in some cases, may ask for more testing to be done.
- If they’re satisfied, the product is approved. Zoetis and the FDA continuously monitor the drug's safety and efficacy while it remains on the market.
Are There Side Effects With Librela?
After 3 years on the market in Europe and with approvals in over 50 countries, millions of doses have been given. The overall adverse event rate is 0.18%, and no single adverse event occurred more frequently than rarely (defined as ≥1/10,000 to <1/1,000 dogs treated).*† Your vet can help you determine if Librela is the best treatment for your dog.
As with most medicines, there are potential side effects. In clinical studies, the following were most frequently reported:2,3
- Increased blood urea nitrogen**
- Urinary tract Infection
- Bacterial skin Infection
- Skin dermititis
*Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (CIOMS) (available at: https://cioms.ch/pharmacovigilance/; accessed April 26th, 2024). Assumed treatment of 2 doses per dog was used for to estimate number of dogs treated.
†This information has been collected after approval and is based on pharmacovigilance reports and assessments. These data are dependent on voluntary reporting by veterinarians and pet owners; therefore, underreporting occurs, and more serious adverse events may have higher rates of reporting for some products.
**For the vast majority of dogs, an elevation in blood urea nitrogen was not associated with kidney disease.
Hear from Our Experts
In a recent survey, nearly 8 out of 10 vets said they were very satisfied with Librela.5 We work closely with veterinarians to ensure they’re given the most up-to-date information about each product and to receive their firsthand feedback.
How We Monitor Side Effects
Though OA pain can affect dogs of all ages, breeds, and sizes, it often co-exists alongside other conditions, particularly in elderly dogs. We carefully monitor feedback from both vets and pet parents as we seek to better understand Librela’s role in improving dogs’ quality of life.
Have a Question About Librela?
Please refer to the full Prescribing Information for approved product labeling and Important Safety Information. Call our medical support team at 1‑888‑963‑8471 or click the link below.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: For use in dogs only. Women who are pregnant, trying to conceive or breastfeeding should take extreme care to avoid self-injection. Hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, could potentially occur with self-injection. Librela should not be used in breeding, pregnant or lactating dogs. Librela should not be administered to dogs with known hypersensitivity to bedinvetmab. The most common adverse events reported in a clinical study were urinary tract infections, bacterial skin infections and dermatitis. See full Prescribing Information.
INDICATIONS: For the control of pain associated with osteoarthritis in dogs.
References
- Data on File. Zoetis Inc. March 2024.
- Corral, Maria J., et al. "A prospective, randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled multisite clinical study of bedinvetmab, a canine monoclonal antibody targeting nerve growth factor, in dogs with osteoarthritis." Veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia 48.6 (2021): 943-955. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaa.2021.08.001.
- Michels GM et al. Vet Anaesth Analg. 2023;50(5):446-458. doi:10.1016/j.vaa.2023.06.003.
- Willems A, Paepe D, Marynissen S, et al. Results of screening of apparently healthy senior and geriatric dogs. J Vet Intern Med. 2017;31(1):81-92. doi:10.1111/jvim.14587
- Librela Vet Pulse W3, March 2023, Forward Group.
ZPC-02734R2
