What’s the REAL Truth About Librela and Solensia Injections for Pets?
Two New Breakthrough Drugs for Arthritis in Dogs and Cats: Librela for Dogs, Solensia for Cats
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Recently, the FDA approved two new arthritis drugs for dogs and cats. These are Librela for dogs and Solensia for cats, both made by Zoetis, a company in the animal health industry. These drugs have quickly become multi-million-dollar products. But with their rise in popularity, there are some important things pet parents need to know, especially about potential side effects.
What Are These New Drugs?
Librela and Solensia are unique because they are monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), which target a protein called nerve growth factor (NGF). NGF plays a crucial role in arthritic pain. When NGF is released, it increases the inflammatory response, worsening pain in your pet.
These drugs work by blocking NGF, which helps reduce pain differently from traditional anti-inflammatory drugs used in pets. The commercials make it look simple—your dog or cat gets a monthly injection from the vet, and voilà, they’re pain-free. In fact, the companies claim that up to 80% of pets respond positively to these injections.
Why These Drugs Appeal to Pet Owners
As a pet owner, the appeal is clear. For instance, my cat Murray hated pills. If I could have given him a monthly injection instead of daily medication, it would have made my life much easier—if it were safe. Many dogs and cats don’t take pills easily, and the idea of one injection that keeps them pain-free sounds like a dream.
But there’s more to the story.
Reports of Side Effects in Europe
These drugs have been available in Europe since 2021, and since then, over 15,000 adverse events have been reported with Librela and more than 8,600 for Solensia.
Some of the side effects reported in dogs include:
- Neurological problems (e.g., wobbliness, ataxia)
- Seizures
- Weakness
- Urinary incontinence (dribbling urine)
- Increased drinking and urination
- Kidney disease
- Vomiting
- Lameness
- Pain at the injection site
- Skin cysts
- In rare cases, death
In cats, side effects have included:
- Severe skin issues, such as excessive scratching leading to self-mutilation
- Weakness
- Behavioral changes
- Drooling
- Urinary incontinence
- Increased drinking and urination
- Organ damage, including kidney issues
Manufacturer and Veterinarian Response
Zoetis, the manufacturer, claims that millions of doses have been administered and that adverse events are minimal, stating that less than 0.1% of pets experience side effects. The FDA, however, has addressed some of these adverse events, even sending a letter to Zoetis regarding misleading claims about the drug’s safety and efficacy. Changes have been made, but it’s crucial for pet owners to understand the potential risks.
One major concern is that while the drugs block NGF to reduce pain, NGF is also essential for nerve development and healing. Some veterinarians worry that these drugs could interfere with healing, especially if pets have underlying conditions like a torn ACL or nerve damage.
The Safety Study Limitations
When Zoetis conducted their safety studies, they tested these drugs on healthy animals—dogs and cats without other health conditions. But what about pets with arthritis and kidney disease, or a dog with both arthritis and a nerve injury? These weren’t considered in the studies, which is why we’re seeing more side effects in pets with underlying health issues.
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Should You Use These Drugs for Your Pet?
Now, should you consider Librela for your dog or Solensia for your cat? Before jumping to these new drugs, I highly recommend exploring holistic and alternative options. For example:
- Weight loss (if needed)
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Heat therapy or cold laser
- Injectable glycosaminoglycan (Adequan)
- Acupuncture, acupressure
- CBD oil
- Curcumin (95%)
- Boswellia
- Magnesium
These options are not only effective for many pets but are also far less likely to cause side effects.
However, if your pet is in severe pain and you’ve tried holistic treatments without success, and if your pet has no underlying health issues like kidney or liver disease, then you might consider trying these drugs. But please make sure you’ve exhausted the other options first. If conventional anti-inflammatory drugs haven’t worked and your pet is still suffering, then Librela or Solensia may be worth considering.
In my experience, most pets benefit greatly from holistic treatments, and these are often much safer than some of the newer drugs on the market. Would I use Librela for my dog, Tula? No. Would I use Solensia for my next cat? Absolutely not. If I wouldn’t inject myself with a monoclonal antibody monthly, I’m certainly not going to inject my pets with one.
If your dog is limping and responds well to something like CBD, then that’s a great route to take. Thank you for watching this edition of Veterinary Secrets. Don’t forget to subscribe and hit the bell for notifications! And if you click the link below, I can send you a free copy of my book on natural pet health.
Stay informed and take care of your pets.
Librela was a terrible choice for my dog that I so regret. Pain free, yes but she developed urinary incontinence and a stubborn uti. Do hoping this resolved with discontinuation of Librela. I feel like I really let her down.
I see and here’s an article from Dr. Jones’ that can help:
Urinary incontinence (leaking urine) is surprisingly common in many dogs. In spite of what you may think, most cases of urinary incontinence can be resolved with some fairly simple treatments. In this article I will discuss the common signs and symptoms of dogs being incontinent, then cover the most important natural remedies that can be used to treat your dog’s leaking bladder at home.
The first thing to do is ascertain that it really is incontinence, and not a bladder infection or submissive urination. Incontinence is defined as involuntary urine leakage, and this often occurs at night when your dog is relaxed or sleeping. Dogs with diabetes or kidney failure may drink excessively, and then be unable to go through the night without urinating in the house. The most common occurrence is in middle-aged spayed female dogs. They have lost a source of estrogen that is needed to maintain bladder control. Other less common causes include bladder infections, and spinal cord damage.
As there can be several causes, you should first visit your veterinarian to determine the most likely cause. They can perform a physical exam, a urinalysis to check for presence of infection, and blood work to check organ function. If it is determined that estrogen responsive incontinence is the likely diagnosis, then your veterinarian may suggest using estrogen medication.
Some glandular supplements can help your spayed female dog produce more natural estrogen. These are generally known as raw gland concentrates. One product available at health food stores is called ‘Female Caps’ (Solaray). The dose is 1/4 capsule per 10 lbs of body weight daily. This can be tried for 30 days to see if it will be effective.
Naturally increasing estrogen is a smart and simple thing to do. Ground flax seed is a great source of plant estrogens ” the dose is 1 teaspoon per cup of food daily. Soy isoflavones are another good source of estrogen. These can be purchased as an extract under the brand name Genista. The dose is 1/4 capsule per 10 lbs of body weight daily. Use for 30 days to see if they are effective.
Back injuries sometimes put pressure on the nerves that control the bladder. Hold your thumb and index finger and locate the dip between the vertebrae on either side of your pet’s backbone. Press straight down for two seconds then release. Start at the middle of the spine and go to the tail. This helps move the spine, keeping it flexible and may release any excess pressure on the nerves.
There are acupressure points that control the bladder as well as influencing the adrenal glands. BL1, located on the inside of the eye; BL13, BL14, BL15, located along the spine at the level of the front shoulder; BL67, located on the outside of the lateral toe on the rear foot; SP6, located on the inside of the back leg above the hock; SP10, located just above the knee. Put pressure on each of the points for 1 minute twice daily for 2 weeks. If this appears to be helping regain control, repeat the pressure once per week.
If your dog is incontinent, take comfort in knowing that this can likely be easily remedied. If you have a spayed female dog, the most likely cause is hormonal, with the diagnosis being estrogen responsive incontinence.
Whatever injections your pet is receiving monthly doesn’t work for those pet companions that hate going to the vet. It is a monthly horrow show when the carrier comes out. With all the new drugs that increase the life of your furry friend, surely there’s a more pet friendly method of getting the drug into their system. I have been prescribed certain treatments that can be rubbed on the inside of the ear. Veterinary science has come a long way, but needs to think of ways to make it less stressful.