Librela In Dogs - Everything You Need To Know About This Injection For Canine Arthritis
80% of dogs over the age of eight will struggle with arthritis and joint pain. Arthritis can deeply impact a dog’s ability to navigate the world, and even decrease their overall quality of life.
With arthritis being such a common ailment in canine companions, it was time to create something that could attempt to improve their pain. That’s where Librela comes in!
Let’s break down everything you need to know about Librela, a new injection designed to manage arthritis in dogs.
Understanding Arthritis In Dogs
Before we discuss Librela for dogs, let’s first explain what canine arthritis is and how it affects our beloved companions.
The canine joint plays a vital role in their ease of movement. Canine arthritis refers to the breakdown or inflammation of the joints, ultimately causing the cartilage to become brittle over time. The cartilage is designed to act as a cushion within the joint each time the dog takes a step. As the cartilage becomes more brittle over time, the dog can experience significant pain and hindered mobility.
In addition to the breakdown of the cartilage, arthritis will also cause damaging inflammation within the joint. Since the cartilage is no longer providing an adequate cushion to the joint, the ends of the bone will rub and grind together. This constant grinding leads to a damaging cycle of inflammation. Their limited mobility and joint pain will only get worse over time without medical intervention.
Signs Of Arthritis Pain In Dogs
Since arthritis is so common in our little ones, it’s important to be aware of the most common symptoms. Let’s list what you should be on the lookout for below.
- Joint stiffness
- Difficulty getting up after rest
- Difficulty getting up stairs or jumping on furniture
- Shying away from activity they typically enjoy
- Changes in their normal gait
- Soreness after activity
- Muscle wasting or a decline in muscle presence
- Change in mood
- Joint swelling
- Limb weakness
- Limb sensitivity or crying out when they are touched
We always suggest having your dog assessed by your veterinary team if they are experiencing any symptoms of arthritis.
What Is Librela & How Does It Work?
Librela has been coined as the dog arthritis shot for many pet parents. Though it has become more commonly used in practice, many still don’t understand how this impressive arthritis shot actually works. It’s a complicated process, but let’s try to break it down.
As we mentioned above, arthritis in dogs leads to the breakdown of cartilage. The breakdown of cartilage causes pro-inflammatory mediators to be released, and this will extend to all the joint tissues. Pain signals are then sent from the joint and into the spinal cord, and then eventually to the brain.
The pain process itself is accomplished by many factors and proteins, and one of these proteins is called nerve growth factor (NGF). NGF is a protein that’s released by damaged tissues, meaning it is present in cases of canine arthritis. NGF will bind with receptors in the region and transfer pain signals, ultimately leading to a painful stimulus in the area.
This is where Librela comes in! Librela is a monoclonal antibody formula. Monoclonal antibodies are specific immune system molecules that can be used to target other molecules. Librella is an anti-NGF antibody, which means it targets NGF and prevents it from binding to pain receptors. By blocking these pain signals, this leads to more pain regulation for the dog affected. Librela also controls inflammation, which ultimately prevents more joint damage over time.
How Is Librela Given To Dogs?
Unlike daily oral medications commonly prescribed to manage arthritis in dogs, Librela is an injection that can only be administered in a vet’s office. A dog’s dose is calculated by their weight, and the dose is administered in injection form under the skin. Librela injections must be given once a month to maintain adequate pain control.
Where Can I Get Librela?
Librela can be found at vet offices across the country. Though it is still fairly new, many clinics are excited to begin offering it to their patients that suffer from joint pain. We suggest asking your vet if they carry Librela currently, and if not, calling other clinics in the area and asking the same. There is likely a clinic near you that can get your dog started!
Are There Other Ways To Treat Arthritis Pain In Dogs?
There are many ways to offer your dog arthritis pain relief and joint support. Let’s list some of the options available to your little one aside from Librela.
Other forms of veterinary care: There are other ways to manage a dog’s arthritis pain outside of the use of Librela. Vets can prescribe daily NSAID medications to control inflammation and pain, Adequan injections that can prevent and repair cartilage breakdown, and offer general pain control alongside other inflammation control. Your veterinary team will determine what’s best for your dog’s situation.
Weight management: Keeping your dog slim and trim is essential for supporting joint health, and it is critical for dogs with arthritis. Excessive weight can not only put unnecessary stress on a dog’s joints and cause more damage, but it can exacerbate pain the dog is already experiencing.
Joint supplements: Joint supplements are dietary additives that promote joint health in a few different ways. Joint supplements can help to lubricate the joints, relieve joint inflammation, and even slow the progression of cartilage deterioration. Joint supplements are essential for dogs that have already developed arthritis, but they can be beneficial as a general joint support tool for at-risk dogs. We suggest making joint supplements a part of your care routine if you have a large breed dog over the age of one, as well as adding them to your senior dog’s care routine.
Physical therapy: Physical therapy is a wonderful way to support dogs with painful arthritis. Physical therapy can help to stimulate blood flow to injured tissue, and strengthen the muscles that have deteriorated due to their pain. Physical therapy can include mobility exercises, short walks, hydrotherapy, laser therapy, and acupuncture.
Vetted Is Here To Help
We understand how difficult it is to watch your little one struggle with joint pain. If you live in the Chicago, NYC, or Dallas/Fort Worth area and need advice on how to best support your pet, we are here for you! Just click here to book your pet’s visit.
