Librela™ For Dogs: Innovative Arthritis Treatment

About 40% of dogs deal with osteoarthritis, which is the main cause of chronic pain in them¹. A new treatment called Librela™ is changing how we handle this condition in our pets. It’s the first anti-nerve growth factor (anti-NGF) treatment approved by the U.S. FDA for dogs with osteoarthritis.

Zoetis, a top name in animal health, created Librela™. This treatment is a big step forward in treating canine osteoarthritis. It gives pet owners a new way to make their dogs’ lives better when they’re dealing with this painful joint disease.

Key Takeaways

• Librela™ is the first and only anti-NGF monoclonal antibody approved by the FDA for controlling osteoarthritis pain in dogs.
• About 40% of dogs suffer from osteoarthritis, the primary cause of chronic pain in canines¹.
• Librela™ is given monthly by vets, making it easy and effective for dogs with osteoarthritis.
• The treatment has shown big improvements in pain, pain severity, and quality of life for dogs in studies².
• Librela™ is a game-changer in treating canine arthritis, offering a new kind of therapy to help our pets.

What is Librela™?

Librela™ is a new veterinary medicine that changes how we treat dogs with osteoarthritis (OA) pain. It’s the first anti-nerve growth factor (anti-NGF) therapy for dogs³. This medicine targets and stops nerve growth factor (NGF), which causes pain and inflammation in dogs with OA³.

Librela™: The First Anti-NGF Monoclonal Antibody for Canine Osteoarthritis

Librela™ is a groundbreaking treatment for dogs with osteoarthritis pain. It’s the first anti-NGF therapy for dogs, making a big leap in managing OA pain³. Studies show that Librela™ can control OA pain in dogs for a long time, improving their life quality⁴.

Understanding Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and Its Role in Osteoarthritis Pain

NGF is a key factor in the pain and inflammation of canine osteoarthritis. It makes pain receptors more sensitive and contributes to chronic pain in dogs with OA³. By targeting NGF, Librela™ can reduce OA pain in dogs, making them more mobile and improving their life quality³.

In two US and EU studies, Librela™ showed it can lessen OA pain and improve dogs’ lives⁵. The Canine Brief Pain Inventory (CBPI) found that dogs on Librela™ had better pain relief and quality of life than those not on it⁵.

Librela™ kept controlling OA pain in 89 dogs from the EU study for 9 months, showing ongoing improvement in their lives⁵. Side effects in 273 dogs on Librela™ were similar to what’s seen in dogs with OA⁵.

Librela™ is given as a monthly injection under the skin. The dose is 0.23 mg/lb of the dog’s weight⁵. It should be kept in a fridge between 36 °F to 46 °F⁵. Women who are pregnant, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding should not give themselves this injection to avoid serious reactions⁵.

Librela™ is the first anti-NGF therapy for dogs with OA pain³. Dogs on Librela™ might develop antibodies that can lessen its effectiveness over time³.

Librela™ is only for dogs and should not be used on other animals³. The main ingredient in Librela™ is bedinvetmab, a type of antibody that blocks NGF to reduce pain in dogs with OA³.

Since its launch in 2021, over 6.8 million doses of Librela have been given out in Europe⁴. Some dogs start showing less OA pain within a week of their first Librela injection, showing its fast and effective relief⁴.

Librela is a type of antibody that targets a key cause of OA pain, helping to reduce pain and improve mobility in dogs⁴. Common side effects include urinary tract infections, skin infections, and dermatitis⁴.

Librela needs to be given by a vet and requires monthly shots for effective OA pain control⁴. It’s not recommended for dogs sensitive to the active ingredient, pregnant, breeding, or nursing dogs⁴.

Vets are key in deciding if Librela is right for a dog based on its health and past treatments⁴.

“Librela is a game-changer in the treatment of canine osteoarthritis, offering dogs and their owners a new hope for managing this debilitating condition.”

⁵³⁴

Prevalence of Canine Osteoarthritis

Canine osteoarthritis (OA) is a common and painful condition that affects millions of dogs in the U.S. About 40% of dogs show signs of OA, but only one-third get diagnosed and treated⁶. With 86 million pet dogs in U.S. homes, many dogs suffer from this joint disease⁶.

Signs and Symptoms of Osteoarthritis in Dogs

Osteoarthritis can start in dogs as young as 1 year old⁶. It’s more common in older dogs due to joint wear and tear⁶. OA causes pain and stiffness, affecting a dog’s physical and emotional health. Signs include trouble going up or down stairs, lagging on walks, hesitating to jump, limping after exercise, and becoming less active.

It’s important to recognize these OA signs in your dog. This means getting them to a vet quickly and starting the right treatment to ease their pain and improve their life.

Librela™ For Dogs: Innovative Arthritis Treatment

Librela™ is changing the game in treating canine osteoarthritis. It’s the first anti-Nerve Growth Factor (anti-NGF) monoclonal antibody for this purpose. This makes it a new and effective way to help dogs with this painful condition⁷.

Osteoarthritis is a painful condition that affects nearly 40% of dogs. It’s estimated that 86 million dogs in the U.S. might have it⁷. But, many dogs don’t get diagnosed because their owners think it’s just part of aging⁷.

Librela™ offers a simple and effective way to treat this. It comes as monthly shots given by vets. This treatment targets NGF, a key cause of osteoarthritis pain, offering better relief than daily pills⁷⁸.

One big plus of Librela™ is it reduces the stress of daily treatments. It gives your dog long-lasting pain relief without the need for daily medication⁷.

European vets have widely accepted Librela™, with over 4.6 million doses given so far⁹. This shows how effective it is in controlling osteoarthritis pain. It helps dogs move more and live better lives⁸.

Librela™ is usually safe, with few side effects. But, it’s key to follow your vet’s advice on dosage and schedule⁸⁹.

Zoetis, a leading animal health company, has introduced Librela™ as the first anti-NGF monoclonal antibody for dogs with osteoarthritis⁷. This new treatment, along with their Apoquel® Chewable, shows Zoetis’ commitment to improving canine health⁷⁸⁹.

Benefits of Librela™ Over Traditional Treatments

Librela™ is changing the game for dogs with osteoarthritis (OA) pain. It offers benefits that traditional treatments just can’t match¹⁰. This monthly shot helps dogs feel better for a whole month and is safe to use¹⁰. After just one dose, dogs move more easily and feel less pain¹⁰.

Convenient Monthly Injections by Veterinary Professionals

Librela™ is easy to use because it’s given by vets once a month¹⁰. This makes it simpler for pet owners and helps dogs get the care they need¹⁰. It also strengthens the bond between humans and animals¹⁰.

Improved Treatment Compliance and Reduced Caregiver Burden

Keeping up with OA pain treatment is hard for pet owners with daily pills¹⁰. Librela™ changes that by having vets give a monthly shot¹⁰. This makes it easier for pets and their owners, leading to better care and less stress.

Librela™ is different from other pain relievers because it targets a specific cause of OA pain¹⁰. This method has been shown to reduce pain for 3 months, making a big difference in how dogs feel¹⁰.

“Librela™ offers a more convenient and effective solution, improving treatment compliance and reducing the burden on pet owners.”

Studies have shown that Librela™ keeps working well for up to 9 months¹⁰. This gives pet owners peace of mind, knowing their dogs can live comfortably with OA pain¹⁰.

How Librela™ Works

Librela™ is a new therapy that targets Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) to help dogs with osteoarthritis (OA) pain¹¹. It uses a special antibody to bind to NGF, which is a key player in pain and inflammation in OA¹¹. This makes Librela™ different from other OA treatments, offering a targeted and powerful way to tackle OA pain in dogs.

Clinical studies show that Librela™ can lessen OA pain, boost activity, and enhance life quality for dogs⁵. Dogs get 0.23 mg/lb of Librela™ once a month, given by vets⁵. This easy-to-administer injection helps manage pain consistently, easing the load on pet owners and making treatment more reliable.

Targeting Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) for Pain Relief

Librela™ targets NGF, a protein vital for pain and inflammation in osteoarthritis¹¹. By attaching to NGF, it reduces its effects on pain receptors, easing OA-related pain¹¹.

Laboratory tests confirm that Librela™ specifically binds to NGF, not other proteins, showing its focused action¹¹. This targeted approach aims to lessen OA pain without causing extra side effects.

Librela™’s focus on NGF offers a new way to manage canine osteoarthritis pain⁵. This therapy could greatly help dogs with OA, enhancing their well-being and life quality⁵¹¹¹².

Administering Librela™ to Your Dog

Librela™ is a monthly shot for dogs with osteoarthritis pain¹³. It might take up to three months to see the best results, but some dogs feel better right after the first shot¹³. Your vet will decide how much and how often to give Librela™ to your dog.

Dosage and Frequency Guidelines

The right dose of Librela™ is 0.23 mg/lb (0.5 mg/kg) body weight⁵. Vets give different doses based on your dog’s weight. Librela™ is given once a month by a vet through under-the-skin injections³. Always follow your vet’s advice for the right dose and how often to give Librela™.

Potential Side Effects and Precautions

Librela™ is generally safe, but watch out for side effects. Common ones include urinary tract infections, skin infections, and increased blood urea nitrogen (BUN)¹³. Over time, some dogs might make antibodies that make Librela™ less effective³.

Don’t use Librela™ on breeding, pregnant, or nursing dogs, or those allergic to it³. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should not give themselves Librela™ shots because of the risk of serious allergic reactions⁵.

Keep Librela™ in a fridge between 36 °F to 46 °F (2 °C to 8 °C) and don’t freeze it⁵. Keep it away from light³.

Talk to your vet about any worries or questions about giving Librela™ to your dog. This ensures you use it safely and effectively for your dog’s arthritis.

Comparison to Other Osteoarthritis Treatments

Librela™ is a new monthly injection for dogs with osteoarthritis pain. It has shown to greatly improve pain and mobility in dogs¹⁴. Dogs given Librela™ felt less pain and had a better quality of life compared to those given a placebo¹⁴.

Even though Librela™ might cost more than some pills, its better results and safety make it a good choice for many pet owners¹⁴. It works by stopping a key factor that causes osteoarthritis pain. This means dogs get consistent relief with just one injection a month¹⁴.

Efficacy, Cost, and Side Effect Profiles

Anti-NGF monoclonal antibodies like Librela™ are more effective and predictable than traditional painkillers for dogs with osteoarthritis². These include NSAIDs like carprofen and meloxicam, but they can cause stomach problems if used for a long time².

Adequan Canine is another treatment that helps dogs with osteoarthritis move better and feel less pain. It has mild side effects like pain at the injection site and diarrhea². Tramadol is not recommended for dogs with osteoarthritis because it doesn’t work well and is a controlled drug².

Librela™ is safe for most patients, with a few side effects like kidney issues and skin problems¹⁴. Zoetis believes Librela™ is safe and effective, with most patients seeing great results¹⁴.

In conclusion, Librela™ is a strong choice for treating osteoarthritis in dogs. It’s effective, easy to use, and safe. Even though it costs more, it greatly improves pain and mobility, making it a good investment for many pet owners¹⁴².

Zoetis: Leading the Way in Canine Health Innovation

Zoetis is the top animal health company, always pushing for new ideas and top quality in dog health¹⁵. They got a perfect score of 100% on the Corporate Equality Index for 2023-2024¹⁵. Their work in making a positive change was noticed, placing them 20th out of 50 companies¹⁵.

Apoquel® Chewable: Another First-in-Class Treatment for Dogs

Zoetis also brought out Apoquel® Chewable, the first chewable for dogs with allergies and skin problems in the US¹⁶. It’s known for quickly easing itching in just 4 hours, unlike steroids which can cause weight gain¹⁶.

Zoetis doesn’t stop at Librela and Apoquel® Chewable. They’ve launched over 2,000 new products in the last decade¹⁶. This includes CYTOPOINT®, the first antibody treatment for dog allergies¹⁶, and Simparica TRIO®, a monthly chewable for parasites¹⁶.

Zoetis is praised for its work in animal care. Their first antibody for dog arthritis pain won an IHS Markit award¹⁵. They’re also recognized for their focus on the environment, social values, and animal care¹⁵.

Zoetis leaders are also getting noticed. Juan Ramón Alaix of Zoetis was inducted into the Animal Pharm Hall of Fame¹⁵. Clint Lewis of Zoetis made the 300 Most Powerful Executives List by Black Enterprise Magazine¹⁵.

Zoetis is a top employer in many countries, including Turkey, Italy, Canada, and Brazil¹⁵. Forbes named them one of America’s best employers for four years in a row¹⁵. Working Mother Magazine also listed Zoetis as one of the 100 Best Companies for several years¹⁵.

Zoetis is always pushing for new ideas and improving dog and owner lives. They lead the animal health industry with groundbreaking treatments and focus on canine health¹⁶¹⁷.

“Zoetis is at the forefront of advancing animal care, with a commitment to innovation that is unparalleled in the industry.”

Conclusion

Librela™ is a game-changer for dogs with osteoarthritis. It targets the main cause of OA pain, Nerve Growth Factor (NGF). This makes it more effective and easy to use than old treatments¹⁸. Dogs get monthly shots from vets, which helps them and their owners a lot¹⁸.

Studies show it works well, with success rates around 48% in the US and 45.2% in the EU¹⁹. It also makes dogs feel better within two weeks and keeps them feeling good for a long time²⁰.

Zoetis is leading the way in making pets healthier. Librela™ is a big step forward in treating dog osteoarthritis. It gives dogs and their owners a better way to keep joints healthy and improve overall well-being¹⁸.

Librela™ offers hope for dogs with osteoarthritis. It targets the pain’s source and is easy to use. This could change how we care for dogs’ joints, making life better for dogs and their owners¹⁸¹⁹.

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