Librela?

Hello thankyou for adding me to the group. I have a 12yr golden oldie. She’s had arthritis since we rescued her at the age of 3, so doing pretty well.
she currently on Yu-move 360, Galliprant, paracetamol and we have just embarked on a course of acupuncture to see if that will help with the pain.
The vet doing the acupuncture suggested we ask out regular vet about Librela injections. Does anyone on here have any experience of it?
Hi Gill - my 12 year old lab has had 4 Librela injections and it's working brilliantly for him. He's bright as a button, not lame and a very happy chappie. He started also on tramadol up to 300mg per day and 100mg Carprieve. Now we are down to 100mg Tram and 50mg Carp and it all works so well for him I'm reluctant to change anything ! We also do hydrotherapy once a week and physio once a month. You can see the whole story of Smithy and Librela on the thread. I would definitely say go for it .....and welcome to the group ! :happy:
 
Hi everyone,
I hope not to upset anyone on this forum by saying right away that I have a Border Collie/Lab.
Lola is 13 and a half and was diagnosed with Spondylosis 30 months ago. She was put on Onsior (NSAID) daily and half paracetamol twice daily. She also has Youmove and omega 3 capsule daily. After having blood tests earlier this year she also has Samylin which helps the liver enzymes which can be affected by long term Paracetamol. After diagnosis we had Laser treatment and also Hydrotherapy (in a small contained area with a treadmill), The laser was discontinue at the start of lockdown and I purchased an infrared heat massager to use at home. Up until lockdown Lola was having Hydro which started as a fortnightly session and we managed to gradually get it down to every 6 months without any deterioration. We obviously changed her excercise routine too, reduction of belting around the beach like a 3 year old (remember I said she was Collie) no swimming in rivers etc. After lockdown I got her back to Hydro and the Vet nurse was telling me about Librela and the good results they ad seen in dogs having a monthly injection. Having just moved house I asked my vet about it and she agreed that it was worth trying.
Lola has had 2 injections now, I do believe she moves much better with less stiffness, she manages steps and stairs quite easily now also. At her last hydro she managed 6 mins on the treadmill where she usually has 4 without hesitation.
She has another Librela injection and hydro session next week. I am hoping by Christmas that we can stop using the Onsior.
I'll keep you all posted on her progress
Hi! Samba is our 13 yo lab, diagnosed with spondylosis 16 months ago, previcox and gabapentin working well but tummy upset recently, liver, kidney, heart working well, tramadol option did nothing so decided to try librela. Had one objection 6 days ago and appears a bit worse if anything with back right leg being dragged and needing support walking around for the first time in a year, doesn't look happy Will phone vet this week but wondered if anyone has thoughts?
 

Jacqui-S

Moderator
Location
Fife, Scotland
Welcome to the forum @Frances Dupuy , sorry Samba is struggling. Could it be he is missing the previous meds, Previcox and Gaba, if they were stopped recently?
My girl had been on a low dose Previcox for years, but couldn't tolerate the higher dose. I actually found she was better OFF the Previcox, then steroids and tramadol, seemed happier in herself.
I have no personal experience of Librela, but others no doubt can help.
 
Welcome to the forum @Frances Dupuy , sorry Samba is struggling. Could it be he is missing the previous meds, Previcox and Gaba, if they were stopped recently?
My girl had been on a low dose Previcox for years, but couldn't tolerate the higher dose. I actually found she was better OFF the Previcox, then steroids and tramadol, seemed happier in herself.
I have no personal experience of Librela, but others no doubt can help.
Still on gabapentin but previcox thought to be the reason for upset tummy (rear end, said effect from taking long term). Wonder if he can take another painkiller, not previcox or tramadol until the librela kicks in, if it's going to ... Having said that he doesn't look to be in pain, just not walking well ... So difficult!
 

Jacqui-S

Moderator
Location
Fife, Scotland
I think the evidence for Tramadol and codeine in dogs isn't strong.
Lilly is just on 500-750mg paracetamol a day.
For the record she has severe bilateral hip dysplasia since under a year old, and is now 11.5 with arthritic shoulders/elbows.
 
I think the evidence for Tramadol and codeine in dogs isn't strong.
Lilly is just on 500-750mg paracetamol a day.
For the record she has severe bilateral hip dysplasia since under a year old, and is now 11.5 with arthritic shoulders/elbows.
Do you find the Paracetamol very effective? Vet prescribed Parade-v which is paracetamol plus something, but I have never used them yet.
 
@Frances Dupuy how is Samba today? Did you contact your vet? We have never had an upset stomach with Hunter. Yes it can be difficult to assess but check with your vet. We were one of the first patients with Librela for my pet and my vet always insists on updates after the injection.
Hi! Just been to the vet who prescribed paracetamol so will try that for a few days and hopefully the librela will kick in meantime. Fingers crossed. Thanks for your interest!
 
Hi, Hope Samba is improving. My Lola has now had around 5 Librela injections and there has been a great improvement in her mobility. She is still on the Onsior (NSAID) as the vet does not want to reduce or stop this just yet. Last month Lola had her usual hydrotherapy session, usually this is in a cubicle filled with water with a treadmill in the bottom, this can be speeded up or reduced in speed as required by the vet nurse and also the depth of water can be altered. {more water gives bouyancy, less water makes her work harder). As she was doing well they decided on trying her in the big pool. Now , initially I was told that with spondylosis , free swimming was not good as the back legs flail too much. However my vet nurse fitted a jacket to Lola which holds the spine in a supported manner and with extra bouyancy. She then supported Lola under her tummy as she happily swam twice around the pool. Its hard to explain but it seemed that her back legs were being exercised to improve strength without causing any back pain. Lola has changed shape over the last 2 years, her back legs and thighs have lost a lot of muscle, probably because it was painful, but her front end, shoulders chest and legs have compensated and have really bulked up. This is why I believe the hydro is beneficial as it works the rear end under control to try to keep those muscles walking.
Incidentally Lola also has Turmeric and Omega 3 daily.
We have now had a further 2 and a half years of pleasure with Lola since her diagnosis. Long may it continue.

Good Luck
Mick
 
Hi, Hope Samba is improving. My Lola has now had around 5 Librela injections and there has been a great improvement in her mobility. She is still on the Onsior (NSAID) as the vet does not want to reduce or stop this just yet. Last month Lola had her usual hydrotherapy session, usually this is in a cubicle filled with water with a treadmill in the bottom, this can be speeded up or reduced in speed as required by the vet nurse and also the depth of water can be altered. {more water gives bouyancy, less water makes her work harder). As she was doing well they decided on trying her in the big pool. Now , initially I was told that with spondylosis , free swimming was not good as the back legs flail too much. However my vet nurse fitted a jacket to Lola which holds the spine in a supported manner and with extra bouyancy. She then supported Lola under her tummy as she happily swam twice around the pool. Its hard to explain but it seemed that her back legs were being exercised to improve strength without causing any back pain. Lola has changed shape over the last 2 years, her back legs and thighs have lost a lot of muscle, probably because it was painful, but her front end, shoulders chest and legs have compensated and have really bulked up. This is why I believe the hydro is beneficial as it works the rear end under control to try to keep those muscles walking.
Incidentally Lola also has Turmeric and Omega 3 daily.
We have now had a further 2 and a half years of pleasure with Lola since her diagnosis. Long may it continue.

Good Luck
Mick
Hi Mick
Sounds like Lola is much like Samba. First diagnosed with spondylosis in August 2020, I thought it was the end for him as pretty much unable to walk. We tried massage, hydrotherapy, acupuncture but what made the biggest difference was massage. The K9 synergy clinical massage lady came to our house and after the first session he literally got up and walked almost normally. 15 months on we had it as good as it was going to get with previcox, gabapentin, omeprazole (for acid tummy side effect from the previcox). His back leg muscles have withered, front shoulders strong, maximum 15-20 mins walk 2-3 times a day, but he is 14 in April so getting on! I think he should have been put on an alternative to the previcox when he had the librela shot as he's had a week we could have done without, almost unable to walk so more muscle wastage to deal with now etc etc Hopefully pardale v paracetamol 400mg X 2 tabs 3 times/day (sounds a lot ...?) will help until the librela kicks in ...
 
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