Our girl Lola was born in 2019 before COVID, but her early development, including having open growth plates, was during COVID. During that time, she had what was assumed by us and her Vet as a soft tissue injury in her front right. It presented as intermittent limping, resulting from some rough puppy play with Splash.

Since it was assumed to be a soft tissue injury it was managed with crate rest, leash walks, NSAIDs, Duralactin, supplements and body work. Lola would go for long periods without symptoms, but they would reappear from time to time, and we would return to managing them as described.

As one of our up-and-coming youngsters, with hopefully and long show, field and multi-venue career, our goal was to finally have Lola make a complete and total recovery. Like one of our past dogs Cinder who had a slight soft tissue shoulder injury.

Honestly, in the back of my mind I was concerned that more damage had happened, and her elbow may not pass her OFA clearances. Sadly, I was correct and was told as part of her OFA x-rays and initial evaluation her growth plates in that elbow were damaged and that elbow would never pass OFA.

Though it was a disappointment, our primary goal is to have her live a long and comfortable life, even though she is not a surgery candidate.

Lola continues to receive supplements, Duralactin, monthly Adequan shots, Chiropractic adjustments, body work and soon Swim Therapy. She also received her first Shockwave treatment which I will cover in a later article.

Lola has never let the issue slow her down or affect her playfulness or zest for life. We watch her to ensure she stays within her limits.

At a recent Chiropractic appointment her Vet mentioned she is a good candidate for the new FDA approved Librela injection. The Vet has a dog with a similar issue as Lola who responded well to his initial shot.

Though Lola is/was not on Gabapentin, Carprofen, Rimadyl or any other form of regular pain management or NSAID, aside from Duralactin, used to treat Osteoarthritis. Librela is designed to replace these forms of pain management, without issue to the liver or kidneys with long term use. Even so, we chose to give Librela a try.

It is not designed to replace Adequan as Adequan is intended to “treat” the issue, while Librela is designed to manage the associated pain. Lola received her 4-week Adequan shot the same evening as there are no drug interaction issues with the two injectables.

The Vet mentioned it could take up to 4 days to notice any improvement, but I noticed her movement was more fluid within the first couple of days. Lola also tends to push more of her weight to her rear and off her elbows, and I noticed her weight appeared to be more evenly balanced. The injection seemed to hold well, and I did not notice it wearing off.

Our Vet does recommend trying at least 2 shots. Lola had her 2nd shot this week with similar results. She also did not experience any of the possible side effects following either shot.

They do mention that Librela appears to be more effective for limb Osteoarthritis than spinal. If your dog has been diagnosed with bridging Spondylosis or spinal Osteoarthritis you will want to discuss it specifically with your Vet to determine if your dog is a good candidate for Librela.

Here is more information on Librela including a link to the website with complete details.

Librela is a once-a-month injection for dogs that helps control pain associated with Osteoarthritis (OA). It’s the first and only monoclonal antibody approved for this purpose in dogs.

Here’s how it works:
• Osteoarthritis is a common condition in dogs, especially as they get older. It’s caused by the breakdown of cartilage in the joints, which leads to pain and inflammation.
• Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a protein that plays a role in pain signaling. When dogs have OA, their NGF levels are elevated.
• Librela contains an antibody that binds to NGF and prevents it from activating pain receptors. This helps to reduce pain and improve mobility in dogs with OA.
Librela is administered by a veterinarian as a subcutaneous injection (under the skin). The dose depends on the dog’s weight. Most dogs will start to feel the effects of Librela within a few days, and the full effects can last for up to a month.

Here are some of the benefits of Librela:
• It’s a long-lasting treatment, so dogs don’t have to take medication every day.
• It’s effective in controlling pain in dogs with OA.
• It has a good safety profile and is well-tolerated by most dogs.
• It can provide long-term pain relief for dogs with OA, helping them to be more active and have a better quality of life.
• It can also be an alternative for dogs who have difficulty taking or can’t tolerate traditional pain medications like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Here are some additional things to keep in mind about Librela:
• It is not a cure for OA, but it can help to manage the pain.
• It is important to talk to your veterinarian about whether Librela is right for your dog, as it is not suitable for all dogs.
• It’s not recommended for dogs with certain health conditions, such as liver or kidney disease, or for dogs that are pregnant or nursing.
• The most common side effects of Librela are urinary tract infections, bacterial skin infections, and dermatitis.
• Librela is a prescription medication, so it is important to obtain it from your veterinarian.
• It’s also important to talk to your veterinarian about any other medications your dog is taking, as Librela may interact with some of them.

For more information visit their website at: https://www.librelave