A heartbroken Armagh woman is urging the public to be aware of the dangers of a common arthritis treatment for dogs after her beloved Yorkshire Terrier had to be euthanised.
Sold to the woman as a “wonder drug” for osteoarthritis, her 15-year-old terrier called, Millar – a rescue who had been with her for eight years – was given an injection of Librela just over eight weeks ago to help ease his pain.
Prior to the use of Librela, Millar had been on Loxicom, with some side effects including diarrhoea. So, his owner was keen to find a more long-lasting and comfortable solution to his pain.
The drug was administered by a trained, local veterinarian. Prior to its use, the self-confessed “dog lover” said she was not given any warning information, any additional leaflets, advice on potential side-effects and was not asked if she had any questions.
She didn’t have any questions. She believed – as many would – that medication administered in the safety of a veterinarian’s would be low risk and safe for use.
In her cloudy, haze of grief she cannot recall whether she was made to sign a form. She admits, she may have done so. But as for verbal communication of risk… there was none.
And, while she does not blame the local veterinary practice in any way, she does believe that awareness of the dangers of this drug should be more commonly known.
Sadly, Millar had to be euthanised just eight weeks after receiving Librela.
It made no sense. She claims that apart from his arthritis, he was otherwise a very healthy dog.
Speaking to Armagh I, she said: “I walked that wee dog every day and he climbed the stairs in the evening. If the dog was in real pain he would not have walked. ”
But in the week before she returned him to the vet, Millar began to become “emaciated”, he was rapidly losing weight and the use of his back legs. The walks he had previously enjoyed, he began to suffer.
She said: “He had been sick for two days. He couldn’t walk, his legs were all wobbly. He couldn’t eat or drink and there was brown stuff coming from his mouth.”
“He was put on a drip and the vet called me to say it’s not good news. They confirmed he had severe kidney failure, which he did not have before getting that shot. They said the best thing we could do was for him to be euthanised.”
Frantic for answers, she researched the only thing that came to mind… Librela.
The revelations of her research were shocking. She discovered firstly that the drug is currently being reviewed by the EU Commission (EC).
While her findings are partially accurate, it should be noted that the manufacturer of Librela – a company known as Zoetis – is the source of the review, rather than the drug.
Librela is the only medicine of its kind (a special type called a “monoclonal antibody”) approved in Europe.
But while Zoetis was developing Librela, it also bought another company that was working on a similar medicine that could have become a competitor.
The EC launched the review in March 2024, suspecting that Zoetis may have stopped developing that competing drug, and refused to let another company (which had the rights to sell it) take it over…. therefore limiting the options for pet owners in regards to pain medications for the condition.
This remains a significant point in and of itself. It reveals that there may be no current, suitable, on-the-market, like-for-like alternative to Librela.
The owner also says that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – who initially approved the drug for use within the United States – have now said that for a lot of dogs it can cause severe problems… including death.
Indeed, the drug was approved as safe and effective by the FDA on May 5, 2023, but after it reached the market the FDA reviewed thousands of adverse-event reports and flagged multiple safety signals.
Their findings prompted recommended label changes and an official veterinary alert.
According to the FDA, from May 5, 2023 through June 30, 2024 there were over 6,000 reports of adverse effects.
Among “safety signals” identified were neurological events (including seizures), increased reports of lameness/musculoskeletal problems, urinary and gastrointestinal issues, and hypersensitivity reactions.
Deaths have been reported – including euthanasia – but there are no statistics to confirm the numbers affected.
She also found a Facebook group called ‘Librela the Truth’, where she says “it’s just one horrific story after another”.
The owner added: “I was never told that it could cause adverse reactions including death.
“I just want to spread awareness. If I had been properly informed by the veterinarian I never would have allowed them to inject.
“My dog was healthy despite arthritis. Perfect weight, in good condition with a strong heart…..the vets words not mine! Now he is dead from kidney failure, which is one of the drug’s main side effects.
“I’m not saying he wouldn’t have died, but from he got that injection he just went into total decline. He wouldn’t even wag his wee tail when I came in the door. It was like he wasn’t there.”
She’s insisting that, by sharing her experience, she can hopefully help pet owners be more informed when making a choice to have the drug administered.
“People love their dogs they are part of the family. I feel like I made that choice for him, but I didn’t have all the information,” she said. “I would not want any other dog to suffer the way Millar did.”
