A popular arthritis drug for dogs may be riskier than we knew.
Librelas active ingredient, bedinvetmab,is a lab-made antibody developed by the company Zoetis.
In 2023, the FDAapprovedit to treat osteoarthritis in dogs.
A Great Pyrenees/Lab Mix dog laying on a rug.© KJG Photography, Kim Guisti via Getty
Its the first monoclonal antibody-based drug ever approved in dogs, and the second ever approved for pets.
And some dog owners have reported very seriouseven fatalsymptoms in their pets after they started taking Librela.
According to the FDA, there have been 3,674 adverse event reports involving Librela, as of March 2024.
The FDA identified many potentially serious adverse events currently not included in the drugs labeling as a possible side-effect.
These include ataxia (poor muscle control), seizures, diarrhea, and paralysis.
In some cases, dogs died or were euthanized soon after they developed these severe events.
In one case report, for instance, a 10-year-old Great Pyrenees developed ataxia an hour after taking Librela.
Within a day, the dog developed incontinence and hindlimb lameness, which eventually spread to the dogs forelimbs.
Within two days, the dog had become paralyzed.
Four days after taking the drug, the dog died.
Zoetis issued astatementfollowing the FDAs letter.
It will take more time and research to confirm these serious side effects.
The FDA is also advising dog owners and vets to continue reporting adverse events associated with the drugs use.
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