13yr old Springer with osteoarthritis

[halfpenny43]

Hi all - My wife Springer has had osteoarthritis in his back legs for about a year now but over last 3-4 months it got so bad that he was walking "drunk" and then his back legs collapsed. They recovered but he cannot make long walks, cock his leg properly or "pop a squat".

She'd started him on an oral drug given by the vet but he was vomiting several times a day. So the vet recommended a monthly shot from a new vaccine called "Librela".
He had his second shot a few weeks ago - but within 24 hours became completely lethargic, not eating, temperature. Vet kept him in over night and said it was a liver infection. After a couple of days of antibiotics - he was back to his old self.

Issue now is - he is due his next shot on the 16th but obviously there is some reluctance given what happened a few weeks ago.
The vet said it was probably a "once off" - but there is still some concern given his age.

Any other PH'ers have experience with this Librela or experienced similar issues with their dog ?

Many thanks
1/2p

[rcg733]

I have not used Librella personally, but I know of plenty of people who have ( Labradors) and not heard anything but positive reviews - 'gamechanging' being the description often used. There are people moaning that their vets cannot get hold of supplies though...
As I understand it, it is far less likely to lead to liver issues etc than traditional treatments - it works in a completely different way.

[halfpenny43]

rcg733 said:

I have not used Librella personally, but I know of plenty of people who have ( Labradors) and not heard anything but positive reviews - 'gamechanging' being the description often used. There are people moaning that their vets cannot get hold of supplies though...
As I understand it, it is far less likely to lead to liver issues etc than traditional treatments - it works in a completely different way.

Thanks for your answer. We'll take Mr Basil to the vet and see what they say. Was hopefully just a one-off occurrence and we can give him his shot with no ill effects this time

Cheers.

[Thevet]

Supplies of Librela are very limited, nothing we can do, it seems to be a victim of its own success.

[Evoluzione]

Our cats on the feline version, they are the new Superdrugs for cats & dogs. She is a bit up and down sometimes, but on the whole a different cat, it's great stuff and is in high demand
Such a shame when they suffer so much for one thing when the rest of the body is fine and willing, it's like throwing a decent car away because the springs have broken.
Try it again and see how he goes.

[halfpenny43]

Evoluzione said:

Our cats on the feline version, they are the new Superdrugs for cats & dogs. She is a bit up and down sometimes, but on the whole a different cat, it's great stuff and is in high demand
Such a shame when they suffer so much for one thing when the rest of the body is fine and willing, it's like throwing a decent car away because the springs have broken.
Try it again and see how he goes.

Agreed - it's sad to see what was such an active dog who loved running and swimming like a nutter be barely able to walk a few hundred meters without collapsing.
He's getting a bit deaf now too but otherwise still in good health. When he give ill after the vaccine a few weeks ago we were not sure if he would make it back home at all.