(Update: added video)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — KTVZ News provided an update Friday on our previous reporting on the sometimes tragic results of using Librela, a once-a-month treatment administered in a veterinary office to help relieve pain caused by osteoarthritis.
It was first approved for veterinary use in the United States in 2023.
According to the American Kennel ClubSide effects of the Librela drug included a skin reaction at the injection site, urinary tract infections, and bacterial skin infections.
THE FDA now alerts veterinarians on reports of health problems in dogs – including hundreds of deaths – linked to the drug.
Librela itself lists possible side effects, including urinary tract infections, anorexia and lameness – but not death.
“I just wish there was more of a black box kind of warning around the product that was more reflective of the actual side effects that are happening,” said Jennifer Boyd, a 10-year veteran veterinary technician. .
Boyd is also the organizer of a Change.org petition calling for a recall of the drug, which has collected more than 13,000 signatures.
The company that distributes Librela, Zoetis, said in a statement“As part of this process, we are discussing label updates with the FDA, which we hope will reflect post-approval adverse event reporting and be consistent with those included on labels in other markets .”
In 2024, we spoke with several Central Oregonians who said their pets had died due to use of the drug Librela.
“I just wanted her to leave in peace. I feel like this medication just made things worse and made it harder for her than it should have been,” said Kyle Blankenship, pet owner who lost her dog Sasha last summer.
Resident of La Pinède Anne Colomberowhose dog died after a Librela injection, said: “It’s just when you have a sick dog or, you know, you want to do your best, you want to do everything you can to help them .And being misinformed and “If your dog dies suddenly, it’s horrible.”
Since our first report on the drug’s impact on Central Oregon pet owners last June, we have received more than 30 emails from people across the country and the world sharing similar stories about the drug causing negative effects or death of their pets. .
Since the drug’s launch in Europe more than three years ago, 21 million doses have been distributed worldwide.
Draxton’s report will air Friday on NewsChannel 21 at Five. KTVZ News will continue to follow this story.
