Librela for Dogs! Is there cause for concern?

Librela (bedinvetmab) is a prescription medication for dogs, administered as a monthly subcutaneous injection to manage pain associated with osteoarthritis (OA). It’s a monoclonal antibody that targets nerve growth factor (NGF), a protein involved in pain signalling, to reduce pain and improve mobility in dogs with OA. 

Librela was first approved in the European Union in November 2020 for the treatment of OA pain in dogs. It received FDA approval in the United States in May 2023. It has therefore been available for veterinary use for about 4.5 years in Europe and just over 2 years in the USA as of May 2025. 

Librela is licensed for use in dogs over 12 months old. Common side effects include urinary tract infections, skin infections, and dermatitis, though rare cases of neurological issues, seizures, or death have been reported. A number of social media groups exist and have attracted concerned dog owners, who believe their dogs may have been harmed by Librela. Proving a real link needs to be undertaken carefully as older dogs with arthritis are likely to have other pre-existing health conditions and are more likely to become ill or die than younger dogs and sometimes a treatment and an outcome may be simply coincidental. 

USA Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Letter to Vets in December 2024

In December 2024 the USA FDA wrote to vets over some concerns around Librela based on over 3,600 adverse event reports between May 2023 and March 2024. The FDA noted a disproportionately elevated reporting rate of lameness in Librela-treated dogs, consistent with the study’s finding of increased musculoskeletal adverse events.

Latest Research on Librela from Europe

If you are interested in Librela, then check out Owners of dogs with Arthritis perceptions of response to Librela.