The Thing Your Vet Won't Tell You
Winter is still here, and just like us, our pets can start to feel a little stiffer and sorer this time of year. Colder temperatures, icy sidewalks, and less outdoor activity can all add up to tight joints, reduced mobility, and slower movement.
So it makes complete sense that many loving pet parents start looking for ways to bring their furry family some comfort and adorable zoomies!
But there is one “solution” being pushed right now that I need you to know about and your vet is not obligated to tell you about the side effects, so unless you ask, they won't share the very important information you need before making a decision!
As you may know, Zaner and I just recently represented House of Paws at the Western Buying trade show in Edmonton and I had the chance to speak with another independent pet store owner from Alberta. She shared the most heartbreaking story about losing her dog after using a product her vet raved about!
- She did what so many of us would do.
- She trusted the recommendation.
- She wanted her dog comfortable.
- She believed the vet was helping.
Instead, she tragically lost a member of her family.
She was not warned of any side effects and when she went back to question her vet, while her poor baby was lying in the clinic suffering, the vet still praised the drug.
And sadly, her story is not rare.
There are multiple Facebook groups with thousands of pet parents sharing devastating experiences just like this one after using these drugs that the FDA has already issued warnings for. The FDA acted too late for many pets, as is often the case, so we want to spread the word and avoid anymore animals suffering for no good reason!
If you would prefer to listen to this blog, click here to enjoy it anywhere you love listening to podcasts so you can listen while walking the furry guy, doing the dishes or driving to work! Look for S1E19 The True Dangers of Librela.
So what is this drug that vets are raving about, but not volunteering the potential side effects of?
🐶 Librela for dogs.
🐱 Solensia for cats.
And despite how they’re being marketed, they are NOT the answer.
💉 What Are Librela and Solensia, Really?
Librela and Solensia are monthly injections designed to block pain signals related to osteoarthritis. They are monoclonal antibody drugs originally developed for humans and they were never approved for human use! Think about that! They were NOT approved for human use and there's a reason!
When they failed in human medicine, the manufacturer wanted to get their investment back and thought what better way than to repurpose them for the pet market! Dump them into pet medicine and get rich quick because our dogs and cats can't verbalize what the drugs are doing to them! 😡
🌿 These are not gentle supplements.
🧬 They are extreme pharmaceutical interventions.
And they come with serious risk.
⚠️ “But My Vet Didn’t Warn Me…”
This is the part that makes me so angry. Unless you specifically ask, pet parents are never fully informed about the potential side effects. And the list is long.
Reported adverse effects include:
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Neurological issues
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Loss of coordination
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Seizures
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Organ failure
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Severe weakness
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Loss of bladder and bowel control
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Sudden decline
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Death
Just to name a few! After thousands of reports, the FDA finally issued a warning in December 2024. But by then, countless families had already paid the ultimate price. As usual, the FDA and unfortunately, many vets ignored the thousands of pet parents reporting serious issues with these drugs.
To give you an idea of the number, 12 234 reports were made in just 18 months in the USA alone! The statistics say only 1-5% of adverse reactions are ever actually reported, which means the number of animals impacted was closer to 240 000, just in the US over an 18 month period! No other drug for animals has ever even come close to the 12 234 reports made in that short amount of time.
The FDA and many vets stayed quiet, because these drugs appeared to "work for some", but at what cost? How many pets had their lives cut short, because there was a small percentage that didn't experience negative reactions...immediately! And that's the important part! The adverse side effects maybe didn't show up right away, but here's what we know. A group of young, healthy Beagles were given Librela and the results of what happened to their joints was horrendous!
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I think this one says more than that! On the left, you see eight months before starting Librela and on the right, we see the same dog's joints after 23 injections. The adverse reactions didn't show immediately, but don't kid yourself, the damage is being done!
Yes, the FDA did issue a warning in the form of a letter to veterinarians. You can read their letter to veterinarians here. Unfortunately, this warning came far too late and is being completely disregarded by many vets still touting the efficacy of Librela, side effects be damned!
📊 The Data Should Have Raised Alarms Sooner
Librela has been shown to carry many times more adverse event reports than older arthritis drugs like Rimadyl, which has been on the market since 1996. Rimadyl is still not the option I'd choose after my own personal experience with it, but it's not as harmful as Librela. Librela has also been shown to have significantly higher risk of side effects than comparable treatments for osteoarthritis. Yet it continues to be promoted as “safe and effective.” That should concern every pet parent.
🧠 Why So Many Parents Feel Trapped
One of the most common things we see in store and online is:
“I was told Librela was my only option.”
If you’re told the choice is between this drug and euthanasia, of course you choose the drug. But that’s a false choice. There are many proven, effective, natural ways to support joint health that don’t come with life-threatening risks. Most pet parents are never shown those options.
🌿 There Are Safer Ways to Support Joint Health
Joint inflammation is not just a “joint problem.” It’s a whole-body inflammation issue. And that means it can be supported from multiple angles.
Here are just some of the tools we use and trust:
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Bone Broth
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CBD
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Omega-3s
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Curcumin (turmeric)
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Acupuncture
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Weight management
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Fresh, species-appropriate food
These options have decades of research behind them. They support the body instead of overriding it. And most importantly, they do not come with catastrophic side effects.
🍖 Why Diet Matters More Than You’ve Been Told
One of the biggest myths in veterinary medicine is that diet has nothing to do with arthritis. That is simply not true.
Inflammation is influenced by:
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Food
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Weight
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Muscle mass
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Gut health
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Stress
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Sleep
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Environment
Fresh, raw, whole-food diets provide:
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Natural calcium
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Collagen
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Glucosamine
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Chondroitin
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Hyaluronic acid
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High-quality protein
These are not “extras.” They are foundational.
Dry food contains virtually none of this in meaningful amounts and we should always add joint supporting supplements to it along with many other healthy goodies. We can't rely on what is referred to as a "dead food" (kibble) to provide all of the nourishment our furry family needs. Joints are important from day one! Supporting them at any age is key, not just when our furry family members get older and problems start to show.
When we reduce systemic inflammation, joints improve. It’s that simple.
❤️ Why I’m Sharing This With You
I am not anti-medicine. There are times when pharmaceuticals are appropriate and necessary. But joint inflammation does not automatically require lifelong drug injections with serious risks. And you deserve to know that. You deserve to be shown all your options. You deserve informed consent. Not a sales pitch that only gives you half the story and no mention of side effects!
💚 Our Promise to You
At House of Paws, we will always:
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Put your pet’s long-term health first
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Recommend the safest effective natural options
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Question anything that feels rushed or risky
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Share information even when it’s uncomfortable
Because your pet is not a test subject. They are family. And they deserve better than “try this and hope.” 🤞😳
If you have questions about joint support, pain management, or safer alternatives, please come talk to us. We’re here to walk this journey with you.