A popular arthritis drug for dogs has sickened thousands of pets and possibly caused the deaths of others, the Food and Drug Administration said in an urgent warning.
Dangerous side effects of the injectable canine drug Librela – which is used to treat osteoarthritis joint pain – have been linked to seizures, lameness and loss of muscle control, the agency said.
More than 3,600 cases of debilitating health problems in dogs caused by the drug were reported between January 2023 and March 2024. FDA said in warning letterPublished on Monday.
“In some cases, death (including euthanasia) was reported as a result of these adverse events,” the agency said.
The drug is produced by pet drug firm Zoetis and was approved by the FDA last year.
In April, many dog owners told the Wall Street Journal The drugs have hurt or killed his puppies — including Phil Jordan, who said his 12-year-old rescuer Daisy began limping and staggering a few weeks after her first shot.
After receiving the second dose a week later, the dog became lethargic, lost his appetite and ability to walk. According to reports, his kidneys soon failed and Jordan’s heartbroken family was forced to euthanize him.
Zoetis claims the drug is safe and effective, with the number of dangerous side effects being a mere fraction of the millions of shots administered.
“We have full confidence in the safety and efficacy of Librela. “Since its launch in Europe three years ago, Librela has been used effectively with millions of dogs suffering from osteoarthritis pain,” Zoetis told The Post in a statement.
“With more than 21 million doses distributed globally, no individual adverse events indicating any risk at a rate exceeding rare as defined by the European Medicines Agency have been reported.”
(TagstoTranslate)US News(T)Pets(T)Dogs(T)FDA(T)Prescription Drugs
