Posts Tagged: senior pets

In the world of veterinary medicine, the pursuit of effective and compassionate treatments for common ailments in our beloved pets is an ongoing journey. Enter Librela, a groundbreaking solution offering hope and relief for dogs grappling with the pain of osteoarthritis (OA). In this blog post, we’ll explore what Librela is, how it works, its benefits, and why it might be the game-changer your furry friend needs.

Unveiling Librela

What is Librela?

Librela is a revolutionary monoclonal antibody designed to target Nerve Growth Factor (NGF). NGF is a protein responsible for activating and binding to pain receptors within nerves. This can cause chronic pain in dogs suffering from osteoarthritis.

The Mechanism of Librela

How does Librela work?

Librela works by binding to NGF which prevents OA pain. It also limits the release of NGF in the future resulting in a decrease in inflammation. Librela functions like naturally occurring antibodies thus making it a treatment that has far less side effects than traditional NSAIDs.

What are NSAIDs?

NSAIDs, such as Rimadyl, Carprofen, Deramaxx, Previcox, or Galliprant, hail as typical go-to treatments for canine OA. While these drugs generally work well to help with OA pain, they do come with potential side effects. Using these drugs also means careful monitoring of liver and kidney values through routine blood work.

Administration and Benefits

How is Librela administered?

Librela is a once monthly injectable treatment which may eliminate the need for daily medication. It must be administered by a veterinary professional and it is safe to be administered in conjunction with vaccines.

Benefits of Librela

The benefit of Librela is that your dog can have more days with less OA pain. It may take up to three months to see the maximum effects of Librela’s monthly injections. Some owners, however have seen results after their first injection.

It is very important that you monitor play and fitness in your dog once on Librela. The maker of Librela, Zoetis, has even put out a “Back to Play Fitness Plan.” This is important because once your dog is feeling better he is likely to be more active. That’s great! After all isn’t that the goal? The answer is yes and no.

While your dog may want to be more active he may not have the muscle strength to support high levels of activity right away. Slowly build up his activity level by following Librela’s back to fitness guide. This will allow your dog to ease into more activity and allow him to build needed muscle strength to avoid injury.

Is Librela Right for Your Dog?

Any dog with OA symptoms can benefit from Librela. Many dogs with OA are senior citizens. If you have a senior dog check out the information about senior and geriatric dogs on our website for tips with common senior dog ailments.

Signs that Librela may be beneficial:

• Limping after exercise
• Slow to rise
• Lagging behind on walks
• Difficulty jumping
• Stiffness
• Difficulty navigating stairs or reluctance to use them

Transitioning from NSAIDs to Librela

If your dog is currently taking an NSAID for OA pain, consult your veterinarian to explore the possibility of transitioning to Librela.

Side Effects and Consultation

Are there side effects with Librela?

Librela is metabolized and eliminated like naturally occurring antibodies, with minimal involvement of the liver or kidneys. Side effects observed in clinical studies were typical for dogs with OA and included urinary tract infections, bacterial skin infections, dermatitis, and increased blood urea nitrogen (BUN).

Consult Your Veterinarian

The ultimate guide to determining whether Librela is suitable for your dog and your family is a conversation with your veterinarian. Their expertise and knowledge of your pet’s health history will help make an informed decision for the well-being of your furry companion.

In conclusion, Librela stands as a promising advancement in veterinary medicine, offering relief for dogs suffering from OA and a chance to reclaim the joy of an active life. If your canine companion is showing signs of OA, consult your veterinarian to explore the possibilities that Librela may bring to your pet’s well-being.

Adopt-a-Senior-Pet Month is celebrated in November.  This is the perfect time to talk about the advantages that come from adopting a senior pet.  Whether a senior pet is right for you depends on your lifestyle and what you want from a pet.  Read on to see if a senior pet may be right for you.

When Do You Call a Pet a Senior?

Deciding when to call a pet a senior depends on the age and the breed of the pet.  Typically, a pet is considered a senior around seven years of age.  Even though pets may be considered senior they can still be active for years.  They may eventually start to slow down and not participate in as many of their active behaviors.  We consider these their geriatric years. 

Pinning down a specific set of years to assign to each life stage is difficult. Much of this depends on the pet’s breed and size.  Larger dogs age faster while small dogs and cats tend to live longer than their larger counterparts.

Considerations for All Adoptions

When you are considering adopting a pet, there are several things to consider before you choose the pet. 

• Consider your lifestyle. Are you home enough to provide companionship to a pet at all?
• Should you get a cat or a dog? How much responsibility are you prepared to shoulder?
• How much space do you have?  Do you have enough room for a small dog or cat but not enough for a large breed dog?
• Don’t forget to factor in the financial responsibility.  A pet is a financial responsibility for the life of the pet.  You must also be financially able to treat an emergency should one arise.

Once you have answered these questions successfully you can move on to decide if a senior dog is right for you.  Senior dogs have already gone through the puppy phase and after an adjustment period should be calmer and less destructive than a puppy.  Senior cats may still have plenty of spunk left in them and be ready to pounce on a toy or lie quietly in your lap.  Here are some other benefits.

• Minimal to no housetraining (depending on the history of the pet)
• Senior dogs will require a little less training and activity although you can still “teach an old dog some new tricks!”
• You know how your pet will be in advance.  Senior pets are already grown and you can see their personalities instantly
• Senior pets usually will be able to settle into your household much easier than a puppy.  They are more relaxed and won’t require a 24/7 commitment like a puppy does.

The Benefit of Adopting a Senior Pet

The best part about rescuing a senior pet is that you know you have done something great by adopting one.  Senior pets are often overlooked in shelters because people think they want puppies or kittens.  Many times if you do your research you will find that a senior pet fits your lifestyle much better.

The best benefit you will get is the years of love and affection you will get from adopting a mellow, older pet.  What could be better? 

Preparing for Future Care

If you want to know about caring for a senior pet, stay tuned for our next blog or visit our website or Facebook page.  You will be able to learn about caring for senior pets and some health issues to watch for. 

Where to Adopt?

If you are interested in adopting a senior pet check out the many rescues and shelters in and around the San Antonio area.

• Helotes Humane Society
• Animal Care Services
• San Antonio Pets Alive (SAPA)
• San Antonio Humane Society
• Animal Defense League

There are many other rescues in and around San Antonio including breed specific rescues.  You can find these rescues by searching the internet. Remember, it’s about the quality not quantity of time you have to spend with any pet you have so give a senior pet a try!

“Blessed is the person who has earned the love of an old dog.” (or cat) Sydney Jeanne Seward