This is a quick word of warning which is on the Internet but I feel an obligation to spread the word. There are two drugs available to treat pets with arthritis. There are others but these two drugs, Librela and Solensia, made by Zoetis appear to be highly problematic as there are many reports that they have sickened cats and dogs.
The drugs achieved FDA approval in 2022 and 2023. Since then, health regulators in both America and Europe have received thousands of complaints from cat and dog owners. They say their pets develop severe side effects. In some cases, they were so bad companion animals had to be euthanised.
As a result, Zoetis stock has tumbled 7% and perhaps more since the report. It is normal for medications to have side effects. It is good to remind ourselves that all medication are essentially poisons. The intention is that they bring benefits that outstrip the negatives in side effects. It isn’t always the case.
The advice would be to discuss using these drugs with your veterinarian but armed with the information on this page 😎🙄. You might well know more than your vet about the dangers of these drugs. Your vet should discuss it with you and tell you about this problem in order for you to give your informed consent.
Although there have been thousands of complaints because of adverse side effects, 18 million doses of these drugs have been distributed and administered with a 0.18% incidence of adverse effects for Librela a 0.3% for Solensia.
So looked at from that perspective the incidence of adverse effects for these two drugs is very low. It’s just that the overall numbers are considerable because of the very high usage of these drugs. This is because there is a high level of prevalence of arthritis in cats and dogs. See the section below.
Comment and personal opinion: personally, I wouldn’t allow a veterinarian to administer these drugs to my cat. I would dig around and do some research and find alternatives which are less problematic.
I believe that if there’s a chance that your beloved cat might be poisoned the point where you have to euthanise her, you simply do not go forward with that drug.
Apparently, the FDA received more than 3,800 reports of side effects up to the end of 2023. The European Medicines Agency received more than 12,300 reports of side effects in relation to Librela and in relation to Solensia there were 7,700 reports of side effects since it first went on sale in Europe.
RELATED: Onsior for cat pain (info on side effects)
What percentage of cats develop arthritis in old age?
Arthritis is a common condition in senior cats. It is associated with degenerative joint disease, where the cartilage on the joints wears away, leading to pain and stiffness. While there is no cure, treatments and medications can help improve a cat’s quality of life.
Prevalence: Arthritis can affect cats at any age, but it is most commonly seen in cats 6 years or older. A study found that 61% of cats over the age of 6 had osteoarthritis in at least one joint, and 48% had it in more than one joint .
Signs: Cats with arthritis may show signs such as: slowing down, reduced activity, difficulty jumping or climbing, stiffness, limping and a reluctance to be touched in certain areas.
Age and Arthritis: According to research: 90% of cats over the age of 12 years exhibit signs of arthritis or degenerative joint disease. 80% of cats over the age of 10 have some form of arthritis. 45% of all cats and 90% of cats over age 10 are affected by arthritis.
Sources: Purina, Hepper, Catster, news.ncsu,edu, Market Watch and more.
