💔 A Cautionary Update on Solensia & Librela for Your FurBaby
- Jan 15
- 8 min read
Last year, I wrote a blog called “What You Should Know About Solensia and Librela for Your FurBaby with Osteoarthritis.” Since then, I’ve heard from many heartbroken pet parents whose animals suffered tragic outcomes after using these drugs. Their stories stayed with me, and I felt compelled to write a follow-up — a cautionary guide for anyone considering these medications.
I want to be clear: I’m not a veterinarian. Everything I share comes from personal
experience, a lifetime around animals, and extensive research. I grew up on a farm with dogs, cats, and horses, and I’ve always believed that caring for our FurBabies should be a true partnership between pet parents and their vets.
My blogs are built on more than quick online searches — I spend hours reading reports and white papers, and speaking with medical, scientific, and governmental organizations. My goal is always to give pet owners clear, trustworthy information.
My passion for animal wellbeing comes from a painful place. Fifteen years ago, we brought home a Bengal cat named Songa for our daughter. He was extraordinary, and even my “big dog guy” husband adored him. When Songa was four, he developed kidney issues. After more than $10,000 in vet bills, he passed away — later we learned it was caused by tainted cat food involved in the 2007 recall. Losing him changed everything for me.
I decided to create a company focused on locally sourced ingredients, third-party testing, and truly functional, plant-based products. My first company grew fast, and I eventually sold it in 2019 — unfortunately to a conglomerate that didn’t honor the values they promised, and they later shut it down. I was devastated.
Three years later, I was invited to join FurBabies Pet Products with full support for my mission and standards. I jumped at the chance. And today, three years in, we’re stronger than ever — committed to transparency, quality, and doing what’s right for every FurBaby who depends on us.
🐾 What Solensia and Librela Are Supposed to Do
Solensia (for cats) and Librela (for dogs) are newer injectable treatments developed by Zoetis, designed to relieve pain from osteoarthritis without the use of traditional NSAIDs. Clinical trials suggested potential benefits: improved mobility, reduced pain, and better quality of life for older or arthritic pets.
For many families, these drugs represented a hopeful alternative to long-term pain medications — but recent reports have shown that the real-world risks must not be ignored.
⚠️ What the FDA Is Warning About
Since Librela’s U.S. approval in May 2023, the FDA has received numerous reports of serious adverse events. They issued a formal letter to veterinarians outlining potential dangers — and pet parents need to be aware too.
Reported side effects in dogs include:
Neurologic issues: ataxia (loss of coordination), seizures, weakness, difficulty standing
Urinary issues: incontinence, excessive urination and drinking
Other serious consequences: in some cases, death or euthanasia following adverse reactions
Because of these reports, the Librela label was updated in February 2025 to include a “Post‑Approval Experience” section highlighting these risks.
For Solensia, originally mild side effects such as injection-site reactions or vomiting have now prompted closer scrutiny. The FDA has logged multiple adverse event reports from 2022 through early 2025.
💡 What Pet Parents Should Do
If you’re considering Solensia or Librela, or your pet is already on them, here’s what you should know:
Weigh Risks vs. Benefits: Many pets may benefit from pain relief, but serious reactions are now documented.
Monitor Your Pet Closely: Signs often appear within the first day or week after injection.
Ask for Full Disclosure: Make sure your vet provides the updated client information sheet (required with Librela).
Consider Alternatives: For older pets or those with existing health issues, diet, weight management, NSAIDs (if safe), or physiotherapy might be safer options.
Alternative products: There are many alternative, natural products on the market for pain and arthritis — and this isn’t just a plug for our own products. A quick Google search will show you a variety of options from different companies. That said, at FurBabies, we offer Easy Joints, a plant-based, all-natural supplement designed to support joint health, along with Lion’s Mane Mushrooms, which may help promote nerve growth factor. I’ve included two reports from last year in my previous blog, and the links are provided at the bottom of this post for those who want to read more.
Watch for Warning Signs: Loss of coordination, seizures, mobility changes, weakness, or excessive drinking/urination — contact your vet immediately if you notice any of these.
Open wounds, blisters, and sores are a very common side effect from Solensia with cats. If your cat has an open wound you can't seem to get under control, you may want to look at Solensia as the cause.
Report Adverse Events: The FDA encourages reporting suspected side effects to help protect other pets.
⚠️ Real‑World Cases & Reports: What Happened to Pets After Librela / Solensia
📄 Background: Why We’re Hearing These Stories
In December 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a “Dear Veterinarian” letter about adverse events reported in dogs treated with Librela — including neurologic issues, urinary problems, and in some cases death or euthanasia. U.S. Food and Drug Administration+2DVM360+2
As a result, the manufacturer Zoetis updated Librela’s U.S. label in February 2025 to include a “Post‑Approval Experience” section describing these risks. Zoetis Investor Relations+1
Official published data now shows that reported side‑effects for Librela span several body systems: neurologic (ataxia, seizures, paralysis), general (lethargy, recumbency), renal/urinary (incontinence, polyuria/polydipsia), gastrointestinal (vomiting, diarrhea), musculoskeletal (weakness, tremors, lameness) — and in some cases, death. U.S. Food and Drug Administration+2DVM360+2
Because these are “post‑approval adverse event reports,” not all have been independently verified. The FDA notes that causal links are not always confirmed. U.S. Food and Drug Administration+1
Still — many of the publicly reported cases (media / pet‑owner stories) are consistent with the types of adverse events described in regulatory documents. Below are several illustrative examples.
🐶 Real Dog Cases Reported After Librela Injections
Case 1 – “Ben” (Oregon, USA)
According to local news reporting, Ben — a 7‑year-old dog — received a Librela injection. Within 2 days, his owner noticed a neurologic issue with his back leg. Shortly after, Ben became unable to walk or stand and was euthanized. KTVZ
A second dog — former K‑9, “Zoey” — reportedly became totally paralyzed, lost bladder/bowel control after her dose, and was euthanized. KTVZ
These stories drew additional attention after the FDA’s warning letter. KTVZ+1
Case 2 – “Rigby” (reported via news sources)
One owner stated that their dog, "Rigby," died roughly 10 days after a Librela injection. Pet parents said the death came as a shock — and later realized the FDA had flagged serious adverse events associated with Librela. https://www.live5news.com+1
As of April 2024, some media outlets reported that among more than 3,600 adverse‑event reports, hundreds were deaths. www.ndtv.com+2U.S. Food and Drug Administration+2
Case 3 – “Pancreatitis & Renal Failure” (FDA case report)
The FDA’s own post‑approval data includes at least one detailed case: an 11-year-old dog, with no other medications, developed pancreatitis and acute renal failure two weeks after receiving Librela. U.S. Food and Drug Administration
That case is part of the reason the company added the “Post‑Approval Experience” warning section to the label. Zoetis Investor Relations+1
Case 4 – New Joint / Musculoskeletal Complications (2025 safety‑study claims)
A more recent analysis (reported by “Pets Science Daily” in 2025) claims that about 3.2% of dogs in the studied group developed new joint problems — swelling, increased lameness or instability — within eight weeks of their first Librela injection. Pet Science Daily
The study suggests older dogs and those with preexisting joint conditions may be at higher risk. Pet Science Daily
🐱 What About Solensia (for Cats)? — Limited Public Cases, High Uncertainty
Compared to Librela, publicly available post‑approval adverse event data for Solensia is very limited. The FDA’s December 2024 letter and subsequent reporting primarily concern Librela (the canine drug). U.S. Food and Drug Administration+1
I found no widely cited news‑media case reports or peer‑reviewed studies describing serious post‑Solensia adverse events comparable to those for Librela.
That said — the lack of reports doesn’t mean “no risk.” It means the data is too sparse to draw strong conclusions.
🚨 What These Cases Mean — And What They DON’T Prove
✅ What we can draw from the data
There is definite evidence from the FDA that serious events — neurologic issues, urinary problems, renal issues, GI distress, musculoskeletal problems, and even death — have been reported after Librela injections. U.S. Food and Drug Administration+2U.S. Food and Drug Administration+2
In some documented cases (e.g., pancreatitis + renal failure), pets had no other obvious complicating medications or conditions, suggesting a possible causal link to Librela. U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Some dogs developed new joint issues after treatment — raising the concern that pain‑blocking drugs might lead pets to overuse damaged joints, possibly worsening them. Pet Science Daily+1
The stories from owners (especially when multiple independent reports report similar symptoms) suggest these are not just isolated freak accidents.
⚠️ What we still don’t know
Because post‑approval adverse‑event reports are voluntary and unverified, we often lack full medical histories, necropsy results, or confirmation of direct causality. U.S. Food and Drug Administration+1
For many pet‑owner anecdotes, we rely on media reporting or forums — which may miss confounding factors (other drugs, preexisting illness, age, dosing mistakes, etc.).
For Solensia (cats), data is too limited to say confidently whether serious adverse events are rare, under‑reported, or simply not occurring at the same rate.
💬 Why I’m Sharing This — As a Pet Parent, Not Just a Business Owner
As someone who deeply cares about pet wellbeing — and as the CEO of FurBabies Pet Products — I believe transparency and informed decision‑making are more important than quick fixes.
These stories are heartbreaking. They remind us that every medication carries risk.
Some pets genuinely benefited from these drugs — but others suffered terrible consequences.
If you’re considering Librela or Solensia for your pup or cat: talk to your vet with full awareness of these possible risks. Ask for the updated label, ask about alternatives, and commit to close monitoring after each dose.
📌 My Recommendations to Pet Parents Considering Pain‑Relief Treatments
Before starting an injectable like Librela/Solensia — have a full conversation with your vet about age, preexisting conditions (kidney, liver, joints), other medications, and lifestyle.
Consider non‑drug options first (weight management, joint-friendly diets, supplements, gentle exercise, physiotherapy) — especially for older pets.
If you do try the drug — treat the first injection like a “test dose.” Continuously monitor your pet, as serious symptoms can appear at any time — from the very first injection to anytime into treatment.
Keep a journal of any changes: mobility, urinary habits, appetite, behavior.
If you see any red flags — ataxia, incontinence, refusal to move or stand, seizures, sudden decline — contact your vet immediately.
Report suspected adverse events to the FDA or your vet to contribute to better post‑marketing data.
🐶🐱 From My Heart as a Pet Lover
At FurBabies Pet Products, your pet’s safety and quality of life are always my top priority. While advances like Solensia and Librela can bring hope, the new data reminds us that hope must be balanced with caution.
If you’re thinking about these medications, talk openly with your vet, ask detailed questions, and make your decision with both optimism and realism.
At the end of the day, our goal is simple: we want our FurBabies to live long, happy, and pain-free lives. Being informed and vigilant is the best way to make that happen.
**NOTE: LION’S MANE (LMM) TO THE RESCUE
The functional mushroom Lion’s Mane has been shown to improve NGF, as demonstrated in numerous studies. It contains neuroactive compounds that promote NGF growth, which can be beneficial for pets severely affected by Solensia and Librela. Additionally, this mushroom has been found to enhance cognitive function, potentially counteracting some side effects of these drugs.