Liberla and at home sub-q injections

[MunchingonHay]

Today, Buma got her second Librela injection. I am super pleased with how well she is moving with these shots.

l asked the vet today if I could purchase the product (vials) so I could dose her every 30 days at home and they said “no, that it is because the manufacturer does not allow home use and it must be adminstered by a vet”.

Well, I called Zoetis. They have no problem having it adminstered by the dog owner at home and while they would rather a vet do it just in case of a self stick since it is Monocolonal antibodies, they leave it up to the vet’s practice to sell to patients.

I can’t purchase it from Zoetis directly, they do not work that way.

Zoetis also has rewards program for some of their drugs, Adaquan being one of them, Librela is not one of those meds yet.

It was $90.00 today for me to sit in an exam room and wait 30mins for a vet (my appt was at 9am) and did not get seen until 9:30am for the vet to jab the scruff of Buma’s neck and inject.

Who’s a vet out there that will sell me a 6 month supply? How much and can I Venmo you?

The chart for how much to admister is on their website. Its by weight, Buma is 110 lbs. I need a vial a dose or 30mgs.

[GoodTimes]

Would they consider at least letting a tech do the injection? That might be easier for scheduling? At my vet clinic the vet always does the initial injection of anything, but booster shots, or repeat injections of something like Librela can be booked with a tech so there is no consult/exam fee. And usually the wait is only a few minutes.

[cilla1]

Here in Italy is the same, I used to buy Librela directly from the vet or she wrote me a prescription and I dosed it to Max via sub q injection. Many vets instead tell their clients that this is not allowed, it is not true!

[glitterless]

I’m in Canada and was able to bring it home to give the injections myself. It was difficult for my dog to get in and out of the vehicle, so I wouldn’t have bothered if I didn’t have the option of doing the injections myself.

[hallie2]

my vet offered to sell me vials. but she has horses too and understands we are comfortable w injections. by the way, be careful. my dog tore her achilles and is 10 wks out from brutal surgery and recovery that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. she felt so good on librella she started doing zoomies and acting like a puppy. once she is healed from this surgery I will restart librella and try to keep her calm. it’s an amazing drug.

[Equibrit]

You might want to check out this Facebook group;

https://www.facebook.com/groups/869796334807341

According to Zoetis, side effects can include bacterial skin infections, dermatitis and renal and urinary disorders, including urinary tract infections. In Europe, elevated blood urea nitrogen, which may indicate a kidney issue, was a side effect.

[bugsynskeeter1]

They have a tech give it to my dog in the waiting room. No appointment, just walk and and I’m done in less than 10 minutes. I did Adequan at home with no issues - haven’t asked about doing the Librela at home. I may next time we go in for his shot, but I don’t mind since they are so good to us.

[GraceLikeRain]

I use a tech and it’s more like $60 a month. I read the Librela horror stories but it really makes a difference with my old man so I think it’s worth the risk for quality of life.

[MunchingonHay]

I am sorry your dog felt TOO good on Librella, that is a good testiment of the drug. I hope recovery is quick and not too much of a pain.

The good news is that Buma is more of a causal observer compared to a more active dog (she is one of the laziest dogs I have never had LOL )

I will watch her.

[MunchingonHay]

Thanks for the link Equibrit. Buma is 8 and she is a Ridgeback, I am just trying to make the last of her years comfortable. If she was younger and needed this med it would be a different story. I will keep an eye out for those side effects.

@bugsynskeeter1 I did tech appts for my old man dog last year for his Adequan. they would not let me bring that home either. They did inject those shots deeper into his pelvis than I would be comfortable with so I am OK with a tech doing those.

I have talked with 2 other vets in my area and none will allow me to do shots from home. Everyone is worried about a self stick. I could accidently lay my dog’s pills on the counter next to mine and by mistake take the dog’s pills, why/how is this any different??

[Live_Wire]

I have a pretty good working relationship with my vet and we’ve had candid conversations over the years regarding changing policy practices. His take - they’ve instated a blanket policy because there is a larger majority of unreliable pet owners. Requiring in house visits gives them an opportunity to check in, put their hands on them, etc.

My senior dog was one who had a bad reaction to librela. That said, I think it’s a great option. I think she likely has something underlying we don’t know about that her body has learned to cope with and shutting off NGF caused the side effects.

[Sandysmom]

Just curious, was the $90 for the librela itself or just the office exam? When I googled it, librela for my 87# bloodhound would be around $250

[bugsynskeeter1]

I get charged around $90 for the shot. They don’t charge me an office visit fee.

[MunchingonHay]

@Sandysmom, the bill just had one by-line and it was the shot at $90.00 just like @bugsynskeeter1 When you googled and came up with the $250.00 was that for one 30ml vial? That is how much our dogs would need, one 30ml vial which is one dose.

@Live_Wire and that is part of my problem. Its a new vet (I moved here in 2021 from FL to Pa) and I don’t have the same large animal vet connections and I am still sort of ‘new’ at the small animal vet I use. They don’t know me, or my experience, and I get it. They don’t want any fall back if I somehow hurt myself with a self-stick. I am sorry to hear your girl had a bad reaction to Librela. I hope that you and her vet find a solution for her.

[hallie2]

10 weeks in a cast. it’s miserable.

[Live_Wire]

Thank you! She came back about 95%. We’ll take it.

I have one (equine) vet who will not facilitate client’s injecting because they don’t want the liabililty of providing the needles because of the opiod epidemic. I thought that was weird until I went to tractor supply and saw someone stealing needles from the livestock aisle…

[frisky]

My dog who is roughly 78lbs gets librela for $86. I can’t imagine your bloodhound would be too much more.

[MunchingonHay]

@frisky

My dog who is roughly 78lbs gets librela for $86. I can’t imagine your bloodhound would be too much more.

@Sandysmom I spoke with 3 vets and no one will allow me to self administer. Everyone is afraid of a self-stick.

For Buma who is 105lbs.Her dose is 30mls which is one vial. It is $90.00 so even though my vet adminstered it last time, its the same price for a tech apt.