Help for Joint Inflammation (Osteoarthritis) in Dogs and Cats

Dogs and cats, especially older animals, often suffer from painful joint inflammation in the legs and/or spine. Cats of the “Scottish Fold” breed often have corresponding complaints at a young age due to their genetically determined bone-cartilage damage (osteochondrodysplasia). Previously, the primary treatments for osteoarthritis were painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, which must be constantly injected or administered.

In the USA, two animal-species-specific drugs (monoclonal antibodies) have been developed for dogs and cats that bind a protein (nerve growth factor NGF) involved in the transmission of pain signals, thereby providing longer-term relief from the pain associated with this disease.

Both drugs, Librale for dogs and Solensia for cats, were approved by the European Medicines Agency in 2020 and 2021 for the whole of Europe.

The drugs are injected under the skin, similar to a vaccination, and are only available from veterinarians. In advance, the individual criteria for the course of treatment, the chances of success and possible exclusion criteria such as pregnancy or advanced kidney disease are discussed.