osteoarthritis

Solensia: The First and Only FDA-Approved Treatment to Control Osteoarthritis Pain in Cats

Get Your Cat Back to Their “Normal” with Solensia

Cats hide almost everything, especially pain. But if your cat is suffering from osteoarthritis (OA) pain, you’ve probably noticed changes in their everyday behavior. Things like jumping, climbing stairs, and even playing might not be so easy for them.

OA is a type of arthritis that occurs when the tissue in your cat's joints starts to get worn down, causing bones to rub against one another. You’d think this just makes moving harder, but OA can also cause severe pain. Without treatment, your cat's pain can continue to worsen.

Solensia is a monthly injection administered at your vet's office that can help control the pain your cat may experience from OA.


While cat OA isn’t curable, the pain from OA can now be effectively managed.

Solensia helps your cat get back to moving more freely again and stops OA pain from disrupting the unique bond they share with you.


What to Expect With Solensia

In a clinical study, cat owners reported that Solensia improved their cat’s quality of life, comfort, and overall well-being.

✅ Controls OA pain in cats which returns them to their "normal" by improving mobility

✅ A once-monthly injection given at your vet's office

✅ Works like your cat's naturally made antibodies to reduce pain signals


Take a look at Zoetis’ OA Checklist to see if your cat is showing signs of OA pain.


Hear From Us Again

Don't forget to subscribe to our email newsletter for more recipes, articles, and clinic updates delivered straight to your e-mail inbox.

Related Categories:

Dog Health

Control Dog Osteoarthritis Pain With Monthly, Long-Lasting Librela Injections

Give Your Dog More Days of Play

Librela offers long-lasting pain relief with a once-a-month injection administered by your vet.

Osteoarthritis (OA), or arthritis, is a painful chronic condition of the joints. Pain from OA can severely affect the health and well-being of your dog. Although we can’t cure OA, we can control the pain it causes, which can help your dog be more active and improve their overall quality of life.

  • OA is a type of arthritis that happens when protective tissue in the joints is worn down, causing bones to rub against one another.

  • Dogs of all ages, sizes, and breeds can have OA pain—it’s not just a condition seen in older dogs.

  • OA decreases your dog’s willingness to play, affects their quality of life, and makes it hard for you to do the things you love together.

Ask your vet about the newest osteoarthritis injection for dogs.


One Monthly Injection of Librela Can Reduce Your Dog's OA Pain

By reducing OA pain and helping to restore mobility, your dog can feel better and you can get back to the activities you 
both love.


Why Librela for Dogs?

✅ By decreasing OA pain, Librela can increase your dog's activity and improve their quality of life.

✅ Effectively controls Canine OA pain with a once-a-month injection given by a veterinary professional.

✅ Available in Europe since 2021, with over 6.8 million doses distributed.

How is Librela different from other pain management medications?

Librela is a monoclonal antibody that specifically targets a key driver of OA pain. It works to reduce pain signals, making it easier for your dog to move and play. Your veterinarian will decide which type of OA medication is best for your dog. Ask your veterinarian if Librela is right for your dog.

It is important that your dog is at an ideal weight and is getting the proper amount of exercise to help manage OA pain. Your veterinarian will work with you on an OA pain management plan that best suits your dog.


Take a look at Zoetis’ OA Checklist to see if your dog is showing signs of OA pain.


Hear From Us Again

Don't forget to subscribe to our email newsletter for more recipes, articles, and clinic updates delivered straight to your e-mail inbox.

Related Categories:

Dog Health

Osteoarthritis Rehab for Dogs

blog_ Osteoarthritis _banner.png

Pain is often the main hindrance to starting a rehabilitation program. If a dog responds to pain management quickly, rehabilitation can begin as soon as possible and can continue based on the dog’s abilities. A rehabilitative medicine program can dramatically increase strength and mobility, improving the overall quality of life for dogs with osteoarthritis. In many cases, improvement can be seen within days. Regular exercise should continue long term but must be carefully controlled to prevent further injury.

What Is Rehabilitative Medicine?

Traditionally, treatment for osteoarthritis (arthritis) in dogs has focused on using medications to relieve joint pain and inflammation. Many veterinarians also incorporate joint supplements, weight control, and other management tools to give arthritic dogs more help. However, medications cannot improve a dog’s strength or fitness level, which directly affects a dog’s mobility. Rehabilitative medicine, also known by the term rehab, can help meet this therapeutic need. With proper undertaking, a rehabilitative medicine program can dramatically increase strength and mobility, improving overall quality of life for dogs with osteoarthritis. Some consider rehabilitative medicine a tool that is reserved for dogs recovering from orthopedic surgery or injury. However, because the principles of rehabilitative medicine are fairly universal, this therapy can also be very useful for managing dogs with osteoarthritis.

The overall goals of rehab are to improve a dog’s comfort, joint motion, and strength. During the early stages of osteoarthritis, pain relief is a primary goal, and rehabilitative practices can help accomplish that. As osteoarthritis progresses, the body undergoes other changes including reduced joint motion, loss of muscle mass, and decreased muscle strength. A well-structured rehab program can combat these complications as well.

What techniques and equipment used in rehab?

Pain is often the main hindrance to initiating a rehabilitation program. If a dog is in pain, even passive stretching and massage are uncomfortable. In contrast, if a dog responds to pain management quickly, rehab can begin as soon as possible and can continue based on the dog’s abilities. Pain medications, joint supplements, and other products can continue as needed to keep the dog comfortable, control inflammation, and promote a continued willingness to exercise.

The techniques and equipment needed for rehabilitative therapy vary depending on the needs of the patient but can include the following:

  • Stretching. Stretching exercises are an important part of any rehab program. Your veterinarian can show you how to do this properly. Moist heat can be used first to warm the muscles. Once the target muscles are warm, manual stretching can begin. In some cases, a hinged brace can be used to control range of motion for weak joints as they are flexed and extended to improve mobility.

  • Controlled exercise. Depending on a patient’s abilities, ramps, controlled leash walking, and agility courses can all be used as part of a rehab program. The key is to control the exercise and range of joint motion to decrease the likelihood of injury. If building ramps and purchasing agility course equipment is not convenient, pet owners can often achieve favorable results using controlled leash walks. The goal is to provide the dog with low-impact exercise (no leaping or jumping) to build muscle strength and tone without injuring the joints.

  • Underwater treadmill and swimming. Although generally only available in a clinic setting, an underwater treadmill is a very useful piece of equipment for patients undergoing rehab therapy. An underwater treadmill consists of a tank filled to a certain level with water (usually just below the dog’s hip area), with a treadmill at the bottom. Compared with walking on land, the underwater treadmill is easier on the joints and decreases the risk of injury. Compared with swimming, another popular method of rehabilitation, the motion of walking is advantageous because the action of walking is more predictable, and the patient’s speed can be easily controlled. In contrast, it is difficult to control speed for a dog that is swimming. Swimmers are also likely to flex their backs while swimming, making range of joint motion more difficult to control. Also, dogs walk with all four legs but tend to swim primarily with the front legs, so walking is a better exercise for dogs with rear limb problems.

Swimming does have benefits for dogs with osteoarthritis — it strengthens the forelimbs and develops core strength (chest and abdomen); this can be helpful for a dog that has lost overall strength because of chronic joint disease. However, the underwater treadmill is likely a better option for its ability to protect the joints, control range of joint motion, control level of exertion, and provide an overall conditioning and strengthening activity.

What are the therapeutic outcomes with rehab?

Your veterinarian may recommend and structure a rehab program for your pet or may refer you to a rehab specialist to get you started. Once a dog begins a rehabilitative medicine program, results are generally observed quickly. Pain relief can be the most rapid result. If a dog is having an arthritis flare-up, ice can be used with pain medication to provide quick relief. Improved limb use can be observed within days to weeks of initiating a program. However, progress depends on the degree of disuse that was present initially. A more chronically affected dog can be expected to take a longer time to respond. Improvements in overall strength can also be observed during the first few weeks of therapy.

Once initial improvements are made, the goal is to continue the program, modifying and increasing as necessary, to maintain the patient at a level where strength and mobility remain favorable. Ideally, regular exercise should continue long term but must be carefully controlled to prevent injury.


Hear From Us Again

Don't forget to subscribe to our email newsletter for more recipes, articles, and clinic updates delivered straight to your e-mail inbox.

Related Categories:

DOG HEALTH

How to Spot Arthritis in Your Pet

How to Spot Arthritis in Your Pet

It is common for middle age to older pets to suffer from arthritis. However, under certain circumstances, even younger pets are prone to joint pain. Arthritis can be mild and unnoticeable to you or be debilitating to a point it severely affects your pet’s quality of life.