Elbow arthritis is a common cause of forelimb lameness and disability in dogs of all ages; the primary cause being a developmental disease called ‘elbow dysplasia’. Management of this arthritis usually consists of chronic administration of drugs (e.g. non-steroidal anti-inflammatories such as carprofen), weight management, supplements, and appropriate exercise. Despite all these interventions, many dogs continue to display lameness of the forelimbs. Librela™ (bedinvetmab) is a new monthly injectable medication available for the treatment of dogs with arthritis and is injected under the skin once per month. 

It is a monoclonal antibody that targets a nerve growth factor that contributes to the pain associated with arthritis. Company provided data shows that dogs seem to improve with administration of the medication. We aim to discover the degree and duration of improvement associated with this medication by collecting functional gait data over the course of 6 months of medication administration and comparing this to the same data in untreated dogs.

Eligibility: Dogs may be included in the study if they fit the following criteria:

• Under 4 years old
• Weigh less than 20kg (40lbs)
• Has front leg lameness caused by one or both elbows (a history of prior elbow dysplasia surgery is ok)
• Can walk 20 meters calmly on a leash
• Has no history of neurologic disease or significant orthopedic disease other than the elbows
• Systemically healthy otherwise

Compensation: Your dog will receive free bloodwork, whole body CT scans, joint fluid analysis for inflammation, monthly gait analysis and Librela^TM injections at no cost to you.

Owner Responsibilities: You will be asked to return monthly for six months and to fill out a questionnaire indicating how your pet is doing at home. Each visit could last from 1-6 hours depending on if your dog is due for imaging on the study schedule.

Principal Investigator: Ursula Krotscheck, DVM, DACVS

Contact/Schedule an Appointment: Please contact the clinical trials coordinator team at 607.253.3060, or email vet-research@cornell.edu.