Joint pain treatment options: what vets actually offer
This covers what a vet is actually likely to discuss for joint pain — not so you can decide on your own, but so the conversation isn't the first time you're hearing any of these names. One newer option has a genuine, actively-monitored safety concern worth knowing before that appointment, not after.
NSAIDs — the traditional first option
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (like carprofen or meloxicam) reduce pain and inflammation and have decades of use behind them. The tradeoff is long-term risk to liver and kidney function, which is why bloodwork monitoring is standard alongside ongoing use. Cats need real caution here specifically: meloxicam, the most commonly used NSAID for feline pain, is FDA-approved for single-dose use only in cats in the US due to kidney safety concerns — a dog and cat should never simply follow the same NSAID plan.
The newer option: monoclonal antibody injections
Librela (dogs) and Solensia (cats) are the first FDA-approved monoclonal antibody treatments for osteoarthritis pain, working by neutralizing a protein involved in pain signaling rather than reducing inflammation directly. Their appeal is a different side-effect profile — no liver or kidney concerns the way NSAIDs carry — and the 2022 AAHA pain management guidelines list Librela as a first-line option for chronic osteoarthritis pain in dogs.
An active safety concern worth knowing before that conversation
Since Librela's 2023 approval, the FDA's adverse event database has logged thousands of reports (over 3,600 as of April 2024) — most within the first week after injection — including ataxia (loss of coordination), seizures, and other neurological signs, with some cases resulting in death or euthanasia. Separately, a specialist-led analysis published in 2025 found a higher rate of serious musculoskeletal injuries (torn ligaments, fractures, joint infections) in dogs treated with Librela compared to other osteoarthritis medications, and raised concern about a mechanism — nerve growth factor inhibition — that previously caused rapidly progressive joint destruction in human clinical trials for a similar drug class, which is part of why no anti-NGF drug has been approved for human use. This is genuinely an active, unsettled situation as of 2026, not a closed question in either direction — the FDA continues investigating rather than having concluded the drug is unsafe, and most dogs reportedly tolerate it without incident. The honest takeaway isn't 'avoid it' or 'don't worry' — it's 'ask your vet about this specifically, and report any new limping, weakness, or behavior change after an injection right away rather than assuming it will pass.' Our printable Joint Mobility & Symptom Tracker has a spot built specifically for this — noting the exact week a treatment started makes it far easier to catch a real pattern instead of relying on memory.
This is a conversation with your vet, not a decision to make from an article
Every option here — NSAIDs, monoclonal antibodies, or a combination — carries tradeoffs that depend on your specific pet's kidney and liver function, age, other medications, and how advanced their joint disease is. Nothing here is meant to steer you toward or away from a specific treatment; it's meant to make sure you're asking informed questions rather than hearing an unfamiliar drug name for the first time in the exam room.
Our mobility and joint health basics guide covers the broader picture this fits into: signs, weight's role, and home changes that help alongside any medical treatment.
Get "Mobility and joint health basics"
Educational content only. This article is for general educational purposes and isn't a substitute for professional veterinary, behavioral, or medical advice — always consult a licensed professional about your own pet's specific needs. Frolicy's articles are researched from publicly available sources and written with AI assistance; they are not written or reviewed by a licensed veterinarian or behaviorist. Frolicy and its owners aren't liable for outcomes from following this content. See our Terms of Use for full details.