There is a shortage of foreign veterinary medicines in Russia

There is a shortage of foreign veterinary medicines in Russia, the National Veterinary Chamber and the Association of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Manufacturers told Izvestia. For example, it is almost impossible to buy Propalin from the French company Vetoquinol (used for urinary incontinence in dogs) and Apokvel from the American Zoetis (designed for the treatment of allergic dermatitis in dogs).

"Russia is working on import substitution of foreign veterinary drugs, but not everyone has direct analogues of the active substance yet," the National Veterinary Chamber noted.

Apokvel and Propalin have no direct analogues, said veterinarian Mikhail Shelyakov.

The country also has difficulties with the availability of foreign vaccines for cats and dogs, the National Veterinary Chamber added.

"Currently, there are no supplies of imported vaccines for small pets from Intervet in Russia (part of the American MSD. — Ed.), Boehringer Ingelheim and Zoetis," said Oleg Baydarov, the owner of the Green Cat Veterinary Hospital.

According to the expert, Russian manufacturers have not been able to dramatically increase production in three years. Therefore, veterinary clinics and services periodically face a shortage of vaccines.

According to the National Veterinary Chamber, the shortage in the vaccine market is due to restrictions in supplies from abroad and repair work at Russian production sites.

Read more in the exclusive Izvestia article:

They're hurting for paws: there are not enough veterinary drugs in Russia