Geopolitical tensions leading to sanctions against Russia have echoed into the veterinary world, hitting the anesthetic drugs segment particularly hard. Veterinarians and industry observers have documented the shortage, including Tatyana Golneva of the Vasilek veterinary clinic network, as reported by Vedomosti. The shortage centers on the anesthetics Zoletil and Telazol, produced by the French company Virbac and the American Zoetis. While manufacturers have not publicly declared a halt, a clear disruption in supply is evident.
The shortage extends beyond Zoletil and Telazol. Golneva notes that Lysine, an imported drug commonly used to treat acute infections in cats and dogs that do not require surgery, has also disappeared from the market.
“There have already been cases where patients suffered as a result. For example, a valuable female cat facing uterine inflammation had two treatment options: conservative therapy using the now-missing Lysine or surgical removal of the uterus. The owners chose spaying, but it was too late,” the veterinarian explains.
Golneva adds a sense of helplessness, saying clinics know they could help more effectively but are constrained by the lack of available drugs.
“People are in shock because breeding animals are expensive. Such a difficult situation harms both animal owners and veterinarians alike,” she notes.
Import substitution is impossible
Golneva argues that the core problem in domestic veterinary medicine is the near absence of viable import substitution options.
“We have not yet learned how to produce these medicines here, and there are no production facilities of this kind in Russia. This applies across multiple drug groups,” she says.
Zoletil serves as a prime example. If it vanishes, finding a suitable replacement would be extremely challenging. Russian-made analogues carry a broader spectrum of side effects and are seldom used because they often lead to complications or death.
“Russian anesthesia, unfortunately, is of lower quality. It would be catastrophic for veterinary medicine if imported anesthetics were withdrawn from the market,” the doctor warns.
Veterinarian Aziz Alekberov concurs.
“Some segments can be replaced in Russia, but not without anesthesia. If issues arise with Tilazole and Zoletil, four‑legged patients face a difficult situation because there are no reliable alternatives,” he confirms.
Golneva suggests exploring epidural anesthesia and the use of anesthetic drugs from human medicine for animals. A similar proposal was raised in October last year by Vladimir Burmatov, deputy chairman of the State Duma ecology committee, who indicated the Parliament was preparing to consider expanding the list of veterinary drugs. Golneva warns that using human drugs for veterinary anesthesia would present its own challenges.
“This is the so‑called A-list, drugs with narcotic effects. Using such medications in veterinary medicine requires strict licensing, inventory controls, and licensed clinics. The process is time consuming, and only a handful of Moscow clinics are currently licensed to use these drugs. Smaller clinics are unlikely to obtain licenses due to storage and regulatory requirements,” the veterinarian explains.
As Alekberov notes, Tilazol and Zoletil are used by about 85–90% of veterinarians. Some practitioners still rely on inhalation anesthesia for specific procedures on rodents and require a specialized drug such as Isoflurane, which is not affordable for all clinics. Replacing these with human anesthesia carries greater risk.
“Tiletamine and zolazepam comprise Tilazole and Zoletil. In human anesthesia, ketamine is used in many formulations, but it cannot be employed in veterinary medicine,” he adds.
In summary, Golneva doubts that a complete import substitution is feasible for the veterinary sector in the near future.
“There is genuine respect for our country, but the pharmaceutical industry is not strongest here. Generics like noshpa and drotaverine exist in Russia, but their quality is often inferior,” the doctor says.
The same applies to vitamins and anthelmintics. While domestic substitutes may exist, quality concerns persist.
“For instance, Biopharm from the Netherlands competes with Russian vitamins like Shustrik. The Dutch product is cheaper and better in quality. The ingredients are the same, but the domestic version simply doesn’t work as well,” explains Alekberov.
He adds that under import substitution, cost is a critical factor. International drugs have a global market, while Russian analogues may be limited to domestic distribution if produced locally, necessitating substantial investment. The path to self-sufficiency remains unclear and costly.
“Large investments will be necessary. It is not yet clear when manufacturers will recoup costs. There are many questions about production,” he says.
Prices will rise
Golneva observes that current conditions naturally push prices upward. Shortages persist in warehouses, and the future availability of Zoletil remains uncertain, yet already the price has tripled.
“Previously, a bottle cost 4,000 rubles; now it runs around 12,000 rubles. It is unknown how much stock remains in warehouses or whether imports will resume. Half the cost of a surgical procedure is anesthesia, and higher anesthesia costs will drive up overall surgery costs — an inevitable consequence,” the doctor states.
Service prices have not jumped dramatically yet, but a rise is expected. Overall costs have already climbed due to the higher price of drugs, inpatient care, and more expensive consumables such as syringes, wipes, and solutions.
“The expense of services will follow suit. The percentage increase is hard to predict,” the veterinarian notes.
Golneva expects the largest price hike in laboratory diagnostics due to the prior purchase of reagents abroad and the ongoing use of imported supplies by laboratories.
“Laboratory diagnostics may become more expensive as analyzer prices rise, and some major labs have even suspended certain tests due to the lack of reagents and equipment. Laboratories are sounding the alarm,” the expert adds.
Additionally, she highlights a sharp uptick in demand for microchipping and vaccination as people travel or relocate more often. “Demand for chipping and grafting has doubled if not tripled,” she says.
State aid to veterinary medicine remains unavailable.
“I work in a private clinic, and my partner works in a public hospital. There has been no government assistance,” Golneva remarks.