Сutting live. What problems face veterinary clinics due to sanctions

Victoria Pavlova

Yan Muzalevsky, head physician of the Alisa network, told Vedomosti about the shortage of drugs for anesthesia used to operate on cats and dogs. He noted that the drugs zoletil of the French company Vibrac and telazol of the American company Zoetis have not been on free sale for two weeks, they remained only on the black market - and there the price for them, for one bottle, has increased from the usual 2,000 rubles to 25,000 rubles.

The shortage of these drugs is also confirmed by the anesthesiologist of the Biocontrol veterinary clinic at the Russian Cancer Research Center. Blokhin Yevgeny Kornyushenkov.

How to operate on pets now? Veterinarians give a radical answer to this question - we will either refuse operations or offer partial (incomplete) anesthesia.

The representative of the Rosselkhoznadzor, in turn, informs the publication that the department knows about problems with zoletil and telazol: complaints are received from market participants, however ... supplies of drugs continue, foreign manufacturers did not notify about the suspension of imports or leaving Russia, the official reassures.

In fact, Virbac announced in mid-March that it was suspending deliveries to distributors in Russia, adding that some drugs could still be shipped. Zoetis announced a halt to investments and advertising in Russia, but promised not to stop the supply of medicines and vaccines.

Veterinarians note that, in theory, imported anesthesia can be replaced with ketamine, but this drug is from the list of psychotropic substances, and the transition to it requires time and financial costs.

In particular, clinics must obtain a license for activities related to the circulation of narcotic and psychotropic substances. In addition, it is necessary to recruit additional specialists, since, according to the relevant regulation of the Russian government, only a doctor with a special permit can open and inject ketamine. The law also strictly regulates the packaging, inventory and disposal of the remains of such drugs. For the disposal of psychotropic substances, for example, it is necessary to obtain a special license, Vedomosti notes.

Problems are not only with anesthesia. Interruptions - with all imported goods for animals: vaccines, medicinal feed, chips, consumables ...

Drugs and vaccines for animals were swept away in March, says Nikolay Bespalov, director of development at the RNC Pharma analytical company.

The next who will face the same problems are zoos, circuses, stables, animal husbandry.

Out-of-network veterinary clinics and small-scale animal shelters, which were largely supported by volunteer work and "neighborly" social media donations, have already gone into survival mode.

“I have ten horses, small farm animals, birds, forty dogs and over fifty cats in my care. This is not taking into account those who are now in veterinary clinics after surgery and on treatment, this is a separate issue. They are not to blame for the fact that we were all driven into such a [….]. I will not talk about politics, my position is clear and precise, and known to many. I'll beg, I'll start right now, then it might be too late. Food for cats and dogs has doubled in price or more, you can’t buy hay anywhere - it has become golden, compound feed has risen in price. Pandemic - these were flowers ...", - says Ilona Rizvanova, co-founder of the ANO Center for Animal Rehabilitation Razdolie. The center is engaged in rescuing decommissioned farm animals and helping homeless cats and dogs.

Stocks have been made for some time, but what to do later when they run out is unknown, says the owner of the rehabilitation center. She announced a collection of donations, they accept money and products.

Vegetables, fruits, cereals, dry food and canned food for cats and dogs, meat products and offal, hay, oats, medicines, firewood - there is a need for everything.

The wholesale depots are empty - for one contract they give out one bag every two weeks. In retail prices for the popular feed Monge and Gemon rose from 3000, 4000 rubles to 7000, 8000 rubles per bag. Pro Plan, Royal Canin, Hill's have more than doubled in price - the latter has also disappeared from the shelves, it was difficult to get it before, now it's nowhere to get it. Many private owners and shelters are switching to cheap domestic food, or to natural food, the cost of which has also increased many times over, market participants say.

“Preparations for veterinary clinics have risen in price for everything. But even at the increased prices, it is difficult to get them. Medicinal feeds have generally become unattainable - both in price and availability. The other day I myself was personally looking for insulin for a diabetic cat, I barely found it. Previously, a capsule cost less than 300 rubles, now more than 500. I took everything that was in Beethoven. Without insulin, the cat will die, ”Arina Dudyreva, the owner of the Kotodom home shelter, told NI.

Small, home-based shelters even announce fees for disinfectants and supplies.

“We will not refuse disinfectants and powder for washing diapers and beds. The washing machine runs constantly, and everything ends very quickly. Means for washing floors and trays are also very necessary. Usually I buy everything myself. Sometimes, it happens, good people bring. But now everything is very difficult,” says Oksana Chernitsyna, the owner of another small KotoBanda shelter.

Representatives of large veterinary clinics and pet stores say they are doing everything to optimize and rebuild supply chains, and this is true - uninterrupted supplies are in their interest. However, in the regions, and even in megacities, it is already difficult to get medical preparations and familiar imported feed.

Industry experts note that almost 70% of drugs used in Russian veterinary medicine are produced abroad. Two-thirds of the remaining 30% of funds include foreign substances.

All these circumstances make conscientious people think: is it worth it to have pets at all in such a difficult time? And what efforts should be made to feed and treat existing animals?