The Drug Shortage Is Getting Worst For Our Pets

I posted an article a while back about the drug shortage that will be affecting the care of out pets and now the list is getting longer.

Here's a statement from the FDA webpage:

A drug shortage may involve either an actual or a potential shortage of a drug product. When drug shortages involve medically necessary veterinary products, it is FDA’s policy to help prevent or alleviate them. FDA works with drug manufacturers in the U.S. and, when necessary, other countries, to find ways to resolve shortages of medically necessary veterinary products. FDA does not have the authority to require a company to make any product, even if it is medically necessary.

What Is a Medically Necessary Veterinary Product?

A Medically Necessary Veterinary Product (MNVP) is a product that is:

Used to treat or prevent a serious animal disease or condition, or
Is needed to assure the availability of safe food products of animal origin, and
No other available source of that product or adequate alternative drug substitute exists.
Owner inconvenience and non-therapeutic uses are inappropriate reasons for classifying a product as an MNVP.

What Are CVM’s Roles during an Animal Drug Shortage?

CVM’s roles in managing animal drug shortages include:

Reviewing all animal drug shortage reports to determine if a shortage truly exists.
Determining if the shortage involves a Medically Necessary Veterinary Product (MNVP).
Creating an action plan to prevent or alleviate an animal drug shortage. The action plan may include:
Holding discussions with drug manufacturers and others in the animal health industry;
Speeding up the animal drug review and approval process; and
Exercising enforcement discretion (certain situations when the FDA decides not to strictly enforce approval requirements found in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act).

What Causes Animal Drug Shortages?

Many reasons for animal drug shortages exist. Some of these include:
Unavailable raw materials
Unavailable packaging materials
Marketing decisions by manufacturers
FDA enforcement issues


Here is a a list of some of the drugs that are currently in short supply that should be of particular concern to cat and dog owners that was put together by Dr. Jennifer Coates from PetMD

Immiticide — the only drug licensed to treat heartworm infections in dogs is not currently in production. I hate to think of the number of animals that might die if this situation isn’t rectified soon.

Vetsulin — a type of insulin manufactured specifically for pets that is no longer being made. This has forced owners and veterinarians into the costly and potentially dangerous position of
having to switch to a different type of insulin.

Chemotherapy drugs such as cisplatin and doxorubicin that are used to treat a variety of cancers.

Antibiotics — including some types of amikacin, azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, metronidazole, and gentamicin.

Pain relievers like buprenorphine and butorphanol.

Acyclovir — an antiviral drug sometimes used to treat feline herpes infections.

Propofol — a type of injectable anesthetic.

Acetazolamide — used in the treatment of glaucoma.

Aminophylline — used to relieve airway constriction and help animals breathe.

Injectable atropine sulfate and glycopyrrolate — used to keep an animal’s heart rate up during anesthetic procedures.

Azathioprine — a therapy for autoimmune diseases.

Bupivacaine with epinephrine — a local anesthetic used to block the pain of declaw procedures, incisions, etc.

Injectable diazepam — used to treat seizures, as part of anesthetic protocols, and more.

Injectable furosemide — used to reduce fluid build-up in the body (e.g., in the lungs as a result of congestive heart failure).


To see the full list of drug shortages you need to see ASHP current lits here.
It's not just a list for animals it also a list for humans drugs too.