Anticipated shortage of euthanasia products for animals

UPDATED INFORMATION – March 10, 2022

Further to the Health Canada communication below, issued on June 15, 2021, while initial estimates of supply and demand forecasted that the global shortage could impact Canada’s supply in early 2022, careful allocation of product supply throughout 2021 has successfully prevented a shortage in Canada to date.  Additional supplies of pentobarbital sodium have now been secured, and it is expected that there should be adequate supply to cover normal Canadian demand in 2022. In November 2021, Health Canada also approved a new euthanasia product containing pentobarbital sodium for the Canadian market.

The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association continues to make available, through their website, Guidance for Veterinarians on Euthanasia Methods that Do Not Include Pentobarbital Sodium. The current document can be accessed by CVMA members as well as non-members on the National Issues page of the Policy & Advocacy section of the CVMA website, canadianveterinarians.net. This is a live document that will be updated as new information becomes available.

June 15, 2021

Due to a global shortage, availability in Canada of currently licensed euthanasia products containing pentobarbital sodium, manufactured by Vétoquinol and Rafter8 Products Inc., is expected to impact the existing supply in mid- to late 2021 and continue until mid-2022. Health Canada is working in collaboration with CAHI (the national association representing industry), the CVMA, drug manufacturers, importers and distributors to mitigate the impact on the veterinary health system and Canadians requiring end-of-life care for their animals/pets.

Audience

Veterinary practitioners

Key messages​​​​

• Due to a global shortage of pentobarbital sodium, the active ingredient used in most euthanasia products for animals, a shortage is expected to impact the existing Canadian supply in mid- to late 2021 and continue until mid-2022.
• Health Canada, the Canadian Animal Health Institute (CAHI) and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) are working together with manufacturers, importers and distributors to help minimize the impact of the shortage and communicate information and updates broadly.
  • Veterinary practitioners have been advised of the situation.
  • Canadian veterinary drug distributors have developed allocation plans in order to ensure that available supply is distributed as evenly as possible.
  • The CVMA, through an expert advisory committee that includes veterinary pharmacists, anesthesiologists, palliative care experts and species specialists, is developing resources and guidance on products, methods and protocols that can be used as alternatives to pentobarbital sodium products for euthanasia.

Background

Earlier in 2021, Health Canada and CAHI received reports of a global shortage of pentobarbital sodium due to an explosion at an overseas manufacturing site that occurred in December 2020.

Health Canada, CAHI and the CVMA have been working closely with drug manufacturers, importers and distributors to ensure that an information-sharing network is established and that advice is available for veterinary health professionals.

Health Canada is currently assessing whether foreign authorized alternative euthanasia products could potentially be imported on a temporary basis to mitigate this shortage. 

With respect to supply chain and distribution, CAHI is working with its membership and stakeholders to carefully manage existing and expected inventories of currently licensed pentobarbital sodium products, while longer-term mitigation strategies are developed. This includes allocations for all orders of pentobarbital sodium products, effective immediately, and the development of key messaging and resources for veterinary practitioners.

The CVMA, through an expert advisory committee that includes veterinary pharmacists, anesthesiologists, palliative care experts and species specialists is developing resources and guidance on products, methods and protocols that can be used as alternatives to pentobarbital sodium products for euthanasia that will be shared broadly across Canada’s veterinary health system.

Information for veterinary practitioners

In order to ensure that all clinics across Canada can continue to access existing inventories, veterinarians can support the management of current inventories of pentobarbital sodium by:

• administering ONLY the recommended dose of pentobarbital sodium euthanasia products unless more is absolutely necessary; and
• ordering ONLY the amount of pentobarbital sodium euthanasia products needed to cover their immediate clinic/practice needs.

Report health or safety concerns

For more information or inquiries related to this communication, contact Health Canada at:

Veterinary Drugs Directorate

E-mail: hc.vdd.vetdrugs-medsvet.dmv.sc@canada.ca