Russia’s state veterinary regulator confirmed that a batch of Multican-8 dog vaccines produced by Vetbiokhim contains a live Aujeszky's disease virus, leading to hundreds of pet deaths since August across at least ten regions. The affected vaccine batch 20 contained 60,000 doses and was the top-selling product in Russia’s pet vaccine market with around 20% share from January to July. Vetbiokhim initially suggested sabotage but later faced serious production violations leading to the destruction order by Rosselkhoznadzor.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In early September, Rosselkhoznadzor, Russia's veterinary and agricultural inspection agency, confirmed that batch 20 of the widely-used Multican-8 dog vaccine produced by Moscow-based Vetbiokhim contained a live Aujeszky's disease virus. This lethal virus typically causes fatal illness in dogs with no specific treatment available. The regulator ordered the contaminated batch withdrawn and destroyed, which included 60,000 doses. Since August, pet owners across at least 10 Russian regions have reported hundreds of dog deaths linked to adverse reactions from the vaccine. Russia's State Duma has received approximately 300 complaints regarding pet dog fatalities associated with Multican-8. The situation highlights serious production violations and raises concerns about public health and animal welfare regulation in Russia.
Written for “Russian Dog Vaccine Deaths” on 2026-09-17,
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State veterinary regulator confirmed batch 20 of Multican-8 contained a live Aujeszky's disease virus — typically fatal in dogs — after owners across at least 10 Russian regions reported hundreds of deaths since August.
asserted
owners → confirm → August
Russia has ordered a batch of one of its most widely used dog vaccines destroyed after finding a live virus in some of its samples, confirming a link to deaths reported across the country since August.
asserted
batch → order → August
Russia's veterinary and agricultural inspection agency Rosselkhoznadzor said batch 20 of the Multican-8 vaccine, produced by Moscow-based Vetbiokhim, contained a live Aujeszky's disease virus — a usually fatal illness affecting dogs with no specific treatment.
asserted
batch → say → treatment
The regulator ordered the batch withdrawn from circulation and destroyed.
asserted
batch → order → circulation
Batch 20 contained 60,000 doses, according to independent Russian outlet Meduza.
uncertain
Batch → contain → Meduza
Dog owners in Moscow, St Petersburg and at least eight regions including Krasnodar, Yaroslavl, Leningrad, Tula, Penza, Saratov and Belgorod had reported severe adverse reactions and deaths in animals vaccinated with Multican-8.
asserted
owners → include → Multican-8
Russia's State Duma said it had received around 300 complaints of pet dog deaths related to the vaccine, according to Russian outlet Baza.
uncertain
it → say → Baza
Vetbiokhim initially cited suspected deliberate interference by third parties.
asserted
Vetbiokhim → cite → parties
The regulator's subsequent finding of a live pathogen and serious production violations does not support the claims of sabotage.
uncertain
finding → support → sabotage
Four other batches of Multican vaccines had already been suspended before Wednesday's order.
asserted
batches → suspend → order
Rosselkhoznadzor and the prosecutor's office announced inspections in August, while Vetbiokhim said it was conducting an internal investigation.
asserted
it → announce → investigation
In early September, Rosselkhoznadzor said preliminary findings indicated serious production violations and warned the company could face licence revocation.
uncertain
company → say → revocation
Vetbiokhim drew up compensation agreements with owners of dogs that died, offering between 200,000 and 300,000 rubles per case, according to Meduza, which cited posts in private chats used by those affected.
uncertain
which → draw → those
The agreements required recipients to waive all further claims and sign non-disclosure agreements barring them from discussing the case with media, on social media or in messaging apps without the company's consent.
uncertain
agreements → require → consent
The company told Russian business outlet RBC that the confidentiality clause was "standard legal practice".
asserted
clause → tell → RBC
Multican-8 was the top-selling product in Russia's pet vaccine segment from January to July of this year, accounting for around 20% of the market, according to Kommersant, citing data from RNC Pharma.
uncertain
Multican-8 → sell → Pharma
Vetbiokhim's products account for approximately 70% of the Russian market for dog and cat vaccines across its range of 15 products.
asserted
products → account → products
The company's dominance expanded sharply after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the imposition of sanctions in early 2022, which cut the share of imported veterinary medicines on the Russian market from 50% to between 10% and 15%.
asserted
which → expand → 10
Owners of cats vaccinated with the company's Multifel product have also reported deaths, according to independent outlet Govorit NeMoskva.
uncertain
Owners → vaccinate → NeMoskva
However, there is currently no evidence that any suspicious batches have been exported abroad.
asserted
batches → be → ?
The Aporia
