Russia Investigates Contaminated Dog Vaccine Linked to Mass Pet Deaths

Oct. 6, 2026 Vaccinating a dog at a veterinary clinic. Alexander Avilov / Moskva News Agency Russian authorities have launched a criminal investigation into the use of forged quality certificates during the distribution of a popular canine vaccine blamed for the deaths of dozens of dogs over the summer, the Prosecutor General’s Office said Tuesday. Inspectors discovered a falsified certificate uploaded to the state electronic database for a batch of the vaccine, the prosecutor’s office said in a statement, without identifying the maker or the medication by name. Law enforcement sources told the Interfax news agency that the investigation targeted Moscow-based pharmaceutical company Vetbiochim, which produces the widely used Multican-8 vaccine. At least 169 dogs have reportedly died since August across Russia, primarily in the Yaroslavl region, after receiving doses of Multican-8. Authorities revealed that samples from a batch of Multican-8 contained live Aujeszky’s disease virus, which is almost universally fatal to domestic dogs. Vetbiochim recalled several batches of Multican-8 in late August following initial reports of illness and deaths from pet owners. In comments to the RBC outlet on Tuesday, Vetbiochim said it was fully cooperating with law enforcement and providing all requested documentation. “We’re not avoiding responsibility, and we’re not hiding from the public or the investigation,” Vetbiochim said. The company said it had launched an internal audit to determine how the contaminated batch and falsified documentation were released into circulation. “We want an objective investigation to identify those responsible and to ensure they face proper consequences. We’ll do everything we can to make that happen,” Vetbiochim said. Read more about: Animals , Medicine Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more German Shepherd Becomes First Russian Dog to Win Canine Loyalty Award The 9-year-old police dog was recognized for rescuing a 15-year-old girl from rape. Melting Arctic Forces Polar Bears to Adapt to Land-Based Diet – Russian Scientists Russian researchers say they are seeing fewer malnourished polar bears despite shrinking Arctic ice pushing the animals further south. Rare Deer Mauled to Death by Stray Moscow Dogs Activists blamed Losiny Ostrov (Elk Island)'s new administration for making cuts to its ranger service, leaving the animals vulnerable. Siberian City on Alert Over Wild Bear Residents in the Siberian settlement of Khanty-Mansiysk have been warned not to risk their lives by taking photos of a bear sighted within the city limits...