With the recent scarcity of tiletamine-zolazepam anesthetics in the Philippines, veterinarians will soon have another option.
Telazol is expected to become commercially available in the Philippines by the third week of October 2026. It will also be available through GPH Vet Business starting the same period.
And this is no longer simply a product awaiting regulatory clearance.
Based on its Philippine Certificate of Veterinary Product Registration, Telazol has already been officially registered with the Bureau of Animal Industry.
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TELAZOL PHILIPPINE REGISTRATION
| Regulatory detail | Telazol |
|---|---|
| Generic name | Tiletamine + Zolazepam |
| Brand name | Telazol |
| BAI CVPR No. | CVPRI-26-0249 |
| BAI License to Operate No. | VDAPDI-26-0073 NCR |
| Classification | Anaesthetic, Prescription Drug (Rx) |
| Registered strength | 50 mg / 50 mg |
| Dosage form | Powder for Injection (IM/IV) |
| Approved shelf life | 36 months |
| Certificate issued | July 24, 2026 |
| CVPR valid until | April 28, 2031 |
| Philippine company | Zoetis Philippines, Inc. |
| Foreign manufacturer | Zoetis Manufacturing & Research Spain, S.L. |
| Country of manufacture | Spain |
The certificate was approved by the Bureau of Animal Industry and signed by Christian P. Daquigan, DVM, Officer-in-Charge, Director.
One important distinction:
April 28, 2031 is the validity of the product registration.
It is not the expiration date of every vial.
Each commercial batch will still carry its own lot number, manufacturing date and product expiry. The registered approved shelf life is 36 months.
HOW DOES TELAZOL COMPARE WITH ZOLETIL 50?
Both contain the same active ingredients:
Tiletamine + Zolazepam
Both use a 1:1 ratio, but the concentrations are different.
| Product | Tiletamine | Zolazepam | Total concentration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zoletil 50 | 25 mg/mL | 25 mg/mL | 50 mg/mL |
| Telazol | 50 mg/mL | 50 mg/mL | 100 mg/mL |
The Philippine Telazol packaging states:
100 mg/mL, equivalent to 50 mg/mL tiletamine + 50 mg/mL zolazepam.
So is Telazol a “double-dose Zoletil”?
No.
A more accurate statement is:
Telazol is twice as concentrated as Zoletil 50.
For the same intended total mg/kg dose, the injection volume will therefore be different.
Purely from a concentration standpoint:
0.1 mL Telazol contains approximately the same total amount of tiletamine-zolazepam as 0.2 mL Zoletil 50.
This is why veterinarians should not simply transfer a memorized Zoletil 50 volume to Telazol.
Calculate according to mg/kg and the actual concentration of the product being used.
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THERE IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT ROUTE DISTINCTION
The Philippine Telazol packaging states:
- Dogs: intramuscular and intravenous injection
- Cats: intramuscular injection only
This is another reason veterinarians should follow the specific registered product insert rather than assume that every tiletamine-zolazepam preparation has identical directions for use.
WHY ITS ARRIVAL MATTERS
Telazol does not introduce a completely new anesthetic combination to Philippine veterinary medicine.
Tiletamine-zolazepam has been used by veterinarians for many years.
What Telazol brings is particularly relevant now:
another registered source of tiletamine-zolazepam during a period of anesthetic scarcity.
It is manufactured in Spain by Zoetis Manufacturing & Research Spain, S.L., with Zoetis Philippines, Inc. listed on the Philippine registration.
Its approved shelf life is 36 months, and its Philippine veterinary product registration is valid until April 28, 2031.
And for veterinarians looking for access once stocks arrive, Telazol will also be available through GPH Vet Business beginning the third week of October 2026.
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NUMBERS WORTH REMEMBERING
So when commercial stocks arrive, several numbers are worth remembering:
- 100 mg/mL total concentration.
- 50 mg/mL tiletamine.
- 50 mg/mL zolazepam.
- 36-month approved shelf life.
- BAI CVPR No. CVPRI-26-0249.
- Registration valid until April 28, 2031.
THE MOST IMPORTANT PRACTICAL REMINDER
And perhaps the most important practical reminder:
Telazol is not simply Zoletil 50 in a different box.
Same drug combination.
Different concentration.
Check the label, calculate the dose in mg/kg, and know exactly what is in the syringe before administration.
For an anesthetic drug, that difference matters.
Dr. Geoff Carullo is a Fellow and the current President of the Philippine College of Canine Practitioners.
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