Vets need to find an alternative for dogs currently on phenobarbitone, Sedabarb or LethylVets warn of nationwide phenobarbitone shortage as Sun Pharma works to restart productionVets have warned pet owners of a nationwide shortage of the anti-seizure drug phenobarbitone, as the manufacturer Sun Pharma works to restart production at an upgraded facility. She said colleagues in the veterinary profession had told her they were caught off guard by the shortage. Facility upgrade blamed for delaySun Pharma CEO Malcolm Brown said the shortage followed a large-scale upgrade of the company’s manufacturing operations. Brown said Sun Pharma was aware of the impact the shortage had caused. It advised that dogs currently on phenobarbitone, Sedabarb or Lethyl would need a consultation so vets could find a suitable alternative, warning that some substitute medications carried worse side effects and higher costs.