Veterinarians say sick pets may soon feel the pain of the drug shortage that has already affected some of their masters.

Animals use many of the same pain-relieving drugs used in human medicine and vets across the country say the current shortage will soon impact them.

Because the dosages in smaller animals, such as dogs and cats, are smaller than they are in people, veterinary stocks of those medicines are lasting longer.

But the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association has already told vets to start looking for alternative drugs.

An association spokesman says the effects of the shortage are likely to last longer on the veterinary side because human needs will have to be filled first.