As you practice out with the old and in with the new this year, don’t leave your pet supplies out of the mix. Broadway Oaks Animal Hospital has some guidelines for you when it comes to getting rid of expired pet medications.
Why Expiration Dates
Any medication that is prescribed by our hospital will display an expiration date. This date can be found either on the original manufacturer packaging, or on the prescription label. This information helps our pet parents understand how to best use the medications we prescribe.
Expiration dates on veterinary drugs are important because medications often decrease in efficacy and potency over time. This is due to chemical changes that take place with environmental exposure. Sometimes, changes can take place that can even result in the medication becoming harmful.
Individual medications have a shelf life determined by the manufacturer and overseeing regulatory bodies like the FDA. Some last several years, while others only last only a few months. For many medications, the clock starts ticking as soon as the packaging is opened.
Visual and other physical changes are not a reliable way to assess if a medication is still “good.” Expiration dates help us to understand if we can expect the drug to be effective, and allow safe medication practices for pets.
Dangers of Expired Pet Meds
Expired pet medications are often not only useless, but they can pose hazards as well. The risks of using expired animal mediations often outweigh any benefit.
If a medication expires, it may not directly cause harm, but it can certainly have some negative effects. These could include:
- A delay in the patient receiving appropriate treatment
- Less efficacious results
- Contribution to problems like antibiotic resistance
Often when administering old medications, pet owners do so without guidance from a veterinarian This can also lead to dangerous or ineffective treatment. It is always best to contact us before starting your pet on any medication.
If you can’t find the expiration date, it is better to err on the side of safety. In general, liquid medications are stable no longer than two weeks once mixed. Discard unused pills after six months.
When storing veterinary pharmaceuticals, be sure that you adhere to recommended guidelines. Things like temperature, humidity, and light exposure can affect medication longevity.
Disposing of Pharmaceuticals
Properly disposing of expired veterinary pharmaceuticals can be a conundrum. It may be tempting just to toss them in this week’s garbage pick up or flush them, but that often isn’t the responsible choice.
Over-the-counter and prescription medication exposure is a common cause of pet (and people) poisonings, and tossed meds may be accidentally ingested if just in the trash. Some drugs may also have abuse potential.
Likewise, septic tanks and sewage treatment plants are not equipped to remove all pharmaceutical residues from the water.
To properly dispose of mediations, you should take them to a facility with a drug take back program in the area. Your department of public health or DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) may also be helpful.
Expiration dates on veterinary drugs are there for good reason—to keep your pets safe and to treat them in the most effective way possible. Be sure to use and care for your pet’s medications responsibly, and when in doubt, throw it out!