Many of us probably have an assortment of old and expired pet medication still close at hand.
Many years after our pet’s illness or procedure, we may think that it can still be useful in the future and some are not sure how to responsibly dispose of medication that is past its expiry date.
According to Alet Joubert, a veterinary nurse, using expired medication could not only be ineffective or less effective, but it could also cause an adverse effect on your pet.
Joubert said expiry dates are there for a reason.
Manufacturers study and test their products to be effective and tolerated well by pets for the duration of the shelf life.
“After the expiry date has passed, the predictability of how the medication will work is severely impacted due to the unpredictability of the medication after expiry. It is not advisable for pet owners to administer expired treatments to their pets,” said Joubert.
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Dangers of giving your pet expired treatment
It can be hard to pinpoint the dangers due to every pet reacting differently to medication, as well as the unpredictability of expired medication.
“Common side effects could be gastro-intestinal, such as upset tummies and vomiting. However, the danger that is overlooked, is that expired medication can be less effective or even ineffective. This leaves our pets vulnerable to fatal diseases,” Joubert says.
Adding that there could also be long-term health complications. If your pet is on chronic medication, their disease won’t be properly managed, and this could result in the progression of the chronic ailment reducing your pet’s quality of life.
Mismanagement of any chronic illness could lead to a reduced lifespan.
If we treat a pet that gets sick or injured suddenly, with expired medication, it is a gamble on whether we are improving the situation or causing more harm.
Having expired medication in the home also increases the risk of accidental ingestion. Keep all medication, expired or not, out of reach of pets.
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Difference between the shelf life and expiry date
When we look at the shelf life of a product, it indicates the time between manufacture and uses that the medication is known to be effective and well tolerated.
Medication has been studied and proven to be stable and approved for sale and use during this time.
In other words, the shelf life is the time between manufacture and expiry.
The expiry date is a warning that the medication or product could start to undergo chemical and physical changes after that date.
If pet owners have administered expired treatment to their pets, it is important that they take them to a vet.
“The vet would most likely draw blood to ensure the organs are functioning optimally, and they might even encourage your pet to vomit to get rid of the expired medication in their system if they are symptomatic. Depending on their findings, the vet will recommend the appropriate treatment to restore your pet’s health,” explains Joubert.
“Once we have established that administering expired medication should be avoided, we need to know how to dispose of it. The most responsible way to dispose of your pet’s expired medication would be to take it to a dispensing institution, such as a pharmacy, where they have the resources to correctly dispose of these medicines.”
Treatments are meant to help pets, but they can do more harm than good if administered incorrectly or expired.
It is imperative to develop a habit of checking expiration dates periodically and dispose of any medication past its prime often.
