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Help Medivet protect the environment and human health by disposing of unused medication safely

Did you know that throwing away unused medication into your bin at home, pouring it down the sink or flushing down the toilet can negatively impact human health by contributing to antimicrobial resistance as well as being harmful to the environment?

Key Takeaways

  • Medivet accepts unused pet medication at any branch for safe disposal, helping protect the environment and reduce antimicrobial resistance.
  • Throwing medication in household bins, sinks, or toilets can harm the environment and contribute to antimicrobial resistance affecting human health.
  • Medicine resistance happens when bacteria and parasites adapt to resist medications, making infections harder to treat, and is a major World Health Organization concern.
  • Medivet does not charge for medication disposal, covering the cost as part of its commitment to environmental and public health.
  • Returned medication is placed in pharmaceutical bins and collected by licensed contractors who safely destroy it.
  • Refunds on unused medication are not possible, as regulations prevent resale and Medivet cannot verify storage conditions once medication leaves the practice.
  • Medication prescribed for one pet should never be given to another animal, as it is tailored to the individual pet's condition, weight, and life stage.
  • Owners should consult a Medivet vet before restarting any previously prescribed treatment, even if symptoms appear the same.

At Medivet we are keen to promote the safe disposal of unused medication to prevent medical products from contaminating the environment and to play our part against medicine resistance.

What is antimicrobial resistance (AMR)?

AMR is one of the biggest concerns of the World Health Organization globally. Many bacteria and parasites are adapting to develop defences against some of the medications we use, making infections more difficult to treat – this is known as antimicrobial resistance.

What can I do to help keep antibiotics and other drugs working?

You can bring any unused medication dispensed by Medivet to any of our branches for appropriate disposal. All returned medication is placed in pharmaceutical bins that are collected from our practices by licensed contractors ensuring it is safely destroyed.

Do I have to pay to get my unused medication disposed of at a Medivet practice?

No, there is no charge for medication disposal. Medivet covers this cost as part of our commitment to protecting the environment and public health.

Will I get a refund on unused medication?

The sale of veterinary medication has strict regulations making it illegal to sell your unused medication to other owners. Medication has specific storage requirements relating to light, temperature and humidity. As we cannot guarantee storage conditions once a medication has left our premises, we are legally bound to dispose of medication that is returned to us. We are therefore unable to refund the cost of unused medication.

Can I use medication dispensed for my pet for another pet/animal?

Please do not use medication prescribed for one pet on a different pet/animal. Medications are prescribed by our veterinary teams specifically for your pet’s condition, weight and life stage, and it could cause harm if used inappropriately for another pet even if they appear to have the same illness or symptoms. Likewise, if your pet experiences the same symptoms again, you should not restart previously prescribed treatment that you may have at home without first consulting your vet to ensure that this is the best course of action.