Can you use expired dog ear drops? Yes and no. If a medication is past the expiration date determined by the manufacturer, it is best not to use it. While it may not directly cause harm, using an expired drug may have some negative effects including: Delay in appropriate treatment.
Is it safe to use ear drops after they've expired?
Is there any major harm in using them, as mentioned, about 14 days after they've expired? Thanks. Providing the ear drops have been stored in a sensible place, then I can't envisage any harm caused by using the ear drops.
Is it safe to use expired medications?
If a medication is past the expiration date determined by the manufacturer, it is best not to use it. While it may not directly cause harm, using an expired drug may have some negative effects including:
Do pet medications expire?
All medications that we prescribe to our patients come with an expiration date. Typically, this date is clearly stamped or printed on the container provided by the manufacturer. When we dispense a medication for your pet, an expiration date is also printed on the prescription label.
What happens if you give an expired antibiotic to a dog?
While it may not directly cause harm, using an expired drug may have some negative effects including: Contribution to problems, such as antibiotic resistance (hint: you should never have leftover antibiotics if using as prescribed) Often when people utilize old medications, they are doing so without guidance from a veterinarian.
What happens if I use expired ear drops on my dog?
Drugs may not be safe or effective beyond the specified expiration date. Topical medications like eye and ear drops can become contaminated turning into bacterial breeding grounds. Contaminated drops could make an eye or ear problem worse rather than better.
What happens if you use expired ear drops?
Ask your pharmacist about the expiration date and also check the expiration date on the label. If the drops have expired, throw them away. Don't use expired ear drops, as they can be contaminated and cause infection.
How long does dog medicine last after expiration date?
As a general rule you should discard any liquid medication 2 weeks after it was mixed and discard any pills or capsules 6 months after they were dispensed. This is the rationale behind recommending that you clean out your medicine cabinet twice a year and discard any expired products.
Can you use expired dog antibiotics?
Finally, expired antibiotics can lose their effectiveness. Giving your pet an antibiotic when it is not needed, the wrong type of antibiotic, or an expired antibiotic can result in antibiotic resistant infections that are very difficult to treat.
How long are ear drops good for?
The results suggest that two commonly used ear drops do not deteriorate within 4 months, and that using the drops on an actively draining ear does not contaminate the bottle or prevent future use.
Can I use expired neomycin ear drops?
Official Answer. No you should not. Firstly the eye drop has expired so its safety and efficacy can no longer be assured. Secondly it contains a steroid.
What medicine do they give dogs for ear infections?
Antibiotics (such as amoxicillin-clavulanate, enrofloxacin, clindamycin, or cefpodoxime) will be used for a bacterial infection for 6-8 weeks minimum. If the infection is fungal in nature, an anti-fungal medication (most often itraconazole) will be prescribed.
How long can you use medicine after expiration date?
What they found from the study is 90% of more than 100 drugs, both prescription and over-the-counter, were perfectly good to use even 15 years after the expiration date. So, the expiration date doesn't really indicate a point at which the medication is no longer effective or has become unsafe to use.
Can you use expired medicine?
Expired medical products can be less effective or risky due to a change in chemical composition or a decrease in strength. Certain expired medications are at risk of bacterial growth and sub-potent antibiotics can fail to treat infections, leading to more serious illnesses and antibiotic resistance.
What happens if antibiotics are expired?
Consuming expired antibiotics may not help in fighting off the infection, as they could have lost a significant percentage of their potency, on expiration. Also, by consuming expired antibiotics, one gets the same infection again, leading to drug-resistant bacterial infection.
Does dog amoxicillin expire?
Most liquid medications that are not reconstituted also have a shelf life of 1 to 2 years but once reconstituted (mixed with water – such as powered amoxicillin is mixed with water) – most expire in about 7 to 14 days depending on the specific product.
Can I use expired frontline on my dog?
At the time of manufacture FRONTLINE Plus®, FRONTLINE Tri-Act® and FRONTLINE® Spot On have a shelf life of 3 years, although typically less than this will be remaining at the point of purchase. Please do not use any product beyond its expiry date.
How long is a pill good for after expiration date?
But this is not a medication that will last long. Medication still in powder form is probably still good for 1 to 2 years beyond the expiration on the label.
How long does a vet's liquid medicine last?
The shelf life once reconstituted is real. If your vet mixes the liquid and says it expires in 7 or 14 days – then I’d honor that.
How long does an injectable last?
Some unopened medications can chemically be stable for at least 1 year beyond the expiration. Once opened, it is best to honor the labeled expiration date.
How long does a pill last?
Most oral pills or capsules expire in 1 to 2 years from the date of manufacturing.
Do veterinarians tell you to honor the expiration date on a prescription?
Most veterinarians, physicians, and pharmacists will tell you to honor the expiration date on the package. That is the safest way to ensure that the medication is stable. To be honest, many worry that there are liability issues involved if they tell you a medication is okay to use and it is not. This is understandable.
GreenyGreen
Is it ok to use them, say, about 3 or weeks after the expiry date? - I know I've read they tend to lose their potency and sometimes can get contaminated with bacteria, but in all honesty how likely is that to happen?
GreenyGreen
Thanks. And re. specifically ear-drops; I know the above link mentioned there may be problems after the expiry date, but has anyone used them without any consequences?
andyofborg
Thanks. And re. specifically ear-drops; I know the above link mentioned there may be problems after the expiry date, but has anyone used them without any consequences?
Gamston
Is it ok to use them, say, about 3 or weeks after the expiry date? - I know I've read they tend to lose their potency and sometimes can get contaminated with bacteria, but in all honesty how likely is that to happen?
geared
Are they prescription medicated ones or just over the counter normal ones?
Padders
any doubts..just replace them.not worth risking damage to ears,for sake of a bob or two.
GreenyGreen
Hi guys and thanks for the responses so far. The ear drops in question are indeed olive oil. I've been using them for about 5 days now and sadly there's been no improvement. I've also realised they're within the expiry date so no problem there.
