Guidance for pet owners on how to use and dispose of veterinary medicines safely. Just as it's essential for humans to use medicines correctly and responsibly to protect their health, it is important that medicines are used responsibly in animals, to safeguard the drug’s effectiveness in the future. Antimicrobial ResistanceAntimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in pets is becoming a great challenge. AMR happens when bacteria become resistant to the medicines used to treat infections. The risk that the organism causing the disease will develop resistance to drugs increases every time they are used, which can lead to some medicines, such as antibiotics, no longer working effectively. This can make it difficult to treat infections in animals, and in some cases, animals may not recover if they are infected with an organism that is resistant to the antibiotic prescribed to treat them.Antibiotic useAntibiotics are vital to treat and prevent disease in animals and humans. To make sure that they remain effective now and, in the future, they must be strictly controlled and only used when necessary. Not every infectious disease needs antibiotic treatment; for example, viral infections cannot be cured by antibiotics. Your vet will assess your pet’s condition and recommend the most effective treatment. In some cases, such as cat bite abscesses, kennel cough, acute diarrhoea, and cat flu, antibiotics may not be necessary. Your vet may carry out a laboratory test to find out if treatment with antibiotics is appropriate and, if so, which antibiotic will work best. They can then prescribe the best antibiotic for the infection.Sharing medicinesMedicines should never be kept for future use on your pet, or given to another animal they haven’t been prescribed for, as this can contribute to antimicrobial resistance and could result in dangerous side effects. Parasite preventionMedicines that protect our pets from parasites, known as parasiticides, are also important, as is their safe use and disposal. Parasites such as worms, ticks and fleas can also develop resistance to these drugs if they are used when not needed – this means that they may not work effectively in the future.Discuss your parasite prevention plan with your vet. Rather than applying this type of medication routinely, consider using them based on your pet’s lifestyle, infestation risk, and the prevalence of specific parasites in the local area.It is important to apply spot-on products safely, doing so indoors and avoiding bathing or letting pets swim afterwards to help prevent contaminating waterways. Medicine disposalVeterinary medicines should be disposed of responsibly to protect pet and human wellbeing, and the health of the environment. Pet medicines and packaging of spot-on products should not be disposed of in household waste or down the toilet, as this can contaminate the environment and waterways. If you have any unused or out-of-date pet medicines, take them to your vet practice for safe disposal. Talk to your vetIf you have questions about using medicines and parasiticides safely, or are concerned about AMR, please speak to your vet. About the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies is a one-of-a-kind centre of excellence in clinical activity, teaching and research. Our purpose-built campus, set against the backdrop of the beautiful Pentland Hills Regional Park, is home to more than 800 staff and almost 1400 students, all of whom contribute to our exceptional community ethos. The School comprises: The Roslin Institute The Roslin Innovation Centre The Hospital for Small Animals Equine Veterinary Services Farm Animal Services Easter Bush Pathology The Animal Welfare Centre We represent the largest concentration of animal science-related expertise in Europe, impacting local, regional, national and international communities in terms of economic growth, the provision of clinical services and the advancement of scientific knowledge. Tags Small Animals Publication date 30 Oct, 2025
