Pet Owners Invited to Take Part in Island Spring Clean

Vets Warn Of Danger In Keeping Unused Medication

Riverbank Veterinary Clinic & Hospital, part of the Pet Doctors Veterinary Group is reclaiming unused or out-of-date pet medicines, in a new spring clean initiative to encourage proper disposal.  The Pet Doctors Pill Amnesty is asking all pet owners to safely dispose of medicines; whether tablets, drops, ointments or supplements.

Out-of-date pet medicines that are piling up in kitchen drawers and cupboards, could present a risk to both people and animals: that's the message from the Riverbank veterinary teams in Newport, Lake, Ryde and Cowes.

Led by The Riverbank Veterinary Hospital in Bishops Way, Newport, the medicine's collection initiative invites anyone to bring along their unwanted medication, whether or not their pets are registered at a Riverbank Clinic.

Unused or out-of-date medicines are potentially dangerous.  You can just throw them out, but then there is always the risk that they will end up on some landfill site, and fall into the wrong hands.  There is no need to keep medication, particularly if you are doing so consciously because you are storing them for a ‘rainy day'.  This amounts to self diagnosis - for you or your pet - which has the potential of being extremely dangerous.  If you become ill again, you should consult your doctor - and if your pet becomes ill again, you should consult your vet.

We also want to highlight to owners the importance of giving their pet the whole course of medicine prescribed. We understand that on occasions this may be very difficult, leaving them with leftover medicines.  However, we are always happy to advise clients on how to administer medication safely and effectively.  

All items collected in the bins will be disposed of safely by the Riverbank Veterinary Hospital and Clinic, where visitors can enter a monthly prize draw for a year's supply of flea treatment.   

Correct disposal

The proper disposal of pharmaceuticals is an emerging issue in the environmental arena.  While flushing medicine down the toilet does prevent misuse of the substance, it can cause other problems. Specifically, when medicines are flushed down a toilet, the medicines can harm the beneficial bacteria that are responsible for breaking down waste in the septic system or at a wastewater treatment plant.  Some medications and personal care products even contain hazardous chemicals or even heavy metals, such as mercury, which is used as a preservative.

Where to next?  The disposal process.  

The medication will be counted and itemised to clarify the type and amount of medication being returned.  It will then be collected from the various veterinary pill point boxes, and stored at the Riverbank Veterinary Clinic, Newport, in large rigid plastic containers that hold up to 50 litres.

The Riverbank Veterinary Clinic will then check through all of the medication and decide, where medication is still valid and in date, if it can be of any further use.  

Pet owners holding onto medication in the hope of self-prescribing for their pets in the event of a future ‘similar' illness, could be putting their pet's health at risk.  Each individual illness should be assessed by a veterinary surgeon to ensure the treatment is the most suitable, and if it is still required. The Riverbank veterinary surgeons are trained to make these decisions.

Any medication that is still valid and in date, and would be safe to use, will be sent to the IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) charitable animal centres, where trained veterinary professionals will be able to prescribe according to individual cases.

Once a 50L container is full of disposable medication, it will be collected for incineration.The company that carries out the safe incineration of the unwanted medication is PHS Waste Management, which is a company licensed to carry out chemical and biological waste disposal.  The waste bins - called DOOP bins - are collected by PHS and taken to their site in Winchester for disposal by incineration.

RSPCA Donation

As part of the campaign, the Pet Doctors Group will be making a donation to the RSPCA, which will be in direct correlation to the weight of medicines collected.  So, all those unused, out-of-date medicines weighing up your cupboards at home, could be making a contribution to helping other pets in need.

Free Pet Tags

Pet Doctors practices on the island are also giving away free pet tags, displaying the Riverbank surgery's contact number.  This means that in the event of a pet going missing, the hospital will be informed that the pet has been found.

Participating Pet Doctors Practices

NEWPORT

The Riverbank Veterinary Clinic & Hospital, 2 Bishops Way, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 5WT

LAKE

18d Sandown Road, Lake, Isle of Wight, PO36 9JP

RYDE

27 John Street, Ryde, Isle of Wight, PO33 2PZ

COWES

9 Carvel Lane, Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO31 7TF

Competition

As an added incentive, all those who return medicines can be entered into a prize draw at the end of every month, for the chance to win a year's supply of flea treatment.  A final draw will also be made at the end of the campaign and the winner will receive a free studio portrait session for their pet, at a local photography studio.  

To enter the competition, just ask for a Pill Amnesty competition form at reception when you drop off your unwanted medicines.  All you need to provide is your name and contact telephone number or email, and you will be entered into the draw.  This will take place at the end of each month of the campaign and winners will be contacted personally.

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