Can I Donate Medication?

[alimel]

I have a 30 day supply of Lasix, Enelapril and a 10 day supply of expensive heart medication from Mel. I would much rather donate this to a shelter than throw this away, but I am not sure if it is legal to dispense medication. Can anyone tell me?

[kowwgurl]

I would think that you can't donate it can you take it back to your vet?

I would think it's the same as human meds you can't give those to other people they have to get a prescription for it from the Dr I would assume it would be the same for an animal

[Dignity]

You can always call your shelter and ask. I don't see why you couldn't other than they don't know the expiration date on the meds.

[mara]

I agree....call the shelter. The expiry date can be identified by the prescription number on the label. They may have to be identified by a pharmacist....that's no big deal, they have pictures and descriptions in their files. They may or may not decide to re-issue them. It's worth a try, if that's what you'd like to do.

[weezyNollie]

Our vet clinic will take donations of meds to use for other patients/clients with little money. Or we will send them to a non-profit organization to use in foreign countries. Shelters may not have use for specialized meds like this --- more just antibiotics or anti-inflammatories.

[Dauxside]

Every shelter I've donated to, over the years, has always taken the meds - now I'm wondering did they dump them LOL .... hope not.

[agilitydog]

I would think that if they are donated, a vet on hand can prescribe it if need be and the shelter won't have to buy it.

Interesting question.

[weezyNollie]

Let me explain the shelter thing -- I bet most shelters will take them, but if you think about it. How often do they have a dog in congestive heart failure up for adoption? I don't mean to be negative nancy here.. but most dogs in shelters should be happy and healthy. The ones that would potentially require these types of meds would most likely be euthanized?

Maybe rescues would have more of a need? Since they sometimes will adopt out animals with disorders or problems.

[alimel]

Originally Posted by weezyNollie

Let me explain the shelter thing -- I bet most shelters will take them, but if you think about it. How often do they have a dog in congestive heart failure up for adoption? I don't mean to be negative nancy here.. but most dogs in shelters should be happy and healthy. The ones that would potentially require these types of meds would most likely be euthanized?

Maybe rescues would have more of a need? Since they sometimes will adopt out animals with disorders or problems.

Yes, I think you are right, no kill rescue groups may have dogs with heart problems that they are caring for.