How can pet owners actively contribute to preventing entries?
Bonn. Pets are more important today than they used to be. They are often members of the family and are given appropriate veterinary care. Worming, treatments against fleas and ticks, heart therapy and arthritis treatments are just a few examples. They protect the animal from serious illnesses and improve the quality of life. People are also protected from diseases transmitted by animals. (Zoonoses) protected. The veterinary medicinal products used must be handled carefully and consciously in order to protect animals, humans and the environment.
The quality, efficacy and safety of every veterinary medicinal product that is to be placed on the market are tested as part of the approval process. This includes ensuring that the veterinary medicinal product is safe for the target animal species, the user and the environment. However, possible contamination of the environment cannot be completely avoided. Active ingredients of the veterinary medicinal product or its degradation products can be excreted in the faeces and urine. Improper disposal of containers and drug residues can also lead to contamination of the environment.
Animal owners themselves can actively contribute to keeping emissions into the environment as low as possible by observing the following points:
- In principle, veterinary medicinal products may only be used on the instructions of a veterinarian and exactly in accordance with the package leaflet.
- Residual quantities and empty containers should always be disposed of in the residual waste or at appropriate collection points and never in the toilet or sink. Information on regional regulations can be found on the website www.arzneimittelentsorgung.de.
- Collecting the droppings in dog waste bags and disposing of them in the general waste can also help to reduce the amount of waste entering the environment and also reduces the risk of infection from worms and other intestinal parasites, for example. Cat litter should also always be disposed of in the general waste.
- Especially with externally applied flea and tick treatments, for example in the form of collars or spot-ons, some time must often be observed before very close contact with the animal and before bathing and washing the animal. This is to avoid the product being washed off before it is absorbed by the body or dried, which would contaminate the environment and reduce its full effectiveness. Collars should also be removed before bathing and washing the animal. Pet owners can find precise instructions on administration and the time limits to be observed for each product in the package insert. With externally applied veterinary medicines, it can also be a good idea to put brushed or shaved hair in the general waste to avoid the product being inadvertently released into the environment.
- Any abnormalities after the use of a veterinary medicinal product should be discussed with the prescribing veterinarian and adverse events
(e.g. suspected side effects) be reported to the relevant company or the authorities. This also includes suspected cases of environmental impacts. - Veterinary medicines should never be used without permission in a manner other than that prescribed by a veterinarian or in a manner other than that described in the package leaflet. Veterinary medicines should never be used on another animal species without veterinary instructions. At best they will be ineffective, at worst they can lead to serious or even fatal intolerances. The same applies to the use of human medicines in animals.
Veterinary medicines are well-tested tools for maintaining and restoring the health of animals. Careful and conscious use of them protects animals, humans and the environment.