[m3joeEm]

Bought a bottle of startect at vets for quarantine, then realized it was out of date by three months. Should I worry? Cautious about resistance just!!

[landroverroy]

It's probably ok after only 3 months, but it means you'd have to use it more or less immediately, not keep some for future dosing. But why not just take it back to the vet and get some that is still well in date? Presumably it was a mistake on their part and not something you've just kept too long?

[shep53]

More explanation please ?  I agree with landroverroy if you've just bought it then take it back and buy a new bottle or   negotiate a serious price reduction and use the bottle you have  ( personally  I would use the out of date stuff ) so long as it has been stored correctly .  Personally  I would not have bought 1 litre of startect  for just 10 sheep   , I buy a 50ml bottle of Dectomax ( does scab as well as worms ) to treat any in coming rams             Don't know how much for 1lt startect     but 50ml Dectomax   circa £25

[m3joeEm]

Thanks for reply folks, sorry for lack of info i just posted it in a rush! i had already used it on 50 store lambs at 7.5 ml each before checking the date, rookie mistake,  normally always  check those things. It's a litre bottle and cost 70 pounds+vat ,first time buying startect but i think it seemed a lot of money BUT still pretty cheap for a class 5 wormer. Reactive worrying, and still have over  half a bottle that I had intended to use in near future on more bought in lambs.

[twizzel]

I asked our vet if I could use a wormer 3-4 mths out of date and her response was to chuck it.

[shep53]

I would have no worries about using it in the near future so long as it has been stored in a cool dark place with the top on firmly . While others may say throw it away , I have product that I bought cheap as it was out of date and its now 5 yrs out of date but it most certainly works . TWIZZEL surely this was the only advice your vet could give

[twizzel]

She asked how far out of date it was. End of the day withdrawal periods/expiry dates are on there for a reason and why risk it not working?

[shep53]

Over the years I have questioned the makers of some products over withdrawal  periods and have never received definitive answers as to how they reach their time frame , it has long been said by some that residues last longer.   My freezer and store cupboard will have food stuff a year or more past the use by date , yet many people throw good food out when it reaches its use by date .   All a personal choice

[landroverroy]

The vet has to say "chuck it". I believe it would be unethical for her to say anything else as she can't accept responsibility for a product used out of date, even if privately she believes it's ok.
Agreed sell by dates are there for a reason - because legally there has to be one. But also they have to have a large enough safety margin so that if the product was stored in less than ideal conditions (and I don't mean at stupid degrees centigrade!) then it would still be ok  for the stated time. A product doesn't suddenly go off the day after its use by date, and nor does it automatically become poisonous when it's out of date. I have used penicillin 2 years after its expiry date and it was effective. Not out of choice but because that's all there was available at the time. I've also used Valbazene a year after its use by date. But I knew that both these had been stored correctly and so were unlikely to have lost much or any of their effectiveness. 


So I'd be happy to use your startect  after only 3 months, but obviously the decision is yours.

[Backinwellies]

I would be worried that the strength might be less ... then it would work but maybe not completely .... and then the danger of resistance to this new drug comes in.

[twizzel]

Ok fair r.e vet advice but I still would not use several months out of date and take the risk that it might not be as effective. If you're treating anything for a specific reason then surely taking a punt on whether it will work if expired is a risk. If it doesn't work then the problem you're trying to combat will become worse and like said above you could lead to resistance if it is not working at full strength. Several months out of date and already opened is a no no for me with regards to using on future bought in animals but it depends if you want to take the risk or not.

[m3joeEm]

Think I am going to use the rest at a Slightly higher dose rate within a few weeks and if there is any left I will bin it. Thanks, interesting debate.

[landroverroy]

That's basically what I did with my Valbazene. I looked up to check that it had a high safety margin, then applied at twice recommended recommended dose.

[shep53]

Over the years I have seen ab's and drugs of all kind still in date , thrown into the farm vehicle or left out at the handling pens  , even vets with drugs in the rear of a 4wd  that I would be  more worried about

[harmony]

Surely, if you have paid full price for something you expect it to be at its best. It doesn't matter that you only just realised it is 3 months of date. Sell by dates are the vendors responsibility at the time of purchase.


I would go back and explain the situation and if they want your business they will not charge you. I would do your next batches with the new stuff and then out of interest you could monitor the outcome of the two batches of lambs.


No-one here, I don't think, is qualified to tell you something is still as effective or safe, three months of date.