Question
How do I dispose of used syringes and lancets?
Sunny, owner notes“I wish my dog lived as long as I do.”Updated
I'm an owner, not a vet. This is not veterinary advice, so check anything medical with your own vet.
Short answer
Put used syringes and lancets in a hard sharps box that needles can't poke through, and keep it away from kids and pets. Ask your vet, chemist or local waste service how to hand it in when it's full. Never throw loose needles in the bin, the recycling or a bag. Sort this out when injections start, before the first box fills up.
What to know at home
Keep the box where you give the shots, so you're not walking round the house with a used needle. If you travel or someone else looks after your dog, they need a sharps box too, not just the insulin and syringes.
What to write down
- Where the container is kept
- Which local service accepts it
- What to do when travelling or using a sitter
What to ask next
When the vet shows you how to inject, ask them to show you how to get rid of the needle too. Check with whoever takes the box that they'll accept it, because not every chemist takes needles used on pets. Sort this out before the box is full.
Sources
- Can I reuse or pre-fill syringes?Single-use syringes and the sharps box
- Can older children help look after a diabetic dog?Keeping needles where children can't reach
- Ear, lip, or paw: where do people prick?Putting used lancets in a sharps container
Every outside source I used is listed on the Sources page.
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