The best way to find out a lot of medication answers is to ask the
pharmacist if they are from a pharmacy and always read the inserts.  Vet
hospitals should have records which batch any meds from there were from
if it isn't right on the med so you can request that data.  There are
also useful books and some of them are very affordable.  A pharmacist
can make a recommendation and also you can ask about more detailed ones
not sold in their store.  (I think Consumer Union still has one and
there are always the PDFs.)
 
Melanie, not all meds can be given with oils/fats.  There are other
meds that can't be given with water or exposed to saliva.  In the FHL
Archives you will find a note from a pharmacist reading:
>Your druggist is wrong making general statement about delay absorption
>in oil.  It depends largely on the nature of the active ingredient.  For
>example, Griseofulvin should be in oil to improve absorption.  Sometimes
>oil helps stability of the drug or to improve taste.
 
So, approach it according to the individual medication since meds are
very much NOT "one size fits all".
 
Some meds are weakened past their expiration dates but if the pharmacist
says it's okay can still be given until new meds are gotten.  Other alter
after their expiration dates or have even stronger effects so they should
not be given.  How it is stored also affects the expiration.  Some (like
Amoxi) have a limited time once they have water added.  Another note from
that pharmacist:
 
Some meds need to be protected from light.  Some need to be kept cool.
Some should not be refrigerated.  A number should not be frozen.  Many
need to be protected from excess heat.  Quite a few need to be protected
from excess humidity.  Some last differently depending on what they are
compounded with.  Again, that pharmacist:
>Pediatric Biaxin suspension was not designed for ferrets.  Ask a
>compounding pharmacist to make an oil based suspension that would be
>more stable and expiration date also would be much better.  Bitterness
>as well would be less pronounced.  Wal-mart (K-mart) cannot do this job.
 
When trying to figure out how long a med will last you also need to
know how long it was in storage BEFORE you got it, so asking that the
expiration date be looked up is important.
 
Some pills and caplets have a line in them for cutting.  Those meds can
be safely cut and pieces given with a feeling of confidence that the
medication is evenly spread.  If a pill or caplet does NOT have a
cutting/breaking line then the manufacturer has NOT necessarily taken
precautions to have the medication spread evenly throughout.  In that
case crush the med and then mix it really, really well, then split the
powder up into equal amounts.  Store carefully according to the needs
of the medication.
 
Tip: well washed, used Ovaltine bottles are great for storing some of
the ones that need light protection due to the dark jar.
[Posted in FML issue 4872]