Not Just for Veterinarians, Germ & Disease Control Best Practices that Rock

Clean . Sanitize & Disinfect . Hand Hygiene

Cleaning – Series 1 of 3

Cleaning. The first line of defense in controlling and killing germs, and especially critical to veterinarians is cleaning. The first consideration is cleaning. Cleaning is not only pertinent to veterinarians but to anyone who has pets  … kennels, groomers, shelters, stables and home. The first task to be done is simply cleaning – not to be confused with sanitizing and disinfecting.

Veterinarian Life

A dog has suffered a seizure after eating rat poison as her heart broken owner carries her into your office. Another dog, with mournful eyes and silent suffering, has been brought in after swallowing a fish hook during a creekside fishing trip. A good samaritan walks in with a boxful of kittens covered in ticks, left abandoned. These situations, trauma, life & death emergencies are distracting. But every detail of the practice demands unwavering attention if it is to function successfully. It comes down to things you can’t even see, like, germs.

 Ever Vigilant

There are hundreds of articles on the importance of having a sanitation plan for veterinarian hospitals, clinics, shelters, kennels, and groomers. If unattended there is a 100% chance that cross contamination will occur leading to the spread of contagious disease.

Cleaning Best Practices 101

A Best Practice cleaning module can be as elaborate or as simplified as needed. Unless there is a designated full-time person to manage this part of the business, it’s best to adopt simple practices and stick with them 100% of the time. Remember, cleaning and disinfection are two separate tasks. Equipment and surfaces must be cleaned and dry before being sterilized. For a simplified overview of what to enlist when cleaning consider the following:

• Ensure all areas are well vented
• Allow surfaces to dry, completely
• Avoid generating airborne dust that may contain pathogens
• It is the mechanical action & surfactant properties of the soap that is important

Cleaning Products

Always consider the intended use of products in an environment designed for pets and animals. Not all cleaning products are created equal. The presence of phenol as an example can be deadly to cats and birds, there are idiosyncrasies within product ingredients worth investigating. Additionally, disinfecting a wet surface is ineffectual, all surfaces must thoroughly dry before applying a sanitizer & disinfectant.

Spartan Metaquat – Germicidal Cleaner

A product that has been wildly successful with our clients and an awesome, fungicidal straight forward cleaner is Spartan’s Spartan Metaquat – Germicidal Cleaner. 

Spartan DMQ Disinfectant Cleaner

Another great cleaning solution with disinfectant qualities is Spartan’s DMQ Disinfectant Cleaner. DMQ is a neutral disinfectant cleaner.

Spartan Multi Surface Cleaner 4 – COTG

Biodegradable, phosphate free and excellent for high traffic areas, the Spartan Multi Surface Cleaner 4 – COTG  is a synthetic detergent concentrate with aggressive cleaning power.

For an in-depth analysis and scholarly opinion on cleaning & sanitizing Best Practices within the veterinary field, an excellent resource can be found in a study conducted by PUC Davis Veterinary Medicine, Koret Shelter Medicine.

For more products, see our website: Sani-Chem Cleaning Supplies

The post Not Just for Veterinarians | Disease Control | Cleaning Protocol & Best Practices | Series 1 of 3 appeared first on Sani-Chem Supplies.