By Surgically Clean Air
The Sudden Outbreak of Kennel Cough Can be Devastating to the Pets in Your Care, Your Clients and Your Business. Properly Cleaning the Air Can Help Prevent this Highly Contagious Disease
Kennel Cough (also known as canine infectious tracheobronchitis) is a highly contagious respiratory disease. Dogs commonly contract kennel cough at places where large amounts of canines congregate, such as Veterinarians, Boarding Facilities and Doggy Daycares. The spreading of the illness occurs when contaminated air from one animal starts circulating throughout the facility’s air handling system, and other animals breathe in the contaminated air.
The Negative Impact of Kennel Cough on Your Business
Few things can impact a Dog Care business as dramatically as an outbreak of the common Canine disease known as Kennel Cough. Just like with humans, animals are often contagious before symptoms breakout. Therefore, one infected animal can easily share Kennel Cough with other animals long before you know to take action. If multiple animals become ill in your facility, it can be damaging to your business reputation – and in some cases you may be required to temporarily shut down.
How Kennel Cough and other Diseases Spread
Air-borne transmission is the primary means of dissemination of all respiratory infections in humans and animals. This includes conditions such as Kennel Cough, Canine Influenza and more. Just like with humans, when an infected animal coughs or sneezes, they release the virus into the air via droplets. These droplets evaporate into millions of tiny particles called droplet nuclei, which float through the air, clinging to dust and dander until inhaled by another animal or person. Once inhaled into the nose or mouth, these substances are so small they often escape the mechanical traps of the upper respiratory tract and enter the lungs directly. Droplet nuclei are able to survive in the air and circulate throughout a building for hours or even days before infecting their next unsuspecting victim.
How Can You Prevent the Spread of Kennel Cough
There are things kennel operators can do to ensure that the animals coming to their facility stay healthy. Many operators believe that the only defense is cleaning all surfaces, disinfecting floors, food dishes, toys, bedding, and all surfaces. However, even the most aggressive cleaning of surfaces in an animal care facility won’t prevent the spread of upper respiratory infections, as they are airborne diseases. In order to control the spread of these types of diseases effectively, you must clean the air with a system designed to eradicate viruses, fungus, molds and more.
The Positive Benefits of Cleaning The Indoor Air
Properly cleaned and purified air is a great investment that you can make in the life of pet clientele. It will help mitigate airborne transmission of disease, ensuring that everything is being done to keep the dogs as healthy when they leave as when they arrived. Cleaning the air using proper air filters can also help in the elimination of fungal spores, microbes and pollen which have the potential to stimulate allergic reactions or other symptoms in animal care workers. Superior air quality means superior service – and it is also a great marketing message that can be used to set one facility apart from the others.
How to Choose the Right Air Cleaning System
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Centers for Disease Control & Prevention states ‘if portable units are used, they should recirculate all the room air through medical grade filters’. These systems should be capable of operating at noise levels that do not inhibit occupants from performing their necessary tasks, otherwise they will be ‘turned down’ which can negate their efficacy at cleaning the air. Effective systems also need to have multiple levels of filtration including physical filters, carbon filters and ultraviolet germicidal light (UVGI). When properly sized and used indoors, Medical Grade Standalone Air Purifiers are effective in destroying harmful microorganisms and odors in indoor air. This technology has proven to be effective in the healthcare industry, and recently it has become a best practice in the pet service sector.
