Dog Breeders: Keeping Your Kennel Clean and Safe

Dogs are not afraid of getting dirty, and so you will see them digging holes, wrestling with each other, and even rolling around if they smell something fresh. These actions will have your dog getting a dirty coat, and in some cases, a smelly coat. These actions are also good as they indicate your dog is healthy and happy. 

If you are a dog breeder, cleaning up after your dog's fun is not the best part of having these four-legged friends. It is an important piece of your business, however, if you want to continue raising healthy and happy pets. 

Your dog's health is not the only reason you want to keep your dogs and kennels clean. If your kennels have soiled laundry in them or old dog bedding, and they smell or appear dirty in any manner, you are sending a bad message to prospective buyers. Prospective buyers look closely at the condition of your kennels as it tells them a lot about how well you've cared for their potential pet. When you do not create a consistent cleaning routine, you not only send a bad message to potential clients, you also put your dog's health at risk. 

Risks of Not Keeping Your Kennel Clean and Safe

When dogs live in dirty kennels, they become susceptible to numerous infections. One of the most severe is Parvovirus or parvo. Parvo affects your dog's gastrointestinal tract. This deadly disease is spread by direct contact with other infected dogs or by contact with contaminated feces. 

Another deadly infection your dogs will be susceptible to when living in a dirty kennel is a canine coronavirus. This infection also attacks the intestinal area and is especially dangerous for puppies. While this form of coronavirus is typically short-lived, it can cause severe abdominal discomfort. This infection is also spread when a dog comes into contact with infected fecal matter. This is another significant reason to keep your dog's kennels clean. 

 Staphylococcus or staph is another outcome of not keeping kennels clean. If a dog develops staph their symptoms run from excessively licking themselves, scratching, or as severe as chewing part of their body and making their skin incredibly irritated. Staph is a common reaction to fleas, or if a dog develops allergies. This infection can also develop when a dog lives in an unclean environment. 

If your dogs are living in unclean kennels, then their food is at risk of getting contaminated. E-Coli can affect dogs the same as people when they eat or drink contaminated water or food. Dogs can also contract illnesses from contaminated or stagnant water. Water that has come into contact with water that contains urine from other animals is especially dangerous to a dog's health and can cause them to develop bacterial and fungal infections. 

Cleaning Often is the Key

The longer you leave a surface to stay dirty, the more germs will reproduce and grow. When your dogs come into contact with these germs, they are likely to develop an infection. Some of these infections, such as distemper, can take up to four weeks to appear. Your dog and puppies may appear healthy, however, if raised in dirty kennels, they can carry an infection without becoming ill right away. 

Wash Away Dirt Before Disinfecting

Before you disinfect your kennels, you want to wash away the visible dirt and grime. Pick up any clumps of dirt, leaves, hair, or any other debris. If there is any vomit or feces in the kennel, you will want to scrub the spots where it was found. Use a soapy mixture to break it up, so the disinfectant can fully penetrate the mess. 

This task may not be pleasant, but then it is not pleasant for your animals to live in this mess, and it is definitely not healthy for them. These types of dirt and debris will also breed germs, which can also lead to infection of your dogs. 

Clean Kennels From Top to Bottom

There are many ways for infection-causing viruses and bacteria to spread. Many think that cleaning the floor of their kennels is sufficient and will rid it of viruses and bacteria. The truth is, you need to clean the walls, doors, and ceilings as well. If you start with the floor, the bacteria and viruses from the ceiling and walls will drip down onto the floor, infecting it again. 

Start your kennel cleaning at the top and work your way down to the floor, so you don't spread the germs around. If you are only cleaning the floor of the kennels, it is a waste of time. Disinfecting and sanitizing kennels has to be done thoroughly in order to keep your dogs healthy. 

Cleaning your kennels with bleach is the first choice for disinfecting them against the dangers to your dog's health. Bleach is a commonly used disinfectant according to the ASPCA and the Humane Society. This product is safe for dog kennels when you dilute it properly and thoroughly rinse the kennel. Once you are done cleaning, allow the kennels to air dry so the bleach odor does not irritate their airways and sinuses. 

Clean and Disinfect Mess Between Deep Cleans

If your puppy gets sick or has an accident, you must clean it up effectively. Before you disinfect the area where the mess is found, you should remove as much of the mess as possible, and only use the disinfectant after all solids are removed. 

Comprehensive deep kennel cleanings should be performed every few weeks with some spot cleanings in between. Just as you clean your home, kennel cleaning needs to be done in levels; some on the spot, others weekly, some rarely, and some every month.

Dogs and puppies also need to be bathed to ensure they are clean as well as the kennels they live in. Command Shampoo is a veterinary shampoo that contains sodium hypochlorite and effectively and gently cleans your dogs and puppies. 

Where to Learn More About Caring For Your Pets

Vetrimax improves the lives of pet owners and their pets. We use patented, proven, and unique products that will help in the treatment of animals. We work with vets, groomers, breeders, pet owners, and anyone involved in the care of animals. Talk to one of our expert staff members if you have a concern about treating your pet. 


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