Choosing Better Veterinary Care

Human hospitals have to be sterile places. If they are not, people get infections and illnesses and die. Likewise, a veterinary hospital must also be sterile. This may seem strange, considering the fact that pets are not sterile or clean creatures in general. However, there are still methods and reasons for keeping a vet hospital clean and sterile.

Why a Vet Hospital Has to Be Sterilized

Pets are living creatures. They can just as easily contract illnesses and diseases like humans. For example, did you know that hamsters can contract colds and flu from people? Or that distemper in cats is spread through droplets and sneezing? If any pets of the same species were to pick up these contagions from other animals that have left these bacteria, viruses, or fungi behind, then other peoples' pets would become ill too. A vet hospital is about making your pet healthy, and not making it sicker. Hence, the vet technicians and assistants spend most of their time wiping down and washing the equipment, exam rooms, and waiting rooms after each and every pet visit/exam.

What Is Used for Sterilization

Special pet-safe cleaners have been developed to kill anything on any surface that could make other pets sicker. These cleaners are in spray bottles for easier application and cleaning. Floor cleaners are sold in large gallon-size bottles and are heavily concentrated because they are meant to be diluted in a mop bucket.

If a pet urinates or defecates within the hospital, a bucket of cleaner has to be located nearby to clean up the mess right away. Mop heads have to be washable or disposable, and they cannot be reused after cleaning up one mess. A fresh bucket of cleaner is recommended for every pet mess on the floor. 

How the Vet Hospital Is Sterilized

The waiting room is sterilized every hour if there are a lot of pets and people coming and going. Otherwise, it is sterilized and cleaned after each potentially contagious pet comes in. The exam rooms and exam tables are cleaned and sanitized after every pet, to remove any possibility of spreading sickness or infection. All small metal and surgical objects are sterilized in an autoclave, just like they do in a tattoo parlor or a human hospital. Surgery rooms are sterilized and cleaned immediately after every pet surgery in order to prepare them for the next pet surgery and reduce potentially fatal infections from occurring.

For more information, contact a vet office like Buck Road Animal Hospital.