Regular and quality disinfection with appropriate preparations is necessary not only in any modern home or office, it is also needed in places with high traffic such as office buildings, public transport, hospitals, hotels and shops. Owners and employees must adhere to state-established disinfection and hygiene practices designed to reduce and minimize the risk of introduction and spread of pathogens, viruses and harmful microorganisms.

The steps that can be taken are different. But in this article, we’ve selected basic ones that pet stores and veterinary clinics can take to reduce the risk of spreading infections such as SARS-CoV-2.

Cleaning and disinfection of the premises

Hygienic measures, including cleaning and disinfection in veterinary clinics and shops, must be carried out in all available premises:

– rooms, halls and cages for initial and subsequent accommodation of the animals;

– main rooms, reception for clients;

– auxiliary and service rooms for employees;

– rooms, halls for isolation of sick animals;

– premises for food preparation or storage;

– auxiliary rooms for cleaning and disinfection of the equipment;

– commercial area on which the items for sale are located.

Usually in pet stores and veterinary clinics, the ceiling and walls are shockproof and waterproof so that they can be cleaned without difficulty. The flooring is also smooth, but at the same time the surface is not slippery, which allows easy sanitation. It is important that the products used are not harmful to animal health. For surface disinfection, we suggest you trust PACHICO SCOT PL. The concentrate has bactericidal, fungicidal, virucidal and sporocidal action. Aqueous working solutions are prepared from it. The treatment is carried out by spraying, wiping or immersion.

Veterinary establishments must also be provided with appropriate purification and ventilation systems to ensure the necessary amount of clean and fresh air. This will help to neutralize the dust particles faster and will eliminate the stagnation of infectious agents. It will also remove excessive heat and moisture, which are conducive to the development and spread of infectious viruses and harmful microorganisms.

It is necessary to comply with certain standards for cleaning, disinfection and disposal of waste of animal origin in accordance with veterinary and sanitary requirements. Special attention should be paid to the disinfection of animal cells. Animal feeders, drinkers and bedding should be washed and changed regularly, as they retain harmful parasites that can lead to the spread of infections.

Personal hygiene and staff protection

To avoid infections and their spread, it is extremely important to take care of the premises in the veterinary shop or clinic, but personal hygiene and protection of staff is just as important. For starters, every employee should start by practicing proper hand hygiene. Team members should wash their hands regularly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer may be used. We recommend that you use PACHICO AHD GEL disinfectant, which is available in different packages and is ready for use. It is intended for the treatment of the skin and the area of ​​the hands, having bactericidal, fungicidal and virucidal action.

Another piece of advice we would give you is to require all people in the site to put on masks properly, covering their mouth and nose tightly with it. Wearing a mask does NOT replace the need to practice social distancing. It is also a good idea to provide your staff with clean masks for employees to use when they get wet or dirty. In addition to masks, provide them with disposable gloves to protect their skin. To protect people from body fluids released during sneezing, coughing or talking, place physical barriers.

In our opinion, it is useful to encourage your employees to stay at home if they have symptoms corresponding to COVID-19 and to take steps to prevent the spread of the virus. To avoid a large crowd in the veterinary shop or clinic, reorganize your work schedule and time. Plan social distancing and avoid overcrowding on the site, including in animal and staff areas only. Use signs, tape, or other visual elements to tell people where to stand when putting up physical barriers is impossible.

Take care of your team’s safety thanks to Pachico products. They are highly efficient, specially developed in our laboratory and covering all quality and safety standards. At the same time, they combine excellent hygienic and disinfectant properties for easy, fast and professional maintenance and cleanliness in your pet store or veterinary clinic. Browse our online store to choose detergents and biocides designed for your field of activity or contact us for an individual hygiene plan.