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Taking the Fear out of Disinfection

Until recently, disinfection was considered to be a necessary evil, killing infectious microbes at the cost of exposing pets and people to harsh chemical odors. Disinfectants with unpronounceable names, such as sodium hypochlorite (bleach), quaternary ammonium compounds (QUATs), and potassium peroxymonosulfate, may have been the industry standard for a long time, but just like any other aspect of animal health, we always strive to do better for our pets and create a more positive experience for them in and out of the vet clinic.Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide® (AHP®) technology had been used extensively in human healthcare to kill some of the toughest pathogens while putting patient safety at the forefront. When Virox Animal Health saw the same need for veterinary care, they knew that AHP would be a perfect fit to help protect people and animals while reducing fear, stress, and anxiety in a veterinary hospital. That led to the creating of Rescue, a disinfectant specifically tailored to protect companion animals and the people who care for them.

While traditional disinfectants have been a trade-off between safety and efficacy, Rescue eliminates the need to make this choice. Rescue’s safety profile, coupled with the lack of harsh chemical odor, realistic contact times, and superior cleaning powers, can help your facility along its journey in becoming Fear Free.

Reducing FAS in the disinfection process doesn’t, however, mean a loss of efficacy. AHP disinfection covers all the bases in a Fear Free approach to animal health. These include:

1. Other chemicals like bleach and QUATs can be harsh. We all know that from experience, but we might not realize that bleach can cause serious skin and eye irritation and respiratory illness1. QUATs, although safer than bleach, have been associated with asthma and can also be irritating to the eyes and skin2. Rescue kills those tough-to-kill pathogens, but its gentle formulation is non-toxic and non-irritating for the safety of your patients, staff, and clients.

2. Bleach and QUATs can often take up to 10 minutes of contact time to kill pathogens, which can really slow down your practice. When was the last time you waited 10 minutes for a disinfectant to do its job before wiping it off? Not to mention the fact that these chemicals may not stay wet on the surface for long enough to meet this contact time. Rescue has realistic contact times, ranging from 30 seconds to 5 minutes. Furthermore, its wetting agents help make sure that it stays wet long enough to disinfect. This means less product used, less waiting between patients, and a more efficient practice overall.

3. Rescue has broad-spectrum bactericidal and viricidal claims against the vast majority of pathogens we encounter in the veterinary setting, so you can be confident that even the toughest pathogens don’t stand a chance. AHP also has none of the odors associated with chemical disinfection, preventing additional stress to our patients during their visit.

4. Cleaning power. Many older disinfectant chemistries have been poor cleaners and were only able to kill pathogens on surfaces that had been pre-cleaned with soap and water. AHP contains powerful detergents, which break down soil and allow it to work in the presence of organic material. This brings cleaning and disinfection into one easy step, saving valuable time and resources along the way. Rescue is also a natural odor eliminator, which may help get rid of some of the smells that can contribute to fear, stress, and anxiety within your clinic.

References

      1. 1. Acute Antimicrobial Pesticide-Related Illnesses Among Workers in Health Care Facilities – California, Louisiana, Michigan, and Texas, 2002-2007. CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. May 14, 2010.
        2. Omidbakhsh N, Sattar SA. (2006). Broad-spectrum microbicidal activity, toxicologic assessment, and materials compatibility of a new generation of accelerated hydrogen peroxide-based environmental surface disinfectant. AJIC 34(5), 251-257.

This article is brought to you in collaboration with our friends at Virox.This article is brought to you in collaboration with our friends at Virox/Rescue Disinfectants.

Fear Free Success Story: Too Much Time? Not So Fast!

Kim Campbell Thornton

We’ve all heard nay-sayers complain that Fear Free techniques take too much time. But is that really true? We went to an expert to find out.

Using Fear Free techniques can require additional time, no doubt about it, but in the long run they can save time and reduce stress. Smart scheduling is the secret, says Fear Free Certified hospital manager Taryn Lambert at VCA Manito Animal Hospital in Spokane, Washington.

Extra Time Pays Off

Fear Free success relies on allowing animals more time to become accustomed to being in the exam room and the presence of technicians and the veterinarian. It means making time for Victory Visits or fun visits so that pets associate the clinic with good treats, good times, and good friends. As Lambert says, it’s important to make deposits into a patient’s “trust account.”

But that doesn’t mean adding hours to the day. At VCA Manito, advising clients about the best times to bring in pets for fun visits, planning which patients come in when, and explaining desensitization and counterconditioning techniques all contribute to a smooth-running hospital.

For instance, “happy visits” for anxious pets are encouraged. They can come in, get treats, and maybe get weighed.

“I just let them know, ‘If you see that we look like Costco parking lot, that probably is not the day to come in and weigh your pet,’” Lambert says. “But otherwise, you just come on in.”

Careful Planning

Patient records note the animal’s typical FAS score. If it’s a 4 or 5, an additional 15 minutes is scheduled for the appointment.

“We know which ones take time and which ones don’t, and we schedule accordingly,” Lambert says. “If I have a whole bunch of zeroes and ones, those pets are going to go a lot faster. I would not have five fives in a row. That is not strategic scheduling.”

Receptionists play a key role. They manage the logistics of patient flow to ensure that bottlenecks don’t develop. The result is less stress for team members.

Messaging Matters

Communication with clients is also an important part of Fear Free time management. If arrival of an emergency case has veterinarians running late, clients may be called and asked if they’d like to come in a little later or reschedule the appointment. That ensures that they don’t have to put their dog or cat in the car, drive to the clinic, and then have to wait for an extended period before being seen. That’s less stressful for all the animals and humans involved.

Clients are also more willing to return for additional visits if they think it will result in less FAS for their pets. Take nail trims, the bane of most pet owners—and their pets. Lambert says VCA Manito has begun “bundling” nail trims into multiple visits, using desensitization and counterconditioning techniques to get pets through the procedure without fuss and teach them that it doesn’t have to hurt or be scary.

“Pets come in five to nine times,” she says. “The owners do not mind this. You would think that owners will not come back, but yes, they do.”

Implementing Fear Free may take more time upfront and it can require more time for certain patients, but overall it’s a win for veterinarians, staff, clients, and most important, pets.

“I can’t imagine ever not doing Fear Free,” Lambert says. “I think once you understand it and actually walk the walk, it just changes your view.”

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Effects and Management of Chronic Pain

Course Overview

This course will discuss chronic pain, its causes, and its impact on animals’ wellbeing. It will include case studies, as well as a discussion of alternative and complementary treatment.

This course, approved for 1 RACE CE hour, was written by Dr. Michael Petty, DVM, CVPP, CVMA, CCRT, CAAPM.

There are six lessons in this course.

Lesson 1: Review of Causes of Chronic Pain
Lesson 2: A Brief Discussion of Acute vs. Chronic Pain
Lesson 3: Measuring Chronic Pain
Lesson 4: Effects of Chronic Pain
Lesson 5: Pain Cases
Lesson 6: Alternative and Complementary Treatments

This course is endorsed by the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management.

Analgesic Medications and the Pain Pathway

Course Overview

This course will teach you how to maximize the efficacy of your analgesic protocols. You will learn how and where core and adjunctive medications work along the pain pathway, and the importance of multimodal analgesia.

This course, approved for 1 RACE CE hour, was written by Dr. Tamara Grubb, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVAA.

There are four lessons in this course.

Lesson 1: Pain and Analgesia: Introduction and Integration into Fear Free
Lesson 2: Pain Pathway: Where Do Analgesic Medications Work?
Lesson 3: Core Medications for Treatment of Acute Pain
Lesson 4: Adjunctive Medications and Techniques for Treating Acute Pain

This course is endorsed by the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management.

 

 

Analgesic Protocols for Acute Pain: Case-Based

Course Overview

This course provides specific protocols for treating patients experiencing a variety of acute pain conditions, including various surgeries, trauma, dentistry, and more. We will look at several case examples typical of what you might encounter in daily practice.

This course, approved for 1 RACE CE hour, was written by Dr. Tamara Grubb, DVM, PhD, Diplomate ACVAA.

There are three lessons in this course.

Lesson 1: Designing Analgesic Protocols: Importance and Strategies
Lesson 2: Analgesic Protocols for Elective Soft-Tissue Surgery and Dentistry
Lesson 3: Analgesic Protocols for Urgent Soft Tissue and Orthopedic Surgery, Trauma and Medical Conditions

This course is endorsed by the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management.

 

 

The Business of Pain Management

Course Overview

This course empowers you to begin or increase your pain management business by offering suggested improvements to both the culture and physical layout of your clinic. It will discuss skills you might want to consider learning, how to effectively communicate with clients, and ways to acquire new pain patients.

This course, approved for 1 RACE CE hour, was written by Dr. Michael Petty, DVM, CVPP, CVMA, CCRT, CAAPM.

This course consists of five lessons.

Lesson 1: Acquiring a “Pain Attitude”
Lesson 2: The Clinic
Lesson 3: Skill Sets to Consider
Lesson 4: Treatment Goals and Outcome Measures
Lesson 5: Acquiring Patients

This course is endorsed by the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management.

 

How Scent Affects Patients and Clients in the Clinic

Susan M. Ewing

Both dogs and cats rely heavily on scent to interpret their surroundings while humans rely more on sight. Blindfold a human just before a visit to a doctor or emergency room, and the stress level would be higher than if the person could see, but most people would at least be able to hear and understand what was happening in the way of treatment. We can’t explain to our pets what is happening, or why they are in a hospital. Take away their sense of smell and you’ve taken away their ability to interpret their world, adding more stress to an already stressful situation. By understanding the effects of scents, you can help them stay calm.

Ban Bleach

No one intentionally stops a dog or cat from smelling, but disinfectants can do just that. Bleach and other disinfectants with a harsh odor can make a pet “nose blind,” creating stress when they try, and fail, to learn about their environment. In one study, “Minimising Stress for Patients in the Veterinary Hospital: Why It Is Important and What Can be Done About It” (published online in Veterinary Sciences, April 13, 2017), lead author Janice K.F. Lloyd cites Karen L. Overall, VMD, in the Manual of Behavioral Medicine for Dogs and Cats: “A solution of bleach, even as low as 1 percent, can destroy olfactory neurones, resulting in a loss of information and heightening anxiety.”

While disinfecting is essential, using one that doesn’t have a harsh odor may help to lessen the negative effect on a pet’s nose. At Applebrook Animal Hospital in Ooltewah, Tennessee, Kathryn Primm, DVM, uses Rescue disinfectant, a hydrogen peroxide product with little odor, which also dries quickly.

Scents From Other Animals

When pets are able to smell, identifying stress in other animals can increase their own level of stress. Secondarily, humans may also experience some stress when smelling clinic odors. Most pets are quick to respond to their owners’ emotions, and if that emotion is stress, it’s going to affect the pet.

“When we have bad odors suddenly, like anal glands,” says Dr. Primm, “it is critical that they be cleaned and deodorized completely, or they will cause fear in all the pets that perceive them.” For those kinds of odors, Primm uses K.O.E. (Kennel Odor Eliminator) by Thornell, a product that quickly eliminates odors and comes in a concentrate, a spray, and individual wipes.

Sometimes, when possible, opening a window can help. Many pets will become distracted from their environment as they process scents from outdoors. Synthetic pheromones may also help to calm a dog or cat. Plug-in pheromone diffusers may reduce stress in a waiting room, and doctors or technicians can spray their clothes with the pheromones. Use diffusers or sprays with caution around birds and fish.

Many people appreciate the calming effects of lavender and chamomile, and both of these scents seem to calm pets, too. Be careful how you use them, though. Certain diffused essential oils can cause some respiratory distress in cats so use them with caution, and alert clients to the risks of active diffusers in the home to pets.

With so many pets depending on their noses for information, it makes sense to pay attention to scents.

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Reducing Dog Bites by Understanding the Secret Language of Dogs

Reducing Dog Bites by Understanding the Secret Language of Dogs

Dog bites and injury to veterinarians, staff, and pet professionals are often considered an occupational hazard. Many of the situations that may result in a dog bite can be prevented by understanding the language and emotions of dogs.

Celebrity dog trainer and author Victoria Stilwell discusses dog body language, behavior, and how to safely interact with dogs as part of National Dog Bite Prevention Week.

Stilwell is joined by State Farm Brand Specialist Heather Paul, who discusses dog bite insurance claims data for 2018, dog bite liability, and how the insurance company is working to reduce dog-related injuries as a member of the Dog Bite Prevention Coalition.

Sponsored by State Farm

Reducing Fear in Veterinary Dentistry for Pets & Pet Owners

Reducing Fear in Veterinary Dentistry for Pets & Pet Owners

In this webinar, Heidi Lobprise, DVM, Diplomate AVDC, will show you how to apply the core concepts of Fear Free to make sure pets get the dental care they need. Sponsored by Zoetis.

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