Kennels and Environment Flashcards
What are the positives and negatives of Locker-type Kennels?
\+ Space saver \+ Generally warmer and easier to heat \+ comforting to smaller patients \+ easier to deal with patients up at your level \+ Flexible sizes with partition walls - Too small for larger dogs - Fluid can run off to lower kennels - Have a small step up so patient has to be able
Describe the positives and negatives of a walk-in kennel?
\+ Better for larger dogs \+ Good for long-term patients \+ Easier for patients to get into - Take up a lot of space - Need more heating and more cleaning - Observations can be more difficult
Describe a general hospital kennel ward
Kennel should restrict movement and ensure cage rest
Avoid kennels facing each other
Easily cleaned i.e. non-absorbant
Have cobing - no corners in kennels
Should have storage and stock
Have facilities for hand-washing, table, o2 etc.
Describe recovery kennels
reduced noise and light to prevent light sensitivity on recovery need to be able to alter temperature Warm ambient temperature Need to be easy to monitor Near emergency supplies and assistance
Describe ICU/HDU kennels
variable lighting and heating
reduced noise
o2 supply
fancy kennels/incubators with own controls
constant monitoring
all treatment, monitoring and emergency equipment readily available
Describe isolation kennels
Facilitate barrier nursing
independently staffed
Footbath, PPE, separate cleaning facilities, waste disposal, drainage, air flow, feeding and treatment equipment
Effective communication and recording
Describe an ideal kennel suite
Separate wards for different species Kitchen and Laundry facilities Storage Isolation Access to other hospital area (good flow) Bathing/grooming area Examination area
Describe the positives and negatives of stainless steel
\+ Easy to clean \+ Smooth, easy to see if dirty \+ Good conductor of heat \+ Can buy already constructed \+ A lot of variation available \+ Low maintenance and maintenance cost - Noisy - Expensive initially - Long lifespan - Reflective so can disturb patients (especially cats)
Describe the positives and negatives of wood
\+ warm, retains heat \+ Cheap \+ Easy to put together - chewable - absorbent e.g. urine, blood - really difficult to clean - high maintenance - short lifespan
Describe the positives and negatives of plastic
\+ very warm and insulating \+ less noisy \+ cheaper than steel \+ easy to clean - stain - scratchable - creates grooves that are hard to clean
Describe the positives and negatives of concrete (commonly pre-moulded walk ins)
\+ relatively cheap way of creating kennels \+ easy to wash once coated - needs coating as absorbent to water - coating needs to be maintained - cold, hard substance - takes a while to heat up
What things need to be considered when designing the kennel area (apart from the actual kennels themselves)
Electricity supply Water supply Drainage Lighting Heating Ventilation Waste O2 supply
What kennel accessories are there?
Clipboards Drip hooks Medication Trays Bowls Glass fronts
Describe the 2 types of ventilation
- Active - requires energy
+ provides clean air
+ de-humidifies and removes some moisture
+effective in ensuring regular air exchange
2. Passive - natural ventilation \+ cost effective - No control over temperature - heat loss/ drafts - escape risk!
What is the ideal lighting?
Mixture of natural and artificial
Describe the 2 types of lighting
1. Artificial \+ allows 24hr work \+ essential for providing specific environments e.g. UV bulbs for exotics - electricity risk - shocks, burns etc - cost
- Natural
+no cost
+ exposure to daylight essential to some species e.g. birds
- hours of availability are limited
Describe the 4 ways of heating the practise
- Radiators
+ very effective and cost effective
- difficult to clean and create hotspots - Storage heater (concrete block)
+ Take a while to heat up
- can be expensive
- very variable room temperature - Underfloor heating
+ no hotspots, nice room distribution
- expensive initially
4. A/C \+ can heat and cool via air exchange \+ effect and dehumidifies air - can harbour bacteria - need a specialised engineer to service
What are some measures that can be taken to reduce noise?
- Sound-proofing
- Solid Doors
- Separate Facilities
- Away from neighbours
- Visual Barriers
- Pheromone Sprays
Describe the types of beds available
- Beanbags
+ Warm and comfortable and mould to shape
- not supportive
-easy to chew and difficult to clean - Plastic Bed
+ Washable and come in a range of sizes
- need blankets for warmth and comfort - Radiator cat bed
+ Cats love the warmth - Sleeping benches
+ Raised of cold floor - Wicker Baskets
+ Retain warmth
- difficult to clean and chewable
What are the ideal properties of bedding?
Good Insulator Soft Allows drainage of bodily fluid non-toxic easy to clean must not stain animal's coat non-chewable cost effective
Describe the types of bedding
- Blankets
+ cheap and warm
- expensive to buy
- difficult to sterilise - VetBed
+ drains fluid away from patent
+ comfy and warm
-expensive!
3. Covered Foam Pads \+ good for pressure sores and recumbent patients \+ can cover with waterproof materials - easily destroyed - difficult to launder
- Newspaper ( as a liner)
+ freely available
+ absorbant and disposable
- not warma nd can stain coat - Shredded Paper
+ Animal can rearrange themselves
+ freely available and easily disposed
- can stick to wounds and animal
6. Kennel Liner \+ Fluid soak into them \+ Easily disposed of \+ available for a variety of sizes - Not padded - Expensive and chewable
