Discharge, Bathing, and Cleaning

Moving Dogs Out of Parvo

Dogs must leave parvo within 48hrs of testing negative. Dogs will leave parvo by one of three ways: getting adopted; going to foster; or being moved to a kennel. 

The latest that dogs can be intaked by the Parvo staff is 4pm. 

Dogs are housed based on their category upon exiting parvo and their group upon entering.  If Distemper Watch - foster or Distemper Watch kennels. If no label, than can go anywhere onsite. Dogs from Group 1 can be considered for Tarrytown. If the Parvo Ward is full, group 2 can be considered for TT with vet approval.

Going to Foster

If a dog is going to foster, the Foster team will send an email to confirm a time. Respond to let them know if the time works, or ask to reschedule. Get the dog bathed out following the ‘Bathe Out Protocol’ below at least 30 minutes before pick up, an hour preferred. 

Moving to a Kennel, Tarrytown, or other TLAC Location

If kennels are available, or there is a space at Tarrytown, the Intake Coordinator will assign placement for the negative dogs on the Negative and Places spreadsheet.  Bath outs can occur between 12pm-6pm. After the dog is bathed out following the ‘Bathe Out Protocol’ below, Parvo staff will walk the dog to the assigned kennel and set up the kennel with water, a toy, and a blanket. Dog team will clean the kennel prior to bath out. Parvo Staff will record the name of the dog, No walk, and label Puppy on the whiteboard in Puppy row. 

Going to Adopter

If an adopter is interested in a puppy Building B will direct them to a clinic. Reception will confirm with the Parvo staff that someone is available to show the puppy to the adopter. If the puppy is in Ward 1, prop the Clinic/Parvo door open to hold the puppy for adopters (If a larger dog, use a slip leash to bring them to the door. Do not let the dog cross over onto the clean side.  Potential adopters may touch the dog if wearing gloves (which must be thrown into the ward to be disposed of when finished).

Building B will notify Parvo via email if the person decides to adopt so that the dog can be bathed out following the ‘Bathe Out Protocol’ below. Adoptions can only occur between noon and 4pm every day. If it is out of this time frame, adopters will be instructed to return tomorrow between noon and 4pm and notify Parvo through email of the need to bathe the puppy out tomorrow.

Full doc here. 

This document contains the protocols for discharging, bathing and cleaning dogs and the associated equipment when they leave the ICU. Full doc here.

Discharge Protocol

Once a dog has tested negative for the virus and has been assigned a kennel or foster:

1. The Parvo staff will enter any medications needed into Wait While. Parvo staff will fill out the Post Parvo Intake sheet and place in the changing room on the floor. A Parvo staff member will scrub out and complete the bath out and intake exam.

2.  Inside the ward a Parvo Tech will scan the paperwork with the app CamScanner. Page 1 is your  intake form. Page 2 is the treatment sheet. If  there is more than one treatment sheet place in order by date.  Once all pages are uploaded rename the document.  Ex: ParvoNotes_Petsname_A#. Share the document with Clinicrecords@.

Go into the parvo.manager account and download the document you emailed to yourself to the computer.  Then complete the parvo discharge form. The link is in the toolbar section. Once the discharge form is complete, attach the treatment sheet document to the form and submit.  Staple the papers together and file in the records box. File under the month that the dog arrived in Parvo.

1. Bathe: Follow the bathing protocol to remove all traces of the virus. (See protocol below).

2. Clean: Clean, scrub and disinfect the patients cage, preparing it for the next patient (see protocol below).

Bathing Protocol

The following is the procedure for bathing a puppy upon discharge:

When a post-parvo dog needs to exit ward, the Parvo team will complete the bath out and 

Only 1 PPV dog is allowed in the PPV hallway at any time. Litters or kennel mates can be together; this is the only exception.

Clinic or parvo bather will set up a kennel in the PPV hallway for the bathe-out. The kennel must be clean, dry, and entirely wrapped in 1) Surgical Drape or 2) Thick, dry towels.

A ‘Post Parvo Ward Intake Record’ needs to be filled out by a Parvo Tech for every dog that leaves the ward.

• Microchip: Leave the microchip section blank, 

• Only mark Signs of URI/Fur if there are issues. If none noticed, leave blank for the intaker to double check and decide.

Double check both the ‘Treatment’ section under the ‘Medical’ tab in the dog’s ShelterLuv profile, their parvo notes, and their previous medical records so they do not get double dosed on any of the following:

• Rabies: Needed if 3 months or older and no certificate of one given previously,

• DAPP: Needed if none received, or has been 14+ days since last given. Not needed if the dog is 8 months or older and has received 2 DAPPs already,

• Bordetella: Needed if none already given,

• Heartworm Test: Needed if dog is 6 months or older and has no test on record,

• Heartworm Preventative: Needed if 6 weeks or older and no record of it given previously,

• Strongid: all dogs receive this once at bath out

• Flea Meds: Needed if none given in the last 30 days.

In the ‘Exam Notes’ section, include Distemper status, medication that the dog needs continued upon exiting the ward (e.g., Doxycycline 100 mg/ml 1.5ml PO SID x7), and any other important information. If a dog was group tested and non-symptomatic, write that it is ‘Periparvo’. Put the pickup time or kennel number in the bottom right corner of the page. 

1. Bather puts on gloves and a moisture-resistant gown, receives pup from Parvo team and puts directly into the tub. 

If bathing out a dog alone: 

1. 1. 1.  Change into street clothes

      2.  Put on gown and gloves, step out of street shoes into parvo shoes (or wear shoe covers if in non-slip on shoes)

      3.  Being careful not to touch anything, go into the Parvo Ward and grab the dog

      4.  Step out of parvo shoes into street shoes (or remove shoe covers), and place the dog into the tub.

2. Fully bathe the puppy paying close attention to feet/nails/rump/tail/ears to clear pup of all organic material such as feces and vomit. 

   1.  Trim nails

   2.  Scrub feet with a brush

   3.  Rinse

   4.  2nd full bath

   5.  2nd rinse

   6.  Towel dry

3. Place the wet towel in the dirty laundry bin.

4. Pup is put into a prepared kennel and all draping is replaced to cover kennel 100%.

5. Parvo tech will then carry the dog to the kennel and set it up, write the information on the white board in puppy row, and notify dog intake that the puppy is in the kennel.

No new dogs should enter the ward while a pup is being bathed out. If a new intake needs to enter the ward while a pup awaits intake, ensure the bathe-out is 100% covered in 1) Surgical Drape 2) Dry, thick towels BEFORE a new dog comes through.

Remaining gowned and gloved, the tub and kennel should be cleared of all organic material such as feces, vomit, and hair. Dry the sink and kennel with clean towel and place in the dirty laundry bin. You may now discard your gown and gloves. Spray sink and kennel down with Rescue and  let sit 10 minutes, wipe free.  Remove all towels from the kennel, including the towels that drape the kennel. Spray sink and kennel down with 1:32 dilution Bleach: water, let sit 10 minutes, wipe free. 

Cage Cleaning Protocol

Cage cleaning protocol can be found here.