Kennel cleaning advice

I thought the recent spell of warm weather would present a good opportunity to clean and disinfect my kennels. What would you suggest using?

Germs thrive in damp, dirty conditions so it is very important to remove organic matter before applying a disinfectant. First, move out the dogs. Remove all food and water bowls, bedding and toys. Soak bowls in disinfectant, then rinse and air-dry each item.

Scrub the kennel with hot soapy water. Use a stiff brush and clean all surfaces of the kennel and run, including floors, walls, doors and resting boards. Rinse it all off.

Apply disinfectant diluted according to instructions. Good ones include quaternary ammonium compounds, such as benzalkonium chloride (found in many household disinfectants), Parvocide and Virkon. Parvocide and Virkon are effective against most common canine viruses.

You could also use bleach (one part bleach to 30 parts water). Allow the disinfectant to stand before rinsing it off — at least 10 minutes in summer, longer in winter. Finally, rinse the kennel with hot water and allow everything to dry. TB