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Chapter 4 Facility and Equipment Maintenance – Cleaning for Disease Control 71

Washer Glass Rubber
inside barrel plunge

FIGURE 4.24 Automatic dose syringe.
regular basis. Some vets will do it themselves as a stress cap is checked. It should bend easily and not feel hard.
reducer but some never get around to it because they are If it does, change it for a new one. The plunger has a
so busy or exhausted! Utilizing “moments in time” even rubber or silicone tip that can be changed if cracked
if it is just to go through the medications and check them and hard. A little mineral oil on the plunger stopper is
for outdates and/or clean out one compartment at a OK if it is difficult to put into the glass tube when reas-
time is better than never! Use a vacuum to remove the sembling it. Check these each time you clean the dose
big chunks and then spray each compartment with disin- syringe.
fectant and wipe dry with a paper towel after the contact
time has elapsed. Restock the compartment as necessary.

Halters, Ropes, Leashes, and Harnesses Reflection
Check all of these for tears or fraying (Figure 4.22). If With so many pieces of equipment to take care
they have metal pieces, check for cracks. If damaged, of, how do you envision learning more about
consult with the inventory manager as to what to do with the ones discussed and others that you may be
the damaged items. It is dangerous to use these items exposed to in a veterinary clinic?
when frayed, torn, or cracked as they can break
unexpectedly.
Feline restraint bags and nylon muzzles can be laun-
dered in the washing machine. Do not put them in with
towels as the self‐sticking straps get full of lint
(Figure 4.23). Plastic muzzles can be sprayed with a dis- Chapter Reflection
infectant and wiped dry after the contact time has
elapsed. All of these should be washed between patients. This chapter is all about cleaning and maintain-
ing the facility and equipment in a veterinary
Automatic Dosing Syringes practice. Share your thoughts about why the
clinic and equipment have to be maintained at
These “guns” come apart and the glass or plastic tube such a high level and how do you see yourself
can be cleaned with hot water and soap and rinsed participating in this monumental task.
thoroughly (Figure 4.24). The rubber gasket under the