Page 107 - JSOM Fall 2020

Applying the results of the study by Guo et al. to those OpK9 and fibrous nature of the K9’s hair, there is considered to be a
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teams working in an area densely populated with COVID-19– lower likelihood that simply touching or handling a K9 would
positive people, is it possible for an OpK9 to pick up and track present a significant exposure risk for contracting SARS-
the virus on their paw pads, similar to that of shoe soles of CoV-2. Furthermore, a rapid review of currently available
medical staff? Additionally, does used PPE (e.g., masks, gloves) scientific evidence did not identify any studies (out of nearly
contaminated with the virus and haphazardly discarded in the 100 reviewed) that evaluated fur, hair, skin, feathers, or hides
environment pose a risk of exposure to the OpK9 team (the as a source of transmission from domestic animals for SARS-
handler more so than K9)? These are questions that remain CoV-2, MERS-CoV, or SARS-CoV. Even if contaminated, it
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unanswered. is unclear whether the amount of virus (i.e., viral load) that
deposits onto the K9’s hair coat or tracked by their paw pads is
Although it seems evident that the virus may remain viable on even enough to infect a person who comes into direct contact
surfaces for some time, current evidence suggests that smooth, with them. Although the probability of fomite transmission
nonporous surfaces (e.g., kennels, bowls, tables, doorknobs, from an OpK9 to a human is unlikely, it is not necessarily zero;
light switches, countertops, handles) transmit viruses better therefore, for OpK9 teams operating in a environment with
than porous or fibrous materials (e.g., cardboard, clothing, high incidence of COVID-19 consider the following:
nylon collars or harnesses, canine hair). Porous and fibrous
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materials absorb and trap the virus, making it harder to con- • Performing an abbreviated decontamination (DECON)
tract by simply touching the object. Lai et al. studied the of the OpK9 immediately after every potential exposure,
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survival of SARS-CoV-1 on various surfaces and identified that work shift or cycle, and/or before entering any vehicle
impervious materials such as cotton absorbed droplets faster, and/or home.
thus decreasing infectivity when compared with objects that • DECON the more highly exposed areas of the OpK9
were more fluid repellent. Although not studied specifically (i.e., paws, lower, legs, underside) using the DECON
in relation to SARS-CoV-2, considering the many similarities protocol provided in Figure 1.
found between the stability and transmission of the two vi- • If the OpK9 is grossly contaminated with dirt, mud, hu-
ruses, there is no reason to conclude that SARS-CoV-2 would man waste, or other contaminants, it is recommended to
not have similar survival characteristics. Given the porous perform a full-body bath/shower using an appropriate

FIGURE 1 Key points for K9 decontamination (DECON) practices.
Always implement appropriate personal protective practices when handling a potentially contaminated K9:
• Don appropriate PPE (e.g., facemask, face shield or goggles, gloves)
• Wash your hands before and after any contact or handling your K9, their food, or supplies.
• Until decontaminated, avoid unnecessary contact with your K9; do not allow them to kiss or lick you, or rub up against you.
K9 DECON
• For teams working in contaminated environments (e.g., sewage, HAZMAT, swamps), consider a brief K9 DECON after each shift or work
cycle and/or prior to entering your vehicle and/or home.
• Unless grossly contaminated, daily or frequent (>1/week) whole-body bathing is not currently warranted. Daily bathing can cause drying
and cracking of your K9’s skin, leading to dermatitis/skin infections.
• In lieu of bathing, consider performing an abbreviated DECON involving a ‘spot’ or focal clean/disinfection of the more high-risk areas of
exposure for your K9 (e.g., paws, lower legs, underbelly region.)
Paws:
o Clean/disinfect with soap/shampoo and water and/or with a disinfectant that is safe for use on K9s.
o After allowing the appropriate contact time for the disinfectant used, thoroughly rinse and dry the paws.
o After drying, consider applying and massaging in a protective paw pad wax (e.g., Musher’s Secret Paw Wax) to maintain the durability of
the paw pads that may deteriorate from frequent washing.
Body/hair coat:
o Wipe down with a disposable towelette or towel soaked with an appropriate disinfectant (see below).
o Once the appropriate disinfectant contact time observed (e.g., 5–10 minutes), use another disposable towel/towelette (or similar item)
soaked with water to thoroughly wipe away any residue left by the disinfectant.
• Acceptable disinfectants to DECON your K9 that have some viricidal activity include: 2% chlorhexidine or 7.5% povidone-iodine (PVI)
(Betadine ) scrub diluted 1:4 with water prior to application.
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If chlorhexidine or PVI is not available, consider the following substitutes:
• Commercial, disposable K9-specific antibacterial wipes or soap/shampoo that is formulated for K9s
NOTE: Avoid commercial disinfectant wipes (e.g., Lysol ) or antibacterial wipes or soaps formulated for humans. These products, if used
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repeatedly, may damage the integrity of the K9’s skin and hair coat leading to drying, cracking, eroding, and infection; particularly, when used
repeatedly and long term.
Disinfecting Housing and Equipment:
• Routinely clean kennels, vehicles, bowls, equipment, outerwear, toys, and bedding:
o Use soap and water or an approved Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered household disinfectant are considered effective
against COVID-19. A list of EPA pre-approved products is available at https://www.americanchemistry.com/Novel-Coronavirus-Fighting
-Products-List.pdf
o “Soft” surfaces (e.g., clothing, collars, blankets): Launder items according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Use soap and water or
appropriate detergent in the warmest appropriate water setting. Consider disinfecting with an EPA-registered household disinfectant, but
ensure item is rinsed with warm water thoroughly and dried completely; especially if the item will come into contact with your K9’s skin.
o Additionally, the CDC website provides general recommendations for home and business disinfection to include cleaning and disinfection
of hard and soft surfaces and materials for infectious diseases, such as COVID19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare
/disinfecting-your-home.html.
Adapted from Palmer. Abbreviations: CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; COVID-19, coronavirus 2019 disease; HAZMAT,
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hazardous materials; PPE, personal protective equipment.
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