Keeping a clean yard

[Dansgrizz]

I can't stress enough how important keeping a clean yard is!!!


For those of you who don't know what a clean yard is that means no trash(obvious reasons), no chewed to bits toys(choking hazards), no weeds (foxtails are exepensive!), spotless waterbowls, sanitary food bowls, PICK UP SHIT often(it's unsanitary and attracts flies and even yellow jackets or wasps), make sure your fences are in good repair, check your hardware as often as possible!(multiple times a day).

Daily yard walks are important and they keep your dogs safe and you safe from the AC. A clean yard is a sanitary yard and a safe yard, it promotes good health abd will be easier to keep your dogs safe, healthy, and parasite free.

I'd love if folks would contribute more... Later I will add to this thread with detailed tips such as cedar chips, seven dust, diatomacious earth, fly traps etc....


KEEP A CLEAN YARD!!!!

[Peanutsmommy]

also, if you have plants be sure they are all pet safe! or are fenced so that they can't get into them. some plants are highly toxic to animals. if you have fruit dropping clean it up almost all pits contain a small amout of cyianide.wigs t
watch your low trees or bushes for twigs that can poke a dog in the eye (i have worked with a woman who's dog lost an eye to running into a twig in a tree). pick up any yard clippings they can be dangerous if ingested.

[SMThe]

I use fly predators to keep flies under control; they work really well and can be ordered from Spalding Labs or Arbico.

[smith family kennels]

repair damages to dog houses and equipment as soon as possible. Sharp objects sticking from damaged dog houses can injury your dog. Including Nails, broken wood or plastic. Ripped shingles or plastic can also be ingested by your dog causing damage and even death. broken and badly wore equipment should be replaced immedately to prevent injury or accidents. All ways keep back up hardware and collars.

Water containers can be a varity of different things but if they were previously used for other things need to be throughly washed multiple times with bleach and antibacterial soap to remove all toxics and bacteria. All badly worn water containers need to be replaced. chewed up plastic and such holds bacteria as well and with summer temp it grows and spreads quickly.

In the heat Water containers need to not only be changed frequently but also washed daily with soap and water to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungus.

all come up with more later

[Dansgrizz]

Today i will discuss sanitary bedding for your animals... Although blankets and beds are very comfy they are usually unsanitary to keep in outside houses.... I will reccomend cedar chips as straw has evil ways of sneaking into nooks and crannies (imagine a piece of straw in your penis, vagina, or anus OUCH).

Buy yourself a 2 cubic foot bag of Cedar Shavings and a 5 LB bag of Seven Dust 5% solution(available at walmart etc...) MAKE SURE ITS 5% and NOT HIGHER!!! This should cover about 3 dog houses worth. Mix thoroughly in a wheel barrow or barrel. This is a good sanitary bedding when changed often and it kills fleas in the process. Cedar by itself kills fleas, so does 7 Dust. Together you have a potent non toxic flea killing bedding!!

Cedar Chips
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww39/danlee123456/c39cb6efbdf0d82417508ed469a35e3b.jpg

Sevin 5 Dust

http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww39/danlee123456/seven_dust.jpg

[Dansgrizz]

In this weeks installment in "Keeping a Clean Yard" we will be discussing KENNEL DISINFECTANTS.

Lets go over some different lingo:

DISINFECTANT: used on an inanimate object.
ANTISEPTIC: used on living tissue
SANITIZE: to reduce microbes to a safe level
STERILIZE: to destroy ALL microbes

These definitions are to help understand what we are doing and what our goals are when we are doing it.

Our first item of discussion is NOLVASAN. The family of disenfectants known as NOLVASAN can kill bacteria, virus, and fungi on everything from kennels, to crates, to wounds, eyes and ears. Its active ingredient(chlorhexidine diacetate) is even used to santize and brush teeth! NOLVASAN is the only product i will be discussing that is both a DISINFECTANT and ANTISPETIC.

Nolvasan is one of the only EPA-registered chlorhexidine disinfectants. What makes Nolvasan different from other premises dissinfectants is that it is NON CORROSIVE. Where any other commercial grade dissinfectant cant come in contact with human or animal skin, Nolvasan causes little to NO irritation. ALSO it has the unique property of cilling micorbial life in the presence of organic matter AND its unique binding to skin proteins causes it to provide effects for up to 2 DAYS!

Nolvasan is used in a solution of 3oz of Nolvasan to 1 gallon of water, mix, put in spray bottle and apply. A larger yard should keep a large garden sprayer full of this on hand for whole kennels and a small spray bottle for ring worm, yeast infections, flush out eyes and ears, and a Nolvasan paste is available for eye outment and toothpaste.
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww39/danlee123456/nolvasan.jpg

NEXT....

TRIFECTANT. Tirifectant may be the best commercially available PREMISES DISINFECTANT. It CAN NOT be used on skin or wounds but as a total kennel disinfectant and sterilization tool it works well. It killes 99.99% of bacteria, virus, and fungi that might be on your yard... INCLUDING PARVO VIRUS. It is fairly economical also as a 10lb pail makes 123 gallons of solution! Instructions are on pail for mixing information....

You will find Trifectant in vet hospitals, and shelters all across america. There are no special disposal precautions with this disinfectant. Kills parvo virus, kennel cough, bacteria, fungi, distemper, corona virus, and more. Remains stable for 7 days in water, so can be made in weekly batches. This is a very safe solution for disinfecting your inanimate objects in your yard and for soaking tools that need to be sterilized.
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww39/danlee123456/trifectant.jpg

A common tool to the kennel owner is

CLOROX BLEACH
Clorox (chlorine) bleach is best used in a 1:20 to 1:30 ration mixed with water. The benefits of using chlorine bleach is it kills just about anything you want, is very cheap, and in very low dillution can even be used on skin(but is not reccomended). EXTREME CAUTION should be used when applying bleach to skin as it can cause chemical burns of a very nasty nature. NEVER EVER EVER USE BLEACH ON AN OPEN WOUND!!!!!! Applying a 1:30 ration of bleach and water with a sponge on hotspots or ringworm where there is unbroken skin can save u money and can cure such things.
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww39/danlee123456/clorox.gif

moving on....

BETADINE

Betadine is one fo the leading ANTISEPTICS in hospitals today. Betadine is NOT a disinfectant it is an ANTISEPTIC!(for the sterlization of human or animal skin or wounds.)

Betadine is broader-spectrum the NOLVASAN, btu nolvasan is gentler on deep tissues. So deciding which to use for which circumstance requires consideration.

Diluting betadine is a NO NO. It should be used at full strength 100% of the time. Mixing Betadine and Hyrdogen Peroxide causes both the become chemicaly unstable and will do you no good. So use each by itself.

Skin or wounds treated with Betadine can be bandaged or cast without skin irritation. Betadine does not dry, irritate, or blister skin. Betadine is film-forming and leaves a protective antiseptic film over wounds and skin which decreases microbial counts.
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww39/danlee123456/Betadine.jpg

aforementioned....

HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

The use ofHydrogen Peroxide as an antiseptic (perticualryl in the mouth or where particles have entered the wound) is for its "bubbling action" where the chemical instability of the solution can help "lift" and remove debris. Unfortuantly Hydrogen Peroxide is much more caustic(capable of burning or destroying living tissue) than Nolvasan or Betadine and should be dilluted with water.

Here is a TIP for thsoe who feed raw food. Hydrogen Peroxide encourages vommiting in dogs(if they are choking or have swallowed something poisonous). If the dog swallows something it shouldnt, like a collar lol, use the 3% solution Hydrogen Peroxide and administer down the throat of the dog 1tsp(5cc) per 10Lbs of body weight. Walk the dog as to shake the stomach and mix the solution to induce vommiting, if the dog does not vomit within 15-20 minutes repeat the dose ONCE. If still no vomiting, hurry to the vet.
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww39/danlee123456/h2o2.jpg
Lastly....

SULPHURATED LIME DIP aka LIME DIP

Lime Dip is very common and most of us have heard of it. How many of us have used it?! Lime Dip is 100% pure concentrated sulphur. Sulphur can be used as a disinfectant and antiseptic. One of the best uses of this dip is for fungus(ringworm etc) or other non-specific skin disorders on a dog. This is one of the reasons Nu-Stock is so effective its main ingredients are Sulphur and Pine oil.

TO USE... Simply give your dog a bath, rinse him off, and then pour a gallon of prepared sulphur dip solution over the dog and work into his coat from nose to toes. DO NOT RINSE THIS SOLUTION OFF!!!! Place dog in a crate, or your ABOVE GROUND PEN! (http://mypitbullpro.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3879) and let dry off. Repeat every 3 days until skin condition starts to clear, also you can put the solution in a bottle and spray down the fungues infected areas of the dogs living quarters.
http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww39/danlee123456/LimePlusGallon_LG.jpg

TO RECAP....

The question will ultimatly become "which product should i use for what circumstance?". The answer becomes a matter of of individual need and the goal to be gained. For econmy, nothing beats bleach for cleaning and disinfecting a kennel, but for long term enviromental(as well as equipment) damage, Trifectant should be used instead.

For general wound care, Betadine is the standard, and it is broader spectrum, but in very senstive deep wounds Nolvasan is less caustic and therefore preferred in these circumstances. Another point to consider, if you cannot re-dress the wounds regularly because of your work schedule, dont forget Nolvasan's antibacterial properties last longer!

Hope this will help many of you save money and keep a clean and sanitary yard. Thankyou for reading.

[...Sydney...]

We use a lot of diluted bleach for cleaning crates. and whatnot. Apple Cider Vinegar has become a bit of a cure-all around here and has worked wonders with Angel's issues with dermatitis and ear infections.

Good post! Do you have any recommended places to get NOLVASAN or TRIFECTANT?

[Dansgrizz]

Yes ...Sydney... A great place is the Internet.

[Peanutsmommy]

feed stores and veterinary supply usually has novlasan. when i worked in the animal hospital it was the only soap we used. it was what we used to prep for surgery too. we used to use Roccal-D for cleaning. Here is one site that has all the products.
http://www.agri-med.com/site/255063/page/30142

[Dansgrizz]

I just picked up Nolvasan at TSC. Steep, but well worth the price.

[CASH]

In the kennal we use a garden sprayer full of disinfectant and hook it up to the hose. It makes for proper dilusion ratio and good covrage. Just a tip, hope it helps.

[pitbullFriend]

Unfortunately I had to downgrade and move to live in an apartment for now but the information about disinfectants and other cleaners is invaluable for any pet owner or even people who don't keep pets, thanks very much.

[versatile]

nice post. many forget this aspect of taking care of their dogs.

[Dansgrizz]

most forget fundamentals period lol.

[quickfire]

I use Aspen Bedding in all of my dog houses. Pine and cedar have shown to cause enlarged livers and cause breathing problems in Lab rats. So I have steered clear of them because I want to keep my performance dogs at their peak.

[mooni247]

Thanks for all the great advise!