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A THESIS REPORT
Submitted by
SHERLY IRENE R P
of
BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE
This thesis has been worked on with a goal to try to achieve the best possible
Veterinary facility for companion animals. Best in terms of comfort, safety, and
well-being of the animals.
The quality of existing animal oriented buildings are much below the quality of
any human oriented building . The reason being nothing but negligence towards
the environmental and sanitary conditions of such facilities.
This project aims to rethink how the three core veterinary facilities are designed,
keeping in mind the perspective of the end user. After all, what is compassion if we
do not see through the eyes of our dogs and cats?
CORE FACILITIES
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS………………………………………………….… iv
DEDICATION…………………………………………………………….….… v
ABSTRACT………………………………………………………………….… vi
CHAPTER
1. INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………... 01
2. STUDY………………………………………………………………….02
4.SITE………………………………………………………………………..59
5. DESIGN …………………………………………………………………61
6.APENDICES………………………………………………………………74
7.REFERENCES…………..………………………………………………..74
1.INTRODUCTION
1.1 ABOUT THE PROJECT
The project comprises of three elements pertaining to all necessary veterinary
requirements for companion animals.
1. Veterinary Hospital
2. Pet Spa and grooming center + Boarding
3. Animal shelter
1.2 NEED
Current scenario of veterinary facilities are lacking basic things such as good
ventilation , healthy and healing environment , proper handling and execution of
medical procedures. Etc.
As far as the hospital is concerned, the problem lies at the design of the facility
itself. Improper segregation of species causes unnecessary stress and fear among
animals which in turn creates an aversion towards the hospital. Complete disregard
to how the actual user of the building(the dogs and cats) interact with it.
On the other hand, Animal shelters face a completely different set of issues. Dog
overpopulation is one of the main issues in the country as of now. It is illegal to
kill stray dogs and so most of these dogs end up overcrowding the shelters.
There is no control over stray dogs breeding as the Animal Birth Control system is
not being followed efficiently either.
This not only poses a threat to the capacity of existing shelters but also to the lives
of thousands of stray dogs that die of car accidents every year .
The life of overcrowded shelter dogs is an unfortunate misery. Most of the shelters
have very poor hygiene , poor maintenance and bad ventilation. This not only
affects the physical wellbeing of the animal but also the mental wellbeing.
Dogs that have been rescued from accidents, drowning in wells, mistreated by
owners and so on, are taken to a safe place by some animal lover and their wounds
are treated and they’re sent to the shelter with a second opportunity to live . But is
the shelter an ideal home for a stray? Could it ever be? If it had to be, what needs
to be changed?
1.3 AIM
1.4 OBJECTIVE
(i) To understand how veterinary hospitals function and develop a fear free
environment for the patients
(ii) To comprehend why animals shelters are the way they are
(iii) To find a solution to overcrowding of shelters
(iv) To come up with an innovative and effective design that caters to the
physical and psychological wellbeing of shelter animals
2.STUDY
2.1 VETERINARY HOSPITAL
An animal hospital is an institution designed, built, equipped and staffed to render
modern veterinary care to animals. This care involves numerous functions and
services: reception, admission and discharge; bookkeeping and payroll; purchase
and account collections; outpatient services; laboratory; radiography; surgery and
hospitalization services, including nursing care around the clock. These are the
basic essential services which must be rendered by any animal hospital. There are
others, such as grooming, boarding and providing vending machines for clients and
employees, but these are secondary services not essential to modern veterinary
care.
1.The Outpatient/ Clinical unit deals with day to day handling of patients. This
unit must have proper facility to hold a large number of patients and daily footfall
based on the number of Outpatient rooms available. Therefore it is important to
think about the waiting areas for such spaces
2.The Surgical unit is a sterile area and must be deal with utmost hygiene and
care as it can easily transmit diseases during surgery when the wounds are open.
This unit of the hospital is not open to the public and must follow strict routines of
sterilization as per VCI standards. (Veterinary Council of India)
3.The Hospital refers to the treatment units and the In patient facility. This unit
handles second degree ailments after they have been looked over by an Outpatient
Veterinarian . A separate unit is to be provided for their treatment, obervation and
recovery .This unit is not open to the public
2.3DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
The design of the hospital is important and many factors should be considered to
create a suitable environment. Some of the main points are listed below:
A. Environmental Conditions:
- Any clinical areas such as the animal wards and surgery should be maintained at
a higher temperature for animals undergoing surgery or recovering from GA and
for sick patients on treatment.
-There should be adequate and appropriate ventilation, open windows and doors do
not help to maintain any heat and are also an escape route for patients
-Adequate ventilation also helps to release bad odor from Treatment and Isolation
rooms
B. Function:
-Each room should be adequate for its function, they should be large enough for
the purpose and have sufficient lighting, electrical sockets and be in a good
location.
- Ideally surgery rooms on higher floors should be avoided if kennel/holding areas
are downstairs.
- Zoning of spaces ought to be done with respect to the way they function, for
example, an emergency surgery will have to go from the emergency unit to the
preparation room to the OT and then to recovery and(or) In patient ward. This
sequence must determine the location of various spaces and functions
C.Layout:
-The floor plan of the hospital or clinic should be carefully considered so that there
is a flow through of traffic such as from consulting room out to treatment areas and
kennels and from prep room to surgery.
-Having to walk through several rooms or even go outside to get from one area to
another is not ideal.
-Where possible the front of the hospital should be for client areas such as
reception and consulting rooms, and the rear is treatment areas that are more
private and secure.
-It should be determined early in the design process which areas of the hospital
should receive special consideration for infection control.
- Operating rooms require a higher degree of infection control than other areas.
-The design of the operating room should limit foot traffic in the adjacent
areas. This mainly involves placing the operating room in a "dead end" to
minimize the movement of people outside the entrance. Windows in operating
rooms should never be opened.
-Any windows in the hospital that are allowed to open should be well fitted with
insect screens.
-Because hand washing is one of the main strategies for preventing nosocomial
infections, special attention should be paid to providing convenient hand washing
stations in all clinical areas of the hospital.
-Antiseptic hand lotion dispensers can also be located in these stations to maximize
staff compliance with hand hygiene policies.
-If cage blankets, surgical drapes, other clinical linens, or food bowls are to be
washed in-house, the hot water system should be designed to provide
temperatures in excess of 160°F to ensure disinfection laundry and
dishwasher cycles.
D.Circulation:
-Upon approaching the hospital the client must be oriented so that he may go
either to the main lobby or directly to the emergency entrance.
-If the client enters through the reception area , he should go directly to the
receptionist station to register.
-If it is necessary for the client to wait, there should be a waiting area
provided.
-From the waiting area the client will move to the examination room. The
client should have direct access to the examination room and not allowed to
circulate in the work areas of the hospital.
-Following the examination and treatment of his pet, the client is directed to
a separate check-out counter at the receptionist station to make additional
appointments and financial arrangements.
-From the receptionist station the client will leave the hospital
(ii)Circulation of a typical patient that is need of minor medical attention.
-The patient and client are taken from the waiting area to the examination
area.
-The examination room is equipped to administer vaccinations and minor
medical treatment.
-If more extensive treatment is necessary the patient is taken to the
treatment area.
-After the treatment, the patient is returned to the client at the waiting
area and discharged.
A.Clinical areas
B.Hospital areas
C.General areas
A.CLINICAL AREAS
Much of the outpatient area is for the clients use. It is occasionally referred to as
the clinical area because of the activities are clinical oriented. The functions that
occur here include reception, examination, pathological services, pharmaceutical
services, public toilet, and storage
1. RECEPTION
-The receptionist station should be designed for two employees and in a manner
allowing them to observe entering clients, direct clients to examination rooms,
collect compensation due, assist the doctors as needed, and work without
disturbance from children, dogs, and talkative clients.
Equipment:
2 rolling chairs
counter for filling out records
separate counter for money transactions and scheduling appointments (for
privacy)
telephone answering device
record storing system
intercom system
burglar alarm system
file cabinets (4 drawer)
copy machine
2.WAITING ROOM
Most of the stress and fear developed at a Veterinary hospital comes from the
type of waiting room environment. Improper segregation of species, Close
proximity of cat and dog waiting areas in the hospital is the top reason of
creating stress in dogs and cats.
Reception areas in veterinary hospitals have traditionally been akin to standard
physician’s office waiting rooms. They’re typically lined with chairs and benches.
Sometimes there’s a hospitality counter with coffee and water and a television
on the wall for light entertainment.
Modern veterinary practices often try to think outside the box when it comes to the
waiting experience at their hospital by incorporating alternative waiting areas.
These alternative waiting areas offer more to clients—more technology, more
comfort, more convenience and more choices
Client waiting:
1. Outdoor waiting areas: Give clients the option to get outside for a bit instead
of being cooped up inside. Clients can get some fresh air and reconnect with
nature. For pets that get stressed sitting in reception, it’s an opportunity to go to a
more open and natural environment, which might help them feel less confined and
potentially calmer and happier
For these people, it’s nice to offer a long-term waiting area—a separate,
quieter and more private space than standard waiting rooms.
They should be extra comfortable, with sofas and arm chairs, and
equipped with TVs, Wi-Fi and maybe even some computers for public use.
Having snacks and beverages available is also nice, as well as private
restrooms, if possible.
Patient waiting
-Provision of sufficient space to help patients pass by each other without too
much contact
-The ability to look outside and have a view of the outdoor environment
reduces stress in dogs and pet owners
-Availability of natural light and outdoor spill out areas can reduce the amount
of anxiety developed in the waiting room environment
-Cats are smaller than dogs and thus cat waiting areas can be relatively small.
-Enclosing them in glass allows visibility from staff, while still keeping the
odors and noises away
-Provision of scratch pads and play toys help distract the cats and keep them
occupied
3. EXAMINATION ROOM
-The examination should be done in privacy allowing the doctor to consult with
the client.
Examination Equipment:
Services:
-Air conditioning
-Water supply
4. PHARMACY:
The pharmacy should be located adjacent to the examination rooms and located in
the exit way of the client so as provide easy access without having to go out of the
necessary circulation area
5. LABORATORY:
The lab needs to be fully equipped in order to conduct and provide results within
the hospital itself. It should be in close proximity to a diagnostic unit with a pass
through cabinet to transfer samples. The machines are not allowed to heat over 30
degree Celsius
Equipment:
6. RADIOGRAPHY:
A separate room should be allocated for taking X-rays. It must consist of a storage
unit to hold the dressing and another unit to store records
Equipment:
7. JANITORS CLOSET
A storage room needs to be provided for storing medicine stock; this room should
be adjacent to the pharmacy to easy restocking. A general store room adjacent to
the office area is to be provided to store records and medical details of the patients
9. RESTROOMS
There should be a toilet that is convenient for the public's use. A separate
restroom should be provided for the staff, adjacent to a staff lounge
B.HOSPITAL AREAS
1. TREATMENT
The treatment of a patient follows the examination and can occur either during the
examination or in another centrally located and better equipped place depending on
the type and extent of treatment necessary. Usually the veterinarian chooses to take
the patient to a treatment table away from the client to prevent him from
experiencing unpleasant sights and to have more equipment at his disposal. Such
procedures as minor surgery and dental work are done, and here emergency
cases can be received and evaluated. These facilities should be located adjacent
to where the examination rooms and the pharmacy-laboratory
Equipment:
2. ISOLATION ROOMS
-The anteroom also limits the movement of air from the isolation room to the
general population of patients and provides storage for contaminated linens.
If space allows, the dedication of two separate areas for isolating patients enables
the separation of animals with different infectious diseases.
- A separate bathing tub within the isolation unit is also useful if there is enough
space.
-Isolation rooms and soiled areas of the hospital (e.g., areas where dirty laundry
collects) should be under negative pressure (<2.5 Pa) in relation to adjacent
areas.
-
This prevents infectious particles from being transmitted to clean areas of the
hospital by air currents. ---Isolation areas should receive six to 12 air changes
per hour, and all air should be exhausted directly outdoors with no recirculation.
-If this is not possible, the air should pass through HEPA filters before being
added to general circulation.
-Ventilation professionals (usually the provider of the HVAC system) should
routinely check the balance of airflow in the various areas of the hospital, ideally
when the building's climate control changes from predominantly heating to
predominantly air conditioning or vice versa, or at least once a year.
3. SURGERY:
The most tedious and exacting work is done here and requires a high degree of
sterilization and freedom from all distractions.
-All unnecessary circulation or unrelated activities must be prohibited to
maintain this high degree of sterilization and freedom from distraction.
-Ample space- ability to navigate the patient around without interrupting the
surgeon
- It should be located adjacent to an emergency entrance, to receive emergency
cases to be evaluated. This prevents any undesirable sights and mess at the
receptionist station.
Equipment:
Rooms:
Sterile corridor
OT
Scrub up area
CSSD
Pre-operative room (for surgeon)
Preparation room (for patient)
Dirty corridor
Dirty linen storage
Staff lounges
Recovery room
ICU
In patient wards (separate for dogs and cats)
-Entering into the amount of odor sources is the number of animals, physical
condition of those animals, and frequency of compartment and run clean-up.
-The quantity of outside air for ventilation of the kennel and runs should be based
on an estimated percentage of animal occupancy and types of animals
-The wards and runs should have exhaust fans to assure positive exhaust and
maintain a negative pressure between these areas and other parts of the hospital
-The exhaust is larger than the supply to maintain a negative pressure
EXERCISE RUNS
The exercise runs serve two necessary functions:
They provide a place for the animals while the cages are serviced, and they serve
as a place to exercise the animals of the wards.
-The runs are best located adjacent to the wards to minimize the time and effort
needed to exercise the dogs.
- Although the minimum size for a run is 3' by 5', runs for larger dogs should be
provided at a minimum size of 4' by 7'.
-Extremely large dogs are occasionally kept in the runs rather than a cramped cage
-A four inch concrete block wall properly coated with glazed wall coating is the
most satisfactory, particularly in terms of long-range wear and use.
C.GENERAL AREAS
RECEPTION
-Reception with adequate waiting areas are key to a good hospital design
OFFICE
-General accounts room for record keeping and Office room in close proximity to
the reception
-The veterinarian should have a private office for consultation purposes with
clients, for a place to concentrate on personal business, and relax privately.
LOUNGE
-The staff members need a place they can relax privately during a break or during
lunch.
-It should be furnished with a sleeper-sofa, refrigerator, micro-wave oven, and a
table with chairs for the convenience of the staff
KITCHEN
-The wards require a place to prepare the animal's food.
- Very few animal hospitals go to the trouble of cooking and preparing the food for
the patients.
-The prepared canned diets today are more than adequate and require much less
time and expense.
-A counter space, sink, can opener, refrigerator, storage and refuse disposal are the
necessary items for this function.
-The cabinet space above the counter top will be used as secondary storage of the
canned diets; adjustable shelving is recommended.
-The cabinet space below the counter top will be used as storage of the dry food,
bowls and refrigerator.
LAUNDRY
-Provisions for washing and drying soiled clothing is necessary.
-Preferably to be placed out of the sight of visitors
SERVICES:
1.AHU: Adequate Air Handling Units for both general air conditioning as well as
Surgical air conditioning is necessary
2.WASTE DISPOSAL:
-Proper facilities for the collection and disposal of waste generated in the hospital
are to be provided
-Proper segregation of waste should be maintained
2.5 SURGICAL PROCEDURE
SURGERY PREPARATION
As the working center, such functions as instrument cleaning, storage, minor
surgery, post-operative treatment and observation have cumulatively made this the
busiest part of the hospital.
The preoperative and postoperative functions should be performed adjacent
to the surgery and wards for convenience and ease of operation.
These functions include the preparation of both the patient and equipment.
The equipment consists of the surgical linens, instruments and electronic devices.
Pre-operative Procedure-PATIENT:
All staff involved in surgery must change into sterile clothing and must have
washed their hands and feet with disinfectants
This takes place in a separate pre-operative room outside but abutting the
sterile area
Pre-operative Procedure-EQUIPMENT:
Post-operative Procedure-PATIENT:
The patients undergoing Minor surgery will be taken to the recovery area
and then can be sent home
Patients undergoing Major surgery will be taken to the recovery room post-
surgery and then moved to the In-patient wards, in the case of needing
medical attention, the patient will be taken to the ICU post-surgery and then
to the In-patient wards
The surgeon and veterinary staff assisting during the surgery will need to
change from soiled scrubs and take a shower in the provided staff lounge
Post-operative Procedure-EQUIPMENT:
2.6 VENTILATION
Infection control must also be a factor in the design Air contamination is likely the
most significant risk in the development of surgical site infections.
Sensitive areas such as operating rooms and chemotherapy treatment areas
should be ventilated so that the room air pressure is higher than the
corridor air pressure.
This "positive-pressure ventilation" ensures that air moves from clean to
less-clean areas (i.e., from inside the room to the corridor), thereby
keeping airborne infectious particles from entering the sensitive area.
Operating rooms should be kept at a pressure that is 2.5 Pa greater than
adjacent areas.
Supply air should enter the room at the ceiling, and exhaust vents
should be placed near the floor.
The use of laminar airflow ventilation systems has been advocated in
human medicine.
Laminar airflow ventilation systems provide vertical or horizontal
layers of air movement in the operating room such that the flow is
highest directly over the surgical site, limiting the introduction of
particles from the environment and personnel.
In addition to positive-pressure ventilation, the operating room should be
provided with at least 15 air changes per hour, at least three of which
should consist of fresh outside air.
If fresh air cycles cannot be provided, high-efficiency particulate air
(HEPA) filters should be added to the supply system.
Routine replacement of all filters—particularly HEPA filters—is
necessary. HEPA filters are changed, on average, every 6 to 12 months.
Some systems may require more frequent maintenance; the air pressure
passing through the filters can be tested periodically to determine the
appropriate frequency of filter replacement.
Another design consideration for the ventilation system is the location of air
intake equipment and exhaust vents.
Fresh-air intake sources should not be located near exhaust vents because
this will reintroduce odors and organisms into the hospital.
During surgical procedures, dust particles, textile fibers, skin scales, and
respiratory aerosols loaded with viable microorganisms are released from the
surgical team and the surrounding into the air of the operating theatre. Bacteria
settling on surgical instruments or entering directly into the surgical site may result
in surgical site infection (SSI) .
Therefore, maintaining a high quality of the air in the operating theatre is essential
to controlling the risk of surgical infections. To reduce the morbidity and
healthcare costs associated with these infections, airborne bacteria and other
sources of contamination must be minimized.
In this regard, a fundamental role is played by the contamination- controlled
airflow system (heating, ventilation, air-conditioning system: HVAC). Indeed, in
addition to maintaining temperature and humidity at optimal levels, this system
provides ventilation that is able to keep the concentrations of gaseous pollutants,
particulates and airborne microbes below predetermined levels. HVAC systems
perform multiple functions simultaneously, including controlling three known
central variables in the airborne transmission of infectious particles: temperature,
relative humidity, and air currents.
Therefore, HVAC systems are intended to provide for the health, comfort, and
safety of occupants by maintaining thermal and air quality conditions that are
acceptable to the occupants.
In the operating theatre, the specific features of the airflow system which enable
SSIs to be contained are ventilation (dilution), air distribution, room
pressurization (infiltration barrier) and filtration (contaminant removal).
The air in operating theatres should be kept at a higher pressure than in
corridors and adjacent areas. This positive pressure prevents the flow of air from
less sterile areas into more sterile ones.
With regard to ventilation, various international scientific organizations
recommend a minimum of 15 air exchanges per hour. Specifically, the
"Guidelines for environmental infection control in health-care facilities"
issued by the CDC recommend a minimum of about 15 exchanges of filtered air
per hour, three (20%) of which must be fresh air. The 2008 edition of
ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170 ("Ventilation of Health-care Facilities") ,
recommends a minimum of 20 total air exchanges per hour and a minimum of 4
exchanges of outdoor air per hour in operating theatres.
The main types of airflow systems are: turbulent-flow, unidirectional-flow and
mixed-flow.
Turbulent flow directly involves the whole environment, the concentration of
airborne contaminants being controlled by means of dilution. This type of system
increases the effectiveness of air exchange and distribution. However, it has the
disadvantage of speeding up microbial dispersion. In several countries, this type of
airflow is generally considered adequate for operating theatres in which general
surgery or similar operations are performed
In unidirectional-flow systems ("laminar airflow or LAF"), the air travels in
parallel lines and contaminants are carried away at the same velocity as the
airflow. Low-velocity unidirectional flow tends to minimize the spread of airborne
contaminants and direct them towards the exhaust outlets. This system, as opposed
to turbulent flow, allows airborne particles to pass the operating area and prevents
them from landing in the wound area
Unidirectional airflow is designed to move particle-free air (called "ultraclean air")
over the aseptic operating field at a uniform velocity (0.3 to 0.5 μm/sec), sweeping
away particles in its path
From a purely technical standpoint, systems that provide laminar flow regimes
constitute the best option for an operating theatre, in terms of contamination
control, as they result in the smallest percentage of particles impacting the
surgical site.
The reason for this is that such systems supply a controlled, constant column of air
to the surgical site area; this is effective in sweeping contaminants from the
surgical site area, where they might otherwise be deposited
Laminar airflow through HEPA filters, which display 99.97% efficiency in
removing airborne particles of 0.3 μm and above, can be supplied to the operating
area by ceiling-mounted (vertical flow) or wall-mounted (horizontal flow) units. It
has been suggested that improper positioning of personnel in operating theatres
with a horizontal and vertical laminar airflow may increase the risk of infection.
In the so-called mixed-flow system, unidirectional airflow regimes are only used
to protect critical zones (e.g. the area surrounding the operating field)
Most operating theatres have conventional ventilation and laminar air-flow systems
with HEPA filters are generally used for orthopedic and other implant surgery
Charnley research team evaluated 5,800 surgical operations; he showed that
intraoperative contamination was a major threat to the success of total joint
replacements, and revealed that the rate of SSI fell dramatically from 7 to 0.5%
when unidirectional airflow regimes with a high number of hourly air exchanges
were adopted and surgical staff wore special suits that covered the whole body.
Subsequently, other studies have shown that fewer infections arise when
orthopedic surgery is performed in operating theatres with ultra-clean air facilities.
Currently, there is no complete consensus in the scientific community with regard
to the need to use unidirectional airflows in prosthetic orthopedic surgery, since no
prospective studies comparing air quality with SSI rates are available.
In theory, preventing contamination by flowing particle free air unidirectional over
the surgical site can potentially reduce the risk of SSI. Although this method is
biologically plausible, and some previous studies have supported this concept, a
meta-analysis encompassing 26 studies could not ultimately confirm the role of
LAF in surgery, and some recent studies have even indicated an increase in SSI
after hip prosthesis with procedures performed under LAF
In view of these contradictory results – but, more importantly, in view of
worldwide increases in health care costs and increasing difficulties in financing
and providing all modern medical advances – it is understandable that the question
arises regarding the actual need for LAF ventilation in operating theatres to prevent
SSIs
1.FLOORS
The choice of flooring material depends on the area of the hospital. Floors in
clinical areas should be easy to clean. This requires that the surface be relatively
smooth, nonporous, water resistant, and not physically affected by germicidal
cleaning solutions.
2. DRAINS
The use of floor drains is controversial. Drains provide the opportunity to
wash an area with large volumes of water and disinfectant or even high-
pressure washers, which may be more effective than a mop. However,
drains provide a potential site for bacterial colonization that can be
difficult to eliminate. If floor drains are used, they must be disinfected
routinely.
Alternatively, wet vacuums allow the use of large volumes of water and
disinfectant without relying on floor drains.
3. WALLS
Wall finishes also depend on the area of the hospital. Textile or fabric wall
covering should be avoided, except perhaps in administrative areas.
In clinical areas where walls are likely to be soiled, the finish should be
washable. Vinyl wall covering is a good choice, as long as the texture is
relatively smooth for cleaning.
For areas where the walls require frequent cleaning, a nonporous,
smooth surface is recommended.
Good choices in these areas are:
Painted, sealed concrete;
Laminates (e.g., melamine);
In sensitive areas of the hospital (e.g., isolation units, surgical suites,
oncology wards), wall finishes should be free of fissures, open joints, or
crevices that could harbor dirt particles. Wherever plumbing penetrates the
wall, the joins should be well sealed.
4. CEILINGS
Ceilings are less likely to be directly contaminated with infectious body
fluids than walls or floors.
It is therefore advisable to install a hard ceiling that is smooth and washable
(e.g., painted drywall) in operating rooms.
Joins at any ceiling perforations (e.g., for surgical lighting, ventilation ducts)
should be sealed.
The Bayer veterinary care usage study (Volk, Felsted, Thomas, and Siren, 2011)
identified that Ama Jorreason clients failed to bring their pets to the veterinary
hospital was because clients were unwilling to put up with the stress to the animal
and to themselves. Veterinarians interviewed in the study stated that many pet
owners delayed bringing sick and injured animals to the clinic, with one
experienced veterinarian saying, “I’m [now] seeing pets three days sicker.”
Many cat owners in the study indicated that their cats acted remote and unfriendly
for several days after returning home, which is particularly undesirable in sick or
recovering animals.
An animal’s responses to stimuli can range from mild signs of anxiety to extreme
panic/catatonia; severely panicked animals can be seriously injured by chewing or
charging through doors and windows in an attempt to escape the frightening
stimuli When a stimulus is intensely unpleasant, a single exposure can be enough
to induce a fearful response in the future (known as “one-event (trial) learning”).
This theory, promoted by American psychologist Edwin Guthrie (Landsberg,
Hunthausen and Ackerman, 2013 ), supports Tynes (2014 ) assumption that some
animals are so frightened by their experiences at the veterinary clinic that their
responses on subsequent visits could be defined as phobic.
Non-human animals do not perceive the world as we see it. They see, hear, smell
and experience their environment in different ways, yet veterinary hospitals are
usually designed with humans in mind and not necessary the patients. Keeping
these crucial differences in mind can help greatly when it comes to designing a
low-stress environment.
The design of the hospital is very important to put patients and clients at ease.
Research has shown that cats in shelters become highly distressed when they saw
or heard dogs probably because the cats had no way of escaping from the dogs and
no means of hiding within their cages. Thus, it is important that feline contact with
dogs be minimized within the veterinary environment
WAITING ROOM:
The Bayer veterinary care usage study (Volk et al., 2011) showed that cats also
displayed signs of stress and fear in the veterinary clinic waiting room, particularly
when unfamiliar dogs were present. Yin (2009) advocates setting up the hospital so
that the first thing the pet sees on arrival is a reception desk and no other animals.
Visual barriers in the waiting rooms provide species-specific areas, and cat carriers
can be placed in raised and enclosed areas. Tasty treats should be placed in
strategic positions such as the reception desk or near the weighing scale.
Dogs have dichromatic color vision and can discern the color blue (Neitz, Geist,
and Jacobs, 1989 [50]), hence it may be beneficial to paint floor scales in this color
to demarcate it from the surrounding floor area.
ACOUSTIC AND OLFACTORY ENVIRONMENT:
Areas that are often overlooked regarding hospital design that may increase stress
are how to combat noise and odour. Although the response of dogs to music has
been studied fairly extensively, the effect of the acoustic environment on canine
and feline stress (and staff) levels in the veterinary clinic is lacking. Soothing
music (and possibly even TV) might benefit some animals. One study (Kogan,
Schoenfeld-Tacher, and Simon, 2012) found that playing “classical music”
increased the amount of time kenneled dogs spent sleeping and decreased
vocalizing compared to other music or no music, and “heavy metal” music
increased body shaking (or trembling). In another study of kenneled dogs, Wells,
Graham, and Hepper (2002) also found increases in resting postures and decreased
barking to classical music, while heavy metal music elicited increased barking.
However, research on the effects of sound in dogs is unclear, and it may be that
music is not the most effective method of acoustic enrichment, for dogs at least. A
recent study by Brayley and Montrose (2016 [54]) found that the reading of
audiobooks was more effective in enhancing the welfare of kenneled dogs than
other auditory conditions including classical music. The authors concluded that as
dogs are highly social animals whose welfare is enhanced by human
interactions, audiobooks may somewhat fulfill this role and provide the illusion of
company
Sick animals may need to be kept in the treatment area in order to be monitored,
but noise levels and movement should be kept to a minimum. Noise levels can be
minimized by the use of quiet clippers, nonslip matters on tables to reduce noise
and the use of one-way mirrors for monitoring patients. With regards to hospital
design, Moser (2004) reported that sound can be absorbed by installing products
with high noise-reduction coefficient ratings such as sound-absorbing acoustic
ceiling tiles, baffles, and wall panels. Solid doors absorb more sound that hollow-
core doors, and high ceilings minimize sound bouncing off them. Moser (2004)
also suggested that odours can be minimized by good hygiene, good drainage, and
good ventilation.
Dogs and cats obtain a lot of information through olfaction, and scent mark with
urine and feces as well as with facial and body secretions (Overall, 2014). Animals
that are exquisitely sensitive to odours are likely to find the olfactory environment
of a veterinary hospital stressful. A solution of bleach, even as low as 1%, can
destroy olfactory neurons (Overall, 2013) resulting in a loss of information and
heightening anxiety. Airing out rooms and using disinfectants that do not have
discernibly strong odours followed by air-drying may help minimize this stress.
Overall, 2014 suggests that because cats (and dogs) are intrigued by odorant
molecules in scent trails, opening a window may result in the animals paying more
attention to these odours than to stressors
COLOUR:
It may behave veterinarians to paint or decorate their practice in colors that are
positively perceived by dogs and cats. Architect Heather Lewis is currently
working on what colors and lighting might be calming for dogs and cats in the
veterinary environment. Dogs have dichromatic vision, see better in low light
than humans can, and can see into the ultraviolet UVB spectrum. Cats also see
into the UVB spectrum and in low-light situations, and although they are not
believed to see colors with as much precision as humans do, they have trichromatic
vision (Lewis, 2015). The ability to see the UVB spectrum means that some
materials are likely to appear fluorescent to dogs and cats, including organic
material such as urine that contains phosphorous. Bright white, man-made
materials such as paper, plastic and white fabrics are likely to be visually jarring—
“Your professional-looking white doctor’s coat could be lighting up like a
Christmas tree to your patients” (Lewis, 2015). Lewis (2015) suggests that “fear
free” colours for dogs and cats include hues in the soft yellow to violet range,
avoiding oranges and reds, and dark colours. Because dogs and cats do not see
well in low light, using lighter colours in darker areas are likely to make them feel
more at ease, as dark colours make it harder to see and comprehend their
surroundings. A “visually comfortable” colour palate for dogs and cats can be
found on-line
Fear free colour palette
The shelter should provide the most comfortable, stress-free environment possible
for the animals in your care. Animals should have access to clean, fresh water at all
times and be fed according. Food and water bowls should be properly disinfected
every day.
2. Adoptions
The shelter should strive to place animals in loving, responsible, and permanent
homes. Adoption fees for purebred or obedience-trained animals or for animals
with distinguishing characteristics should be the same as those charged for other
animals. In addition, adoption fees for cats and dogs should be identical
3.Record Keeping
Complete and accurate records are essential for the responsible, efficient, and legal
operation of your animal shelter. A record should be prepared for every animal
entering the shelter, giving a full description of the animal and any information
about the animal's background that is available. These records should be numbered
and filed so that all staff can easily retrieve them. An animal should have the same
record or tag number throughout his or her stay at the shelter, and each animal
must be clearly identified with a temporary collar and tag.
4. Programs
Shelter activities should be based on the best interests of the animals and the
community. The role of staff members is to provide humane care of the animals
and to carry out the shelter's programs effectively. Staff members should provide
commissioners or board members with information or assistance that will promote
the development of responsible animal care and control programs.
5. Spay/Neuter Efforts
It is imperative that shelters have a mandatory spay/neuter program for all adopted
animals, preferably one that incorporates both sterilization at adoption and early-
age spay/neuter. Shelters should make it a top priority to ensure that the animals
they place for adoption do not contribute to companion animal overpopulation
6.Cruelty Investigation
Every shelter should make every effort to provide humane education for local
residents, especially children. From sponsoring community-wide awareness
campaigns to sending shelter staff into classrooms for presentations, your shelter
can embrace a variety of strategies to teach responsible pet ownership and instill a
humane ethic in all members of the community
8. Volunteers
Volunteers can be an invaluable asset to any shelter and its animals. All volunteers
must be properly trained for the duties they are assigned and should be supervised
at all times
Kennel Design:
-Provide enough space for the animal to move around and be comfortable
-Do NOT use double or triple decker cages for animals as they are difficult to clean
and also pose a danger to kennel staff when animals need to be placed in or
removed from the cage
Flooring:
-Appropriate flooring materials are vital to maintaining a clean facility in which
microorganisms and odors are minimized. Poured floors with a minimum of seams
are best.
-Ceramic tile is not a good choice for kennel or housing areas because grout is
permeable and therefore impossible to clean adequately.
Lighting:
-Lighting fixtures in kennels should be placed over dog runs rather than down the
middle of the aisle separating facing runs.
-This makes it easier for visitors and staff to view the animals.
- Positioning the fixtures in this way should allow sufficient light to spill over to
the walkways so that no safety hazard is created for the public or staff.
PLUMBING:
-The drainage system must be designed so that waste from one kennel never
contaminates another. Drain openings should be at least 4" in diameter.
- Lead-away pipes should be at least 6" in diameter. Drain covers should be of
stainless steel or other non-corrosive and easily cleanable material.
-These should be easily removable for cleaning but otherwise kept in place to
prevent puppies, other small animals, the public, or staff from falling or slipping
into them.
MATERIAL:
-Epoxy paint (animal holding, high maintenance areas, high moisture areas)
-ceramic tile (for backsplash areas)
-vinyl wall covering (decorative areas and client areas)
-kydex acrylic PVC sheet (heavy duty areas)
3.CASE STUDY
6. APENDICES
(i) HSUS Guidelines for Shelter
(ii) www.dvm360.com
(iii) http://www.vetfolio.com/general/guidelines-for-reducing-
veterinary-hospital-pathogens-hospital-design-and-special-
considerations-ce
(iv) http://veterinaryhospitaldesign.dvm360.com/vicki-pollard-
cvt-aia
(vi) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4718372/ -
Operating theatre quality and prevention of surgical site
infections-US national library of medicine
7.REFERENCES
(i) Heather E Lewis, AIA
(ii) Dr.Ravi Sundar George, HOD, Madras Veterinary College
(iii) Mr.Dawn, Blue Cross of India Manager
(iv) Dr. Satya, Blue cross of India Board member
(v) Dr.Siva, Chief Vet at Blue Cross of India