The Disinfectant Dilemma

Selecting a disinfectant isn’t always a simple process. Selection is based on 3 priorities:

• How well the disinfectant inactivates commonly occurring pathogens in shelters
• Safety for the dogs and cats
• Safety for humans

Here are other important considerations for selection of disinfectants:

• Nearly all bacteria are inactivated by commonly used disinfectants.
• Selection is mostly based on capacity to inactivate viruses and fungi spores.
• Non-enveloped viruses include canine parvovirus, feline panleukopenia virus, and feline calicivirus. These pathogens are very durable in the environment and require special disinfectants for complete inactivation.
• Ringworm fungal spores shed by infected animals into the environment also require special disinfectants or concentrations for inactivation.
• Enveloped viruses such as FHV, FeLV and FIV, and the canine respiratory viruses do not persist for more than a few hours in the environment and are easily inactivated by most disinfectants.

The ASPCA has created a reference guide for selection of disinfectants for shelters and veterinary clinics. These are the brand names for the disinfectants listed in the guide:

• Accelerated hydrogen peroxide = Accel or Rescue
• Potassium peroxymonosulfate = Trifectant
• Sodium hypochlorite = household bleach
• Calcium hypochlorite = Wysiwash
• Quaternary ammonium chloride compounds (QACs or Quats) = various brand names such as Roccal, Parvosol, Triple Two, Biocide