Maintenance of Animal Accommodation

Routine Maintenance of Animal Accommodation

• Understanding the correlation between maintaining animal accommodation and the health and well-being of animals.
• Identifying and fixing any damage as soon as possible to prevent injury or escape attempts.
• Establishing a regular cleaning schedule, such as daily spot cleaning and weekly deep cleaning, depending on animal species and housing conditions.
• Comprehending the significance of cleaning materials and detergents suitable to use around different animal species to avoid any harm.
• Regularly refreshing bedding or substrate used in enclosures based on the species-specific needs.

Health Implications of Poor Maintenance

• Recognising the signs of disease, such as diarrhoea, loss of appetite or decreased activity, which might indicate poor maintenance.
• Understanding that a poorly maintained environment can lead to infestations of pests or parasites, causing discomfort and health problems for the animals.
• Knowing that stress and poor health can result from lack of maintenance, leading to behavioural problems like aggression, stereotypic behaviour or self-mutilation.

Biosecurity in Maintenance of Animal Accommodation

• Acknowledging the role of biosecurity measures in preventing the spread of disease, such as use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and proper disposal of waste.
• Regular disinfection of equipment and enclosures to reduce the risk of disease transmission.
• Being cogniscent of quarantine procedures for new arrivals to prevent disease spread and stress amongst the existing animals.

Renovation and Upgrade of Animal Accommodation

• Evaluating the need for renovations to provide improved quality of life for the animals, such as adding platforms, tunnels or other forms of environmental enrichment.
• Prioritising upgrades based on animal’s age, health condition, and natural behaviour. For instance, older or arthritic animals might need lower perches or gentler slopes.
• Considering animal’s behaviour and stress levels during renovation and seeking to minimise disturbance.
• Keeping informed about evolving animal welfare standards and modifying accommodations accordingly to meet or exceed such standards.