How can my home be clean and safe enough to bring home a new dog after a case of Parvo?
It may seem daunting to clean and sterilize your home after experiencing a case of Canine Parvovirus, but we are here to help you tackle the challenge!
Your new secret weapon? Diluted bleach! Most household products will not kill Parvo, and you will need to dilute a standard bleach with water or purchase a pre-diluted bleach solution specifically designed for cleaning after Parvo. After a case of Canine Parvovirus has been in your home, you will need to sterilize all surfaces and fabrics.
Instructions:
- Wipe down all surfaces with diluted bleach, including floors, cabinets, tables, and other hard surfaces. You may want to test the product in a small corner of each surface for potential color damage.
- Use a stiff scrub brush for best cleaning results, and make sure to clean corners. After cleaning one surface, rinse with warm water and pour the bleach solution down the drain. Mix another bleach solution and repeat the cleaning process for each area of your home.
- Sanitize all toys and dog bowls as well, and soak each item in a bleach solution.
- Anything porous that cannot easily be cleaned with bleach such as a collar, should be thrown away. It is not worth the risk of keeping an item that has the potential to carry Parvo and the potential to infect other animals.
- Upholstered furniture and carpeting are tougher to bleach, so it is recommended to use a high-temperature steam cleaning.
Tip: Think about areas or items that your dog has climbed on or been in contact with – do you let your dog on the bed? You will need to clean your mattress. Does your dog play in the curtains in your room? Disinfect those as well. It may be helpful to retrace all of your dog’s steps and make a list of items and surfaces to clean.
Now that the inside of your home is disinfected, don’t forget about your yard!
Your dog deposits the virus into the grass when he or she defecates, and the environment does little to kill the disease. Using bleach on your yard will kill your grass and flowers, however, it will also kill Parvo and eradicate the virus from your yard.
Even after bleaching and sterilizing your entire home, it is recommended that you do not introduce a new animal into the home for several months to a year. Due to the highly contagious nature of the disease, intermittent bleaching and waiting periods are suggested to ensure that your home is completely rid of the disease.
