When we look back at the past few decades – or decade, singular – there’s no denying the significant advancements made in veterinary care. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology, 3D printing and wearable technology all serve the purpose of advancing pet health and well-being, now and in the future. But in comparison, the housing for animals in veterinary clinics has seen little in the way of notable changes in over 60 years.
Not keeping veterinary kennels up to date and/or future-proofing them for the clinic’s ever-adapting needs can have repercussions that go beyond animal health, well-being and recovery – it can affect staff as well. This article explores the issues of noise, indoor air quality and lighting in animal housing, as well as possible innovations available to reconcile these areas of concern.
The impact of animal housing
Noise
It’s well reported that noise can cause physical and psychological stress to animals (Coppola et al., 2006). In veterinary clinic settings, it has been found that cats demonstrate more fear behaviours when the environment is noisy, in comparison with a quiet environment (Taylor et al., 2022). Other research shows that noise in dog kennels may be a welfare concern.
The noise produced by an individual dog can reach levels of 100dBA, while the volume of noise in veterinary clinic kennels routinely measures greater than this level (Zurlinden et al., 2022). Commonplace materials, such as stainless steel, further exacerbate these sound levels – with the closing of a metal cage door measuring 90dBA (UWM, 2015). This kind of noise pollution negatively impacts the welfare of anyone within earshot (Zurlinden et al., 2022). However, it is particularly damaging to the animals kept in kennels: noise-induced cortisol increases can cause cardiovascular issues, immunosuppression, intestinal problems and more (Coppola et al., 2006). In addition, research has found the volume of sound in kennel environments has the potential to negatively impact the mental well-being of staff as well (Zurlinden et al., 2022).
The noise produced by an individual dog can reach levels of 100dBA, while the volume of noise in veterinary clinic kennels routinely measures greater than this level
Despite this, little attention is paid to noise abatement or mitigation in facility design – there are no existing policies for regulating noise in kennels (Wilson, 2022). To meet the behavioural and physical needs of animals, kennel design should be kept in mind when considering maintaining an acceptable level of sound.
Indoor air quality
Kennelled environments have the potential to be either under- or overstimulating for an animal’s olfactory abilities (Taylor and Mills, 2007), and either of these states may cause stress due to animals’ sensitive sense of smell. So when it comes to air quality, efficient air exchange is essential. Even if the wider area has good airflow, it’s still possible for the air quality within a housing unit to be poor (UWM, 2015).
In addition, airborne disease represents a significant means of disease transmission in dogs, which is why adequate air exchange is important (UWM, 2015). Looking at ventilation specifically helps avoid high levels of humidity – a necessity, as moist environments favour the survival of disease agents and relative humidity greater than 70 percent can lead to heat stress (MSD, 2021).
Of course, doors with bars or air holes in solid-fronted kennels provide airflow, reducing the build-up of odours within the kennel and improving air quality. There is also the additional benefit of the animal patient being able to view and smell their surroundings without being under- or overstimulated. However, the disadvantages of doors with bars – still commonly used in clinics – in this instance are numerous. There’s the potential for entrapment of limbs, cross-contamination through contact between patients in neighbouring cages and the splattering of spilt food, water, litter, urine or faeces (Taylor et al., 2022) – the last two of which can also be dangerous to human health.
Ventilation is a high priority and should be adequate to keep animal housing areas free of dampness and noxious odours without draughts (DPI, 1996).
Lighting
Lighting can affect the physiology, morphology and behaviour of animals. Stressors include inappropriate light availability, the intensity of the exposure to light and the spectral quality of the light itself (NRCILAR, 1996). Numerous factors can affect an animal’s need for light, and it may not be the same for each animal, so considerations should include light intensity, duration of exposure, wavelength, time of light during the circadian cycle, age, species and sex (NRCILAR, 1996).
Where clinics use fluorescent lighting, it should be noted that research has found noise levels from dogs were significantly higher in a room with fluorescents in comparison to flicker-free LED lighting (UWM, 2015), suggesting the relative brightness of fluorescents could prove irritating to dogs.
Lighting in a clinic needs to balance the requirements for animals and sufficient illumination for their well-being with the requirements of staff
Lighting in a clinic needs to balance the requirements for animals and sufficient illumination for their well-being, with the requirements of staff. It needs to allow for good housekeeping practices and adequate inspection of the animals in care while also providing for safe working conditions for personnel (NRCILAR, 1996).
Innovations and environmental changes
So, what is the way forward for modern clinical housing?
Starting with noise, an easy recommendation to implement is playing classical music, which is proven to help with calming animal patients (Zurlinden et al., 2022). To reduce noise stress further – and more permanently – it’s recommended to incorporate sound-reducing panels into kennel design; glass is considered a noise-reducing material (Edwards et al., 2019). When animals – particularly felines – are housed in a quiet, predictable environment, they are more tolerant of an approach by an unfamiliar person (Taylor et al., 2022). In turn, this makes clinical care easier – and potentially more thorough.
To reduce noise stress […] it’s recommended to incorporate sound-reducing panels into kennel design; glass is considered a noise-reducing material
Turning to air quality, adequate ventilation is important – reducing the risk of airborne disease transmission, reducing odours and facilitating the drying of surfaces after cleaning (MSD, 2021). To increase an animal’s beneficial perception of the housing environment, it is this promotion of positive stimuli and the minimising of negative stimuli in the veterinary clinic environment that plays a crucial role. Open air filters at the front of cages play a role; however, individual vents provide a more personalised level of care by catering to the requirements of different animals, which is particularly important in more serious cases where recovery is likely to be more complicated.
Looking at lighting, we know that quiet periods with dim light or darkness are essential to facilitate proper rest and recovery. This, paired with periods of light, is important to avoid disruption to the circadian rhythm, which can negatively affect recovery. As with ventilation, treating each animal individually – as opposed to implementing one light for all – helps provide better periods of rest and recovery. Some animals may require more rest than others, so being able to tailor their lighting to help provide this is important. Red light therapy is another element that can be introduced to the environment. For example, some housing includes daylight and cleaning modes to allow staff to further cater to individual animal requirements.
Conclusion
Three major challenges in the kennelling experience – and, more largely, the veterinary experience – include exposure to noise, unpleasant or unique odours and unfamiliar or unavoidable lighting, all of which can play a part in having a significant effect on an animal’s health. These issues are exacerbated by the current most common material used for animal housing: stainless steel. Alternative materials such as specialist safety glass not only exist but are the way forward, helping clinics adapt to a variety of needs, future-proof their businesses and take care of their animal patients, staff and pet owners.
