Policy 11.11 — Eddie's Doggy Daycare, Paddock Farm, Harlow, Essex CM17 9HP

Infection Control Policy

Infection Control Policy

1. Vaccination Requirements

All dogs must be up to date with their relevant vaccinations before attending daycare. The following vaccinations are required:

• DHP (Distemper, Infectious Canine Hepatitis / adenovirus, Parvovirus)
• Leptospirosis (Lepto 4)
• Kennel Cough (Bordetella/Parainfluenza)

Vaccination records are managed via the ProPet software system:

• Customers are automatically alerted when their dog's vaccinations are due to expire within 30 days
• Once expired, the system alerts and the dog cannot be booked until records are updated
• Management is responsible for chasing customers on a monthly basis for up-to-date vaccination records

2. Admission Screening

Staff must observe and monitor all dogs for signs of illness when admitting them to daycare. Dogs showing any of the following signs must not be accepted and the owner must be contacted immediately:

• Vomiting or diarrhoea within the last 48 hours
• Visible discharge from eyes, nose, or ears
• Suspected or confirmed infectious disease
• Unexplained lethargy, loss of appetite, or unusual behaviour

3. Isolation Facilities

Eddie's Doggy Daycare maintains an isolation facility at the Harlow site, with secondary cover from our registered veterinary practice:

• Harlow site — dedicated on-site isolation area (the Harlow office), used to separate any dog showing signs of sickness, injury, or potential infectious disease whilst waiting for collection or veterinary advice
• Kew Vets Harlow (11 Wych Elm, Harlow, CM20 1QR — 01279 422 066) — our registered veterinary practice, providing secondary isolation facilities for dogs requiring veterinary-level care through sickness, injury, or potential infectious disease, and isolation cover should the on-site area be unavailable or unsuitable

4. Isolation Procedure

If a dog displays signs of a potentially infectious disease whilst at daycare:

1. Remove the dog from the main group immediately and place in the isolation area
2. Contact the registered vet (Kew Vets Harlow) for advice — this must be done before any other action
3. Follow all veterinary guidance provided
4. Contact the dog's owner immediately and notify them of the situation
5. If veterinary advice requires it, transport the dog to the vet for isolation
6. Document the incident fully on ProPet (EDDC-POL-020)
7. If the outbreak involves a notifiable disease or results in a closure of more than 24 hours, notify the licensing authority

5. Enhanced Cleaning Following Isolation

Following any isolation incident, before the area is returned to normal use:

• The crate and any vehicle used for transport must be fully sanitised and disinfected
• The full enhanced cleaning protocol (EDDC-POL-015) must be applied to all affected areas
• Separate water bowls, bedding, and cleaning utensils kept in readiness for isolation incidents must be cleaned and restocked

6. PPE Requirements

When handling any dog requiring isolation due to infectious disease:

• Protective clothing and footwear must be worn at all times
• PPE must be kept in the isolation unit and not removed other than for cleaning and disinfection
• The dog should be cared for by one designated staff member only
• Staff with open wounds must not handle isolated dogs until wounds are fully covered

7. Parasite Control

Eddie's Doggy Daycare does not supply any de-worming or de-fleaing medication on site — this is the owner's responsibility. Dogs found to have flea or tick infestations during daily handling checks will be isolated and the owner contacted to arrange treatment before the dog can return.

8. Review

This policy is reviewed annually in consultation with Kew Vets Harlow, or immediately following any infectious disease incident.

6. Vaccination Detail

• The primary vaccination course must be completed at least 2 weeks before a dog's first day at daycare.
• Only UK-licensed vaccines are accepted.
• Titre test certificates are not accepted in place of vaccination for DHP or Leptospirosis. Where an owner's vet advises against vaccination on medical grounds, written veterinary confirmation must be provided and the dog is assessed case by case by the Owner.
• Vaccination certificates are uploaded to ProPet and expiry dates are tracked automatically; a dog whose vaccination lapses cannot attend until it is renewed.

7. Care of Isolated Dogs

• Isolated dogs are checked last on every round, after all other dogs, to avoid carrying infection into the main groups.
• Each isolated dog is given dedicated toys, bedding, bowls and enrichment that stay in the isolation area and are not shared.
• Isolated dogs are never left alone for long periods — welfare checks continue at the same frequency as the main groups, recorded on the Daily Welfare Register.
• The owner is told the same day that their dog has been isolated, why, and exactly how the dog is being kept apart from other dogs.
• PPE, cleaning kit and waste bags are stored inside the isolation area and are not taken back into the main site until laundered or disposed of.