K9 decontamination matters, the dog’s health and safety may be on the line, stresses Dr. Erin Perry, a professor at Southern Illinois University.

Perry's 20+ years of working with K9s on deployment has driven research into stress-related gastrointestinal problems in K9s and enhancements in decontamination methods. Her research has revealed that not only are good decontamination practices sometimes lacking, but the methods employed can be harmful to dogs.  

“Tactical hygiene means we need to practice a basic wipe down of our K9s with a disposable microfiber towel saturated with diluted chlorhexidine at the end of each shift,” she says. “This keeps the dog, and our families, protected.”

The Importance of Proper Decontamination

Good hygiene and safety are vital, she says. Perry learned this lesson when she and her K9, Pick, were sent to search for survivors in Joplin, Missouri after a tornado. The team searched a damaged Home Depot. Following the current recommendations, Perry cleaned her dog with soapy water, a brush, and a hose. The next day, Pick was in liver failure.

“While she was in her kennel, she was engaging in grooming. Dogs will self-groom when they are stressed or fatigued,” she explains. “We believe this is how she ingested the residue of toxic chemicals she was exposed to that day.”

 A team of veterinarians at the University of Missouri-Columbia saved Pick’s life. But that experience left Perry asking questions about decon practices.

“As handlers, it is our responsibility to advocate for our dogs,” she says. “I wanted to know what went wrong and what I could do better next time. I didn’t want this problem to ever happen again.”

She says she was shocked to discover that the current recommendations for decontamination methods had never been tested or evaluated in dogs. The methods being used were based on decontamination practices for humans.

“You cannot decon dogs the same way you decon people,” she says. “Humans can remove soiled clothing and boots. We can wear PPE [personal protective equipment]. Dogs can’t.”

Dogs also have different routes of exposure. They use their nose and are closer to the ground. They could be exposed to inhaled contaminants and frequently get micro lacerations on their skin and paws.

“I quickly discovered there’s an enormous gap in our knowledge related to safe and effective methods to decontaminate working K9s,” she says.

Perry started researching ways to improve K9 decontamination. She contacted partners in FEMA and other task forces for help testing decontamination methods and products.

“My partner had almost died, and I wasn’t willing to let these questions go unanswered,” she says.

She discovered the common practice of “double wash/double rinse” did not work with petroleum-based compounds, nor was it good for dogs’ skin. Dish soap, while effective, was impractical due to the lengthy 45-minute process needed to remove contaminants.

“Even if we did the full procedure, I found the ventral anatomy, such as the abdomen, the inner legs, and the neck, were not getting clean,” she says. “So, I designed a series of research projects that looked at where dogs get contaminated and where we should focus our decon efforts. I also examined which soaps work best and are safest for dogs.”

The frequency of decontamination matters. Dogs needing monthly decon are different from those in contaminated environments needing daily decon. Harsh daily decon methods can harm dogs' skin, compromising their dermal anatomy, Perry says.

“We need to understand when dogs need a full bath, when they need just a wipe down, and when a foot bath is sufficient,” she says.

Planning Comes First

Planning for exposures is a key step to better decontamination, according to Perry. Departments need to know what their K9s could be exposed to during their shifts and then put the right decontamination practices in place.

“Anytime we are responding to an event, we need to know what the hazards are,” she says. “For law enforcement, these hazards are likely to be fairly consistent: narcotics, toxic industrial chemicals or materials, and biological materials.”

It is common to encounter biological materials in policing. “Police K9s are often in close contact with suspects or individuals where blood, vomit, fecal or other infectious materials are present,” she explains. “If an officer knows the dog has come in contact with biological materials, what is the plan? Does the dog need to go back in the car? If so, we need to plan on decontaminating that space, too.”

She recommends keeping a basic field wipe down kit in the car for these circumstances. This kit should include disposable microfiber wipes containing chlorhexidine, which are often used in surgery prep to sterilize surgery sites, she says.

“These wipes are commonly used in the veterinary field and are safe for the dog’s skin,” she says. “They also are effective with oil-based contaminants.”

Perry recommends officers to stay alert and check the dog's well-being after narcotics exposures. “Liquid forms of dangerous narcotics may require large volumes of water and copious rinsing,” she says. “If your dog alerts on a dangerous narcotic, you must be conscious of the fact that they may have been exposed to it and watch for symptoms of exposure. You need a plan. Do you have Narcan available? Do you know which veterinary hospital you will transport the dog to? And every K9 handler should be trained to recognize the signs of these exposures.”

Perry explains standing liquids have been shown to contain petroleum-based compounds, benzene derivatives, and other potentially dangerous toxins. At disaster scenes, the risk of microbiological contamination is very high, as human waste and remains are frequently encountered.  For dogs working around these hazards, Perry recommends a thorough decontamination bath, with a focus on high-risk areas like lower legs, paws, abdomen, and chest.

Search-and-rescue or cadaver dogs may work in muddy areas or places with high exposure to human remains. Perry recommends a full decontamination bath to remove sludge, human sewage, and other biohazardous materials. She also advises increased focus on the lower legs, paws, abdomen, and chest, since these areas have been shown to have the highest incidence of exposure.

Perry explains that a dog working in standing liquids or puddles will be more likely to have an exposure that breaks through the coat barrier in the lower portion of their anatomy, she says. Dogs working in an urban environment, however, may be exposed from the top down. Particulates and dust may accumulate on the ground, but airborne particulate may settle on their upper bodies, she explains.

Steps to Field Decon

Field decontamination comprises wiping dogs down with a disposable microfiber towel coated in dilute chlorhexidine. “This is just a gross decon step to remove excess soilage and particulates,” she says.

Next, depending on the K9’s degree of exposure, officers must determine if the dog’s coat barrier has been broken. Were they immersed in anything? Did the exposure go all the way down to their skin? If so, the K9 will need a bath.

“The last thing you want to do is bathe dogs repeatedly or unnecessarily,” Perry explains. “If you do that, you are stripping sebum and compromising dermal Ph. This can compromise the epidermal integrity that the dog needs to protect itself. The coat protects them and acts as a barrier, so if the dog has not been immersed in anything or the exposure is limited to the lower legs, a field wipe down is sufficient.”

Decontamination of the dogs must include their equipment, she adds.

Leather leashes/collars can be cleaned with a wipe, while nylon items need to be washed. Porous reward items such as tugs and tennis balls should be thrown away when contaminated by environmental materials. Perry notes, “Research conducted by my lab has demonstrated that 100% of reward items utilized in a contaminated environment also become contaminated.”

However, properly washing equipment presents a problem, she adds, because it aerosolizes contaminants. “That process can create a safety risk that isn’t really worth it,” she says.

For this reason, Perry recommends teams have two sets of equipment, a hot set that is used in the field, and a cold set used at home. She recommends cleaning the hot leash and putting it in a sealed container for the next shift, then putting a clean set on the dog.

“This helps minimize contaminant transfer,” she says.

Perry also cautions officers to wear proper PPE during decontamination. The highest risk in decon besides the dog is the handler. Next is the veterinarians who treat them, she says.

“Practice proper PPE,” she says. “If there is a risk for biological or chemical exposure, you need to cover your skin and mucous membranes during the decon process. You need glasses over your eyes to protect them from splashes. You also need sleeves covering your arms and gloves.”

Training is Key

Handler training is an essential aspect of maintaining the health and safety of both K9 partners and their handlers, according to Perry.

“Just like any other best practice, if we neglect to incorporate training principles into our daily routines, we risk losing their effectiveness,” she says. “A memorable lesson from my son's flag football coach resonates here: ‘You perform how you practice.’ This holds true not only on the field but also in the workplace, especially in environments where our dogs are exposed to contaminants.”

She adds, “Every day, as we come home from work, we meticulously remove our dirty uniforms and boots, ensuring we don’t track any grime onto our living spaces. Similarly, when our dogs accompany us through urban environments, whether navigating busy airports or bustling subways, they encounter a host of harmful pathogens and chemicals,” she says. “This exposure makes it imperative for handlers to adopt a routine of hygiene, even after a seemingly uneventful day.”  

Simply wiping down police K9s at the end of a shift can eliminate potential threats and safeguard our families, she adds.

“This concept of decontamination extends beyond military contexts; it encompasses everyday tactical hygiene that ensures our K9 partners remain healthy and that we protect our loved ones from unseen dangers,” she says. “By integrating these practices into our routine, we not only enhance our dogs' well-being but also reinforce the vital connection between training and safety in our shared environments.”