DOI : https :// doi . org / 10.56496 / UMIU7085

Linn Ekberg , BScVN

AniCura Värmdö Djurklinik , Sweden

ENVELOPE linn _ ekberg93 @ hotmail . com

Linn obtained her bachelor ' s degree in veterinary nursing in 2021 and is now working at AniCura Värmdö Djurklinik . Her interests include wound care and dentistry .

Josefin Lindskog , BScVN

Djurhälsan Veterinary Clinic , Sweden

ENVELOPE josefin . lindskog @ hotmail . com

Josefin graduated with a bachelor ' s degree in veterinary nursing in 2021 and is now working at Djurhälsan Veterinary Clinic . Her interests include wound care , radiography and dentistry .

Lena Olsén , PhD

Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences , Sweden

ENVELOPE lena . olsen @ slu . se

Lena is an associate professor with a PhD in veterinary pharmacology . She is a senior lecturer in anaesthesiology at the Department of Clinical Sciences at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences ( SLU ).

ABSTRACT Clipping is often recommended before venepuncture in dogs because it is considered hygienic , but studies on the subject are scarce . Studies on clipping have shown that it can cause dermatological problems , such as micro-wounds and erythema . The aim of this study was to compare the amount of bacteria on the skin of dogs with and without clipping and disinfection .

Samples were taken from each forelimb of 20 beagles ; one forelimb was clipped and the other was left unclipped . The samples were taken before and after disinfection with chlorhexidine . The samples were surface plated on blood agar and Sabouraud agar . The blood agar plates were incubated at 37 ° C for a total of 48 hours and the Sabouraud agar plates were incubated at 30 ° C for 120 or 144 hours .

After incubation , the agar was examined for fungi and bacteria . The results showed no difference in the number of bacteria on the samples taken from the clipped forelimb compared with the unclipped forelimb . In general , the results showed very little growth from samples taken after disinfection , on both the clipped and the unclipped forelimbs . No fungi were detected .

The conclusion of this study was that clipping before venepuncture of the cephalic vein is not necessary from a hygiene perspective , when hygiene is measured by the amount of bacterial growth . However , the importance of disinfection to maintain good hygiene was confirmed . Clipping before venepuncture should therefore be considered optional .

Keywords canine , dog , clip , disinfection , venepuncture , hygiene , skin , bacteria

30 Veterinary Nursing Journal