When infection control is non-negotiable, your kennels are the frontline—not an afterthought. At TriStar Vet, we design and build fully welded stainless kennel systems exclusively for veterinary professionals. Our goal: speed up turnover, eliminate pathogen harborage, and protect patients, teams, and your brand with equipment that’s tough, ergonomic, and cleanable down to the millimeter.
Kennels Are Critical to Biosecurity
Since many pathogens spread via contact with contaminated surfaces (fomites), splash, and hands/gloves, kennel banks become high-traffic, high-risk zones. Every latch, seam, and corner can either accelerate biofilm growth—or stop it.
Veterinary infection control best practices (e.g., NASPHV Veterinary Standard Precautions and AAHA infection control and biosecurity guidelines) underscore environmental hygiene as a core defense. The right kennel design makes adherence faster, more consistent, and less labor-intensive.
Stainless Steel Wins on Cleanability & Longevity
Not all “stainless” or “sealed” surfaces are equal. Here’s what matters most:
- Fully welded construction (not riveted or bolted panels) eliminates seams where fluids and pathogens hide.
- Radius/coved interior corners prevent debris buildup and speed wipe-down.
- True 304 or 316 stainless resists corrosion from quats, accelerated hydrogen peroxide, and properly diluted bleach (rinse per label).
- Hand-polished welds reduce microscopic crevices, improving both cleanability and safety.
- NSF-grade cleanability supports hospital-level sanitation standards.
TriStar Vet’s kennel systems are purpose-built with these elements, so your team can clean faster with fewer steps—and fewer misses.
7 Kennel Design Features That Stop Pathogens Cold
- Seamless Floors & Sloped Pans
Direct runoff to a drain or removable pan. Slope prevents pooling under grates—prime territory for biofilm.
- Removable, Autoclavable (or High-Heat) Components
Doors, grates, and feeder inserts that pop out without tools = thorough disinfection and quick reassembly.
- Tight Tolerances, Gasketed Interfaces
Door gaps, hinge barrels, and latch housings engineered to minimize harborage and snag points.
- Integrated Splash Control
Raised thresholds, splash guards, and glass fronts limit cross-contamination from coughs, sneezes, and cleaning overspray while improving visibility.
- Isolation-Ready Configurations
Convertible partitions, sealed pass-throughs, and compatibility with negative-pressure rooms make cohorting practical during outbreaks.
- Hardware Built for Chemistry
Electropolished stainless hardware and minimal mixed metals stand up to daily use of hospital-grade disinfectants (always follow EPA guidance on disinfectants and manufacturer IFUs).
- Ergonomic Access
Waist-high doors, step-in access, and tool-free removal reduce strain so staff actually follow the full cleaning protocol—every time.
Cleaning Workflow: Design That Makes Protocols Stick
A kennel that cleans in minutes is a kennel that truly gets cleaned between patients. Aim for a top-down, “no backtracking” process:
- Pre-clean: Remove solids, then detachable components.
- Wash: Apply detergent to break biofilm; rinse.
- Disinfect: Apply an appropriate, material-compatible product and respect contact time.
- Rinse if required: Especially after bleach or quats to protect patient skin and stainless surfaces.
- Dry: Forced air or towel dry; reassemble with clean components.
TriStar’s fully welded construction, coved corners, and removable parts compress this cycle with fewer passes, less bending and no dead zones—critical in busy treatment and isolation wards.
Material Compatibility Matters (and Saves Money)
304/316 stainless stands up to quats, AHP, and properly diluted bleach, making it the safest long-term choice for heavy disinfection cycles. Remember, over-concentrated hypochlorite can pit ANY stainless—always measure and rinse per label to protect your investment.
Avoid porous or fragile finishes like laminates, wood, or chipped powder coat. Once the surface is compromised, it harbors pathogens in micro-crevices and accelerates costly replacement cycles.
To reduce variability and error, standardize your chemistry across wards so contact times and rinsing are consistent, predictable, and staff-friendly.
Isolation, Cohorting, and Flow
Smart kennel layout is a cornerstone of biosecurity. Create separate zones—for healthy/post-op, respiratory, GI, and isolation—so you can cohort patients and contain risk without slowing down care.
Equip each zone with dedicated tools—its own mops, bowls, and handling gear—to prevent cross-contamination and make compliance easier for busy teams.
Design traffic patterns that maintain a clean → dirty directionality. Clear flow lines reduce backtracking and mistakes. TriStar can configure kennel banks to fit your footprint so “north-to-south” workflows and dirty-utility access are intuitive from day one.
Maintenance = Infection Prevention
Build inspection into your routine. Check gaskets, latches, and hinges at least quarterly, and replace worn components before gaps or looseness create harborage points.
Schedule deep cleans—including full disassembly of removable parts—weekly in high-turnover areas to disrupt biofilm where it starts.
Finally, document contact times and rotate detergents/disinfectants per protocol. This helps maintain efficacy, supports staff training, and keeps your kennel bank performing like day one.
Kennel Buying Checklist for Infection Control
- ☐ Fully welded 304/316 stainless with hand-polished, radius corners
- ☐ Sloped floors + integrated drains or removable pans
- ☐ Tool-free removal of doors, grates, and feeder components
- ☐ Glass fronts/splash guards for visibility and droplet control
- ☐ Tight-tolerance hardware; minimal mixed metals
- ☐ Isolation-ready partitioning and room-integration options
- ☐ Proven compatibility with your disinfectant chemistry
- ☐ Warranty and support from a veterinary-exclusive partner
At TriStar Vet, we build ultra-durable, NSF-rated stainless systems for clinics that demand faster turnover, fewer vectors, and long-term value. We sell to veterinary professionals only—and we stand behind every weld.
Cleaner Kennels, Safer Patients—Custom-Built by TriStar Vet
Ready to upgrade infection control at the kennel bank? Let’s configure a system that fits your footprint, workflow, and budget.
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