Preparing for surgery – the animal

The preparation of the animal is an essential step in maintaining good aseptic technique.

In the same way as the surgeon carries two groups of infectious bacteria so does the animal:

• Resident commensal bacteria which are normally prevented from entering the animal by the mechanical barrier of the skin – these bacteria live in symbiosis with the host without causing infection.
• Other superficial bacteria with which the animal has come into contact but which are not normally part of the resident population contaminate the skin surface.