Q: I have had two dogs in the past and will be getting a new puppy soon. How can I prepare the crate and dog run for the puppy? Also, is it best not to pass along toys used by my previous dog? I plan to get some new things, but I have quite a few items that I didn't have the heart to get rid of when my second dog passed.
A: Unless a contagious disease caused the death of your last dog, it’s fine to pass along his toys to your new puppy. Just wash them in hot, soapy water and rinse them well. Do the same with the previous dog’s crate – just scrub it down to make it fresh and clean for the new puppy.
As for the dog run, take a scrub brush to the fence wire, with soapy water containing a little bleach, and then rinse it well. If the floor of the run is concrete, you can scrub it down with the same soapy/bleach water. If the floor of the run is gravel or sand, consider replacing it with fresh flooring.
However, if your former dog’s death was caused by a contagious disease, you should not pass along his toys to the puppy. You will also need to sanitize the crate and dog run more stringently. Ask for your veterinarian’s advice on products and procedures that will allow you to safely sanitize everything before the new pup arrives.