ANDOVER, Kan. – When new clients bring their dogs and cats to Countryside Pet Clinic many express surprise that the clinic is so quiet and virtually odor free. Dr. Kevin Cederberg, the veterinarian who founded the practice and a pet resort in suburban Wichita, credits much of the clinic’s pleasant atmosphere to his decision to install BEAM Central Vacuum Systems in both facilities.

“By keeping it clean, you’re definitely removing a lot of the regular and perceived odors of a veterinary clinic,” Cederberg says. “Quietness is a big thing for us. You can get the cleaning done with a critical-care patient around or with a client in the waiting room or exam rooms and they’re really not aware of a loud vacuum at all.”

Allen Ibsen, a veterinarian with 41 years of experience from Brookfield, WI, who designs veterinary clinics across the country, has long included central vacuum systems in his designs. From a business standpoint, the faster the cleaning process between appointments enhances staff efficiency and may allow veterinarians to serve more patients each day.

“It takes a lot of labor to keep the veterinary hospitals clean,” says Ibsen. “I encourage central vacuums in the hospitals that I design for convenience and to speed up the cleaning process.”

Cheney Door Co., a Beam Central Vacuum System dealer from Wichita, Kan., installed the first system for Cederberg in 1996. In 2002 he built a neighboring pet resort that provides day-care and boarding services for dogs and cats. He chose to include a central vacuum system in that facility as well because of the positive experience he had with the system in his clinic. 

Cederberg noted that his vacuum system at the clinic is in constant use when patients are prepped for surgeries and to keep hair from the surgical site during procedures. “Dogs and cats tend to shed more when they are excited or nervous.”

Kenny Bomholt, department manager at Cheney Door Co. says pet owners and the pet care industry are some of his favorite customers because they notice indoor environmental quality benefits. They experience a major improvement when using central vacuums compared to other forms of cleaning. 

“Central Vacuums are a vital tool to maintain a clean and healthy environment.” Bomholt says, adding his company has installed central vacuums into more than 20 different veterinary clinics around Wichita and hundreds of pet owners’ homes.

Pet dander, especially cat dander, is a leading allergy trigger in humans.  Cederberg says installing a central vacuum system in the home may be a smart decision for allergic pet owners. In fact, he recently had a central vacuum installed in his own home. His unit has more than 600 air watts of cleaning power,  five times the power of most standard upright or canister vacuums. “Anything we can do to reduce exposure to the dander and the hair, that’s good.”