Guide to preparing an animal for a veterinary procedure Step 1. Clean and disinfect the operating table using a spray bottle containing disinfectant spray. Wipe down the table using clean paper towels and dispose of the used towels in the bin. To avoid infection or spread of disease gloves should be worn during the disinfection process. The disinfection process can be carried out by one person per table and should not take longer than 5 minutes.