Disgusting Dogs going into ICUs at a hospital near you

[SummerFeverVenice]

Is anyone else horrified at the thought of “therapy” dogs going on hospitals’ wards and even into ICUs? I read this article and was throughly disgusted at the idea of animals and all their associated filth being allowed into hospitals.

Outpatient, psychiatric wards I have no problem with. But regular wards and the ICU?! Where infection control and hygiene must be upheld…surely this is a bad idea. In the article one of the volunteers even let her dog lick a patient’s face! Plus the top photo shows a dog that has climbed into bed with a patient.

I feel like dog worship has gone a step too far.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz7w4lzyg2lo

Grow up OP. These are accredited therapy dogs and there will be strict controls where they visit. Take a look at the happiness on that woman’s face in the picture you posted and then read the article you linked to. Slowly. So as you understand.

Those pesky medical dogs saving lives, and those awful guide dogs helping people with sight issues live independently, the rotten sheepdogs helping farmers herd their sheep and cattle and don’t even get me started on cadaver and bomb sniffing dogs …
And any elderly/lonely person that relies on a dog for love and companionship - well sod them all eh…

There is a Instagram page Ellie's golden life, and they visit kids in hospital in the USA and the smiles on the kids faces. If it helps people why not.

No. I would keep assistance dogs of course. And the sheepdogs are ok too as they stay outside and don’t come near me.

My dog wouldn’t want to go near you - can he stay please?

My dog wouldn't go near you.

I agree that there does seem to be a role for dogs as companions in this country. So many people on MN don’t have friends, hate their relatives etc, so a dog might be the only company left. It is sad really.

I really wish all owners were like you.

Im sorry, i need this story….

Kindly OP, I think you need to talk with a professional about your fears here. I’m not undermining your very valid allergy concerns however there is a time of panic and a few sweeping statements and perhaps some anxiety (understandable given your current health situation) and I wonder, if you have that support on your health care team then it might be beneficial

I agree with this. It's not fair on other patients if there are other patients on the ward. Plenty of people are allergic to dogs, are scared of them or just don't like them.

Same, I've never been told animals pose any health threat to me but to avoid any humans who are carrying an infection which is easier said then done when they insist in coughing and sneezing in my vicinity

This!! I’ve caught plenty of horrid diseases and missed many days of enjoying my life through illness caught from “filthy” humans… Been a dog owner and dog cuddler all of my 60 years and have never caught anything from a dog…
Only returned to work last week after being floored by a chest infection caught from a filthy man who cough/sneezed in my face at work.

Hospitals are not the clean sterile places they used to be, let’s face it…

All the stations with hand cleansing gel, masks and the restrictions on visitors during Covid really cut down on infections in hospitals. People are the biggest source of infection. They don’t wash their hands after using the loo and spread fecal bacteria onto everything they touch. They carry everything from full blown flu to a cold they’re almost over and don’t think about the fact that they’re walking into a place full of sick people.

Which is why if I was in hospital and immuno compromised (like a lot of elderly people are) I'd not be stroking a dog that has been touched by loads of other germ ridden people! HCPs are supposed to wash their hands between patients but you can hardy bath the dog in between. I don't think it's as bad if patients don't actually touch the dog.

I'm with you OP even if I'm the only one. If I'm ever in ICU and a dog gets brought in, just pull the plug there and then.

I can only assume other posters are less familiar with how different ICU vs a normal ward. DH is an ICU doctor and it's rare there's a day when he doesn't have a patient pass away, and most of his patients will be in a coma and on a ventilator. There are very, very few patients there who are getting a morale boost from a pet being brought in, and even for those that are who are able to "appreciate" it, the infection risk to every one else is still a huge consideration.

That’s so kind of you to volunteer yourself and your dog to help children x

I bet they absolutely love spending time with a therapy dog.

Can think of quite a few children where I work that would benefit from this x

I love dogs . They don’t belong in ICU units or in environments where patients are immunocompromised and the most vulnerable. Therapy animals are great in appropriate environments and bring great comfort and raise spirits of many people. If someone is terminally ill, as long as visits by animals are in a room away from other patients at the time, I think they should be able to see therapy animals as much as they would like.

Have you ever worked with the general public before you made this assumption? I have worked in the NHS and have come across poor people who were unable to keep themselves clean. Some actually infested with maggots. A service dog would be clean and fully vaccinated and would only to introduced to patients who were keen to interact.

😂 Brilliant

Your reaction to this is extreme and the language you use to describe dogs ridiculous.

You’ve obviously got some issues and I think you need to go and give your head a wobble.

When you’re in the recovery stage post intubation, you won’t go straight to the ward. This is a very distressing, confusing time for people. A dog would have been a welcome distraction for me!

How do the staff verify that those rules are being adhered to?

My mother was a child psychologist specialising in trauma and had our former family dog trained and approved as a therapy dog for child therapy. His job was basically to be touched, hugged and handled by traumatised children because it made them calmer and more likely to open up. There was a time when she was often in hospitals (even ICUs) with him to talk to children who had been brought in after accidents or SS interventions. Our dog was always bathed in a special shampoo beforehand and was not allowed to run outside before the visit. He was regularly tested for bugs and parasites. All patients that the dog could have come into contact with would be asked if they minded. There were only ever small sections of the ward where he was allowed to move around.

I can understand your concerns (my mom also had cancer and we took all possible precautions to not compromise her immune system), but the chances of a therapy dog suddenly bumping into you in a hospital are really close to zero if all procedures are followed.

I can't speak for what goes on there but with my friends alpacas they had to have certification from the vet that the facility administrator would review every time she would come in.