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

You won’t need to share the same space though. The dog wouldn’t come to you because of your allergy so you would remain at a distance anyway.

Yes, I didn’t know but have been vastly reassured by the kinder posters on here.

Both

Ok, I think I have caught up with the posts, have a lovely evening and thank you all for your thoughts and well wishes.

Erm… I understand the whole allergy point you’re making. But regarding the drool…. You realise someone has probably shat on that bed you’re sleeping on? Vomited / bled / piddled / had a mega abscess draining over it? The beds are cleaned with the bedding. The wards are also cleaned.

As if cleaning staff aren't busy enough!

Hospitals are meant for PEOPLE who of course will have bodily fluids and mess. That is no reason to bring animals in.

I absolutely despair at the low standards people here will happily accept on behalf of everybody else just because of this mad dog obsession.

At the end of the day, the practice of having therapy dogs visit healthcare settings is widespread across the country, ongoing for many years and the risk assessment that was made then and is still being made now is obviously that the benefits to the many outweigh any risks or displeasure caused to the few (which are minor anyway given that one can simply not engage with the visits - dogs aren't chasing terrified patients around hospital wards).

School has a therapy dog and we are told when she will be in the classrooms, given an opportunity for our child to be taken elsewhere, etc. I imagine the risk assessment process for hospitals etc is equally rigorous, given I've not seen a flood of stories in the media about therapy dogs murdering hospital patients.

Given it sounds like OP has never even seen a therapy dog in the hospital, and is unlikely to given that she won't be included in any visits s she doesn't want to and is allergic, then this whole thread seems fairly pointless.

Absolutely no need to be so nasty.

Plenty of people have explained how a therapy dog helped either them or a relative.

Some people are in hospital for months upon months. Their mental health is at rock bottom and a therapy dog is the highlight of their day.

A therapy dog won't go to people randomly, it is planned and if someone is allergic or has a short hospital stay, it isn't going to be applicable to them anyway.

The therapy dog is now part of my son's regular hospital routine, as is scouts on Mondays and baking on Tuesdays. Because he's just a child and he needs some fun in his life again. Been in hospital for 9 months is shit, especially for a child.

Think before you chat utter shite next time OP.

Oh, for God's sake. "Associated filth"? Maybe focus on the joy therapy dogs bring for those who want to spend time with them?

My dog is a little meff and I've never once got sick from her. However, from a cleanliness point of view if they had accidents it could potentially be a problem - god shit and piss could cause issues for sure. I'm assuming they'll be very well trained, though.

Therapy dogs go into my children's school to work with some of the SEN children and it's never once happened.

I'm with you OP, I'd hate having dogs around me or any loved ones while ill in hospital.

Pet as Therapy dogs have been a thing for ages.
I used to work in a kid's hospital, and a lovely chocolate lab used to come in and visit patients. People don't get ill from dogs because there are very few illness that can be passed between them.

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 love dogs but can’t stand the way they have been turned into humans by people. It’s not good for them and personally I think the whole ‘fur baby’ thing is abusive and does them no favours as it’s so unnatural.

However, having worked in hospitals for decades I can tell you, your outrage is bonkers. Even the filthiest dog is cleaner than most humans to be frank. Yes, there are zoonotic infections possible but honestly you are 100% more at risk from Doris sitting on the chair next to you than a dog licking your face. If you are going to allow people into hospitals to interact with other people (such as putting hands on chairs, pressing elevator buttons, normal breathing out as someone walks past), then really there is no clinical reason not to allow dogs. Yes, some people will be allergic and that can be managed. Honestly though, you have no idea whether your radiographer, nurse, doctor has been having a good roll around play with their dog before coming to work, or that a guide dog will walk past you in a hallway. In short, you are more at risk from a kitchen sponge or the person sitting on the chair next to you in the waiting area than Fido making the rounds.

A.therapy dog visited my child while.in ICU. It was a bit of a shock as was the last thing we were expecting but the dog was clean and well trained.
It also really boosted my child and aided recovery

And there are lots of people that have/had cancer that welcome visits from therapy dogs.

Nobody cares if she doesn’t like dogs, but why take away something that others get so much joy from when it actually doesn’t affect you at all.
As has been stated over and over again -therapy dogs will not be getting close to those that do not want to engage with them.

As for germs - who is making sure that visitors wash their hands regularly in the hospital?
Making sure they wash them before going into the ward, making sure they wash them after using the toilet? After touching their nose or coughing into their hands and sneezing and then touching stuff around them.

People are simply pointing out that the threat of infections is always possible in hospitals - but from other humans, not therapy dogs.

My grandma caught pneumonia and died in hospital last year - she didn’t catch it from a dog.

I don’t like being in a ward with people snoring all night or shouting out or having their loud and germy kids visiting and babies/toddlers crying out when I am trying to rest but I don’t call them ‘disgusting’ and ask for it to be stopped.

Also, she put it on a forum asking people for their opinions, and then drop fed information.

The more I read of this thread I am convinced that OP is making it up as she goes along.

Furthermore, the article she wanted an opinion on is extremely positive and gives examples of how well patients have responded to visits from therapy dogs.

Sending love to your son and I am glad to hear he is enjoying his visits from the therapy dog x

But take the people to the dogs, not the other way round.

I've not had an in-patient stay in hospital since I was a child (other than one night when I had my son) and I can tell you that if someone had brought a dog into the ward I'd have screamed the place down and cowered in the corner of the ward. Edited: I am not that scared now, but I still don't want them near me.

I suspect that the "handlers" might listen to an adult telling them to take the dog away, but I bet kids get told "oh he's so cute, look just give him a stroke" and told they are stupid for being scared.

Having dogs around would not decrease my blood pressure. Anything but.

As has been stated over and over again -therapy dogs will not be getting close to those that do not want to engage with them

You can state that.

What happens in reality is no doubt quite different. And it's not just therapy dogs it seems, it's pets as well, according to a pp.

I know people love dogs. But the immediate and constant comparisons to humans are quite tedious to read.

Yes some people can be dirty. And infections are transmitted by people. But we have to have people in hospital. Other patients and staff are unavoidable. And quite frankly most people need human visitors to help and support them these days, as nursing staff are overworked and wards have low staffing.

There is no pressing need to have dogs on wards for most people. And having animals on wards needs to be carefully thought-through. I can see how it might work if someone has a side room and the dog is clean and supervised. And it’s great if patients can have that support without adversely affecting anyone else.

But dogs are not the same as humans. Their roles in the world are different. The constant comparisons are just weird. Wards have to have people on them. Dogs, not so much.

The ignorance on this thread is astounding. I take it that it hasn’t dawned on you that the patients who benefit from pet therapy the most are the ones that are bed bound/find mobilising difficult?

No dog is coming near you if you don’t want it, these are incredibly well trained, calm and specially chosen animals who do exactly as they are asked - I really don’t see how that is so hard to grasp.