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

Jeeeesus, OP - you sound deranged!!

When was the last time you heard of anyone getting sick from being licked by a dog??!

Hospital Noro outbreaks, however.....

The OP goes on about dogs being disgusting and their filth and only mentions much later that they apparently have a serious allergy to dogs and that it could kill them. If you buy that I have a bridge you might be interested in.

I don’t have that faith. You see they write my allergens on the red wrist band but it’s not being checked at every shift change. I have even had to remind staff of allergies when they offer me food I am allergic to. It is in my file, flagged in their system, written on my wrist band and still I have to be the one reminding. There is no way they are going to check everyone on a ward before a handler and dog comes into the ward. Not with today’s understaffed and run off its feet NHS.

Dogs are too dirty to be in a hospital ICU. I stand by that opinion. Nothing wrong with them being in homes, on farms, pubs and so on.

I think it’s lovely.

I’ve never caught anything from a dog.

I’m sure they wouldn’t be allowed to see a patient with compromised immunity.

As long as they are not near open iv lines or open wounds it should be ok I would have thought.

I think it’s lovely and obviously is doing good for many. If you have an allergy, a dog won’t be put around you.

Funny how you became deathly allergic when most replies didn't agree with you OP......

They don’t just “wander through ICU”. And not all ICU patients are immunocompromised. Some patients have been there for weeks and are slowly weaning off a ventilator. Those patients often get very depressed understandably and I have seen the positive effect when their dogs come for a visit. If their own dog comes in they were taken straight to the patient and only allowed to be with the patient. It would not be allowed near anyone else and believe me all staff were washing their hands after touching the dog. I honestly think there are other things I would be worrying about at this point. If you are immunocompromised you should be nursed in a side ward anyway

I'd much rather have a dog visit (even when I didn't want humans visiting) than be 'left in peace'. You can say 'no thanks' and leave the rest of us to it

@SummerFeverVenice 'Disgusting Dogs'??? Filth. Dial down the drama.

To be honest, @SummerFeverVenice - the daft hyperbole in your thread title renders any sensible points you might have made, completely moot.

If you had said “I’m in hospital, and am very allergic to dogs, and I’m worried about a Pets As Therapy dog visiting me, and setting off a dangerous asthma attack”, I would have been sympathetic, and would have advised you to speak to the ward Sister, to make sure no dogs came into your room/bay/vicinity.

But calling specific PAT dogs ‘disgusting’ with ‘their associated filth’ just sounds completely OTT. What made you imagine that any ‘filthy’ dog would be allowed to be a PAT dog or to come onto a ward?

Plus I am sure hospitals do risk assessments, and PAT dogs would not be going onto wards if they were arriving filthy and causing major outbreaks of infections. I would also assume that there has been research done on the benefits of PAT dogs.

Bit of a drip feed there.

You do know that guide dogs are already (quite properly) allowed in hospitals don't you, OP?

I hardly feel the wards are going to be invaded by packs of ravening canines.

ETA I do not believe that you are a dog lover. Your language about them says that.

My mum, 93, would love it.

My late dad got a lot of comfort from their dog sitting on his bed in his closing days.

I’m sure the cleanliness aspects have been looked into.

I just didn’t think it relevant until people were mocking me for being “terrified” of dogs. It’s information that is relevant to why I am having such a strong negative reaction to the thought of a dog being brought by me potentially when I am barely conscious in a ward recovering from surgery.

Im sorry you’re scared because of an allergy. I have asthma but unfortunately other people set me off!
dogs however are already allowed in the hospitals ( guide dogs already accompany patients and visitors etc).
this is different to people bringing their pets in, these are therapy animals.
whilst i agree with you that other people’s needs do not trumps yours, but i guess it’s same both ways in their eyes?
they've clearly researched the effect this is having on patients, this already happens abroad.
you could check the days they are coming in so you are not coming in on same day? I know it’s not nice being scared. You need to take care of yourself. I hope you are getting better.

I'm sure you'd have every right to flag a serious allergy - why are you assuming this would be forced upon you?

There are many studies that link having young children or animals around the sick and elderly has very positive effects on mood and healing. It's such an easy win - I don't see why the NHS would ban it for the sake of a low number of allergy sufferers or those who are afraid of dogs.

Just opt out, if it's happening at a hospital you are staying at. Nobody's going to throw a poodle at you as you walk through a ward!

@SummerFeverVenice let her dog lick the face of a patient???? bloody hell, that dog was licking its own arse 10 minutes ago!!! I have two dogs and would never allow them to lick anyone's face!!!

Didn’t think it was relevant…lol. Sure. A classic case of changing your story when replies don’t suit you.

I’m not in hospital right now. I had surgery three weeks ago and go in for more surgery to be scheduled at follow up tomorrow.

The fact they let a dog sit in the bed and lick a patient on the face was horrifying.

If you'd mentioned a severe allergy to start with I think people might have been more understanding of your concern. Instead, it was just very negative language about dogs without that context.

You sound miserable and lacking any intelligence - what a stupid question to post. Go be an emotionless robot, with no clue about cleanliness, sanitation and disease spreading.

Well my bank account balance proves otherwise.

No...if it makes someone happy then its good with me.

It's been going on for quite some time. Therapy dogs. Bloody wonderful, I love them!