Why can't I take my dogs to hospital?!!!

Great Danes and Mastiffs...I just want to apologize for singling out both these beautiful animals. I should have simply said "depending on the size of your pet".

My son has a Great Dane and he is the gentleist (sp) of any animal I've ever come across. Their size becomes a handicap for many people. Getting to know one changes most people's minds......safe travels..Dennis

You are absolutely correct. Random pets do not belong in the health care environment period. No question, they are a wild card with no bases in predictability or reliability.

Based on what? Data or opinion?

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Great now dogs in hospitals........bad enough they are in grocery stores, retail stores and restaurants.

I'm not talking about real 'service animals'........I mean PETS.

Sorry, well not really........your pets do not belong in the hospital for visitation. Ridiculous.

You are absolutely correct. Random pets do not belong in the health care environment period. No question, they are a wild card with no bases in predictability or reliability.

Certified Therapy dogs (animals) however are an entirely different matter. They are trained and evaluated so that their reactions are "almost" totally predictable under all sorts of strange/different
situations.

These dogs (as well as other animals) work tirelessly and with amazing results in hospitals, rehab units, and extended stay care homes with little notice and hardly any fan fare.

I was fortunate enough to be part of a therapy team with my Brittany for almost 7 years before she became too old to withstand the stress involved while dealing with ill patients.

Her favorite work environments were Pediatrics, Oncology, and ICU. Yes we did occasionally meet animal prejudice but far and away she was accepted with literally open arms as were the others working these units.

Just my opinion
Tinbender

gerrym51 wrote:
what about if the pet catches a disease from the hospital. it's not likely but it could happen. i'd keep mine home

That's a real issue, more so than the other way around. Hospitals that are doing this have pretty stringent protocols including barriers between the patients and animals in some situations. There are some patients where visits are just not possible due to the risks.

I've actually done a couple of physicals on dogs that needed to be cleared before visits. One was a culture for a MRSA check to insure (as much as possible) the dog was free.

what about if the pet catches a disease from the hospital. it's not likely but it could happen. i'd keep mine home

I sooooo needed my dogs when I was in for CHF 9 years ago. Never thought to ask, but then, again, a sloppy, drool-flinging bloodhound probably wouldn't have been a good idea. :B However, my current Springers I think would be fine.

Executive wrote:
Simply ask your nurse if they can visit you during visiting hours. Unless they're Great Danes or Mastiffs, often they will allow visits....ask..worse they can say is no....Dennis

:B

Great Danes ARE allowed if they are TD dogs.

All my Great Danes had TD training/titles. For years we went to local hospitals to visit the cancer patients.
http://www.akc.org/events/title-recognition-program/therapy/

This is a case of size does not matter!:W

Get all your dogs certified ahead of time. They do not have to be akc registered and/or purebred. So if you do get sick they CAN come to the hospital and visit you.

Not to mention how gratifying it is to take your dogs to the hospital to help others.

I know if I was stuck in a hospital I would be elated to see my Collies.

When my dad was hospitalized, we were encouraged to bring the dog for a visit.

Executive wrote:
Simply ask your nurse if they can visit you during visiting hours. Unless they're Great Danes or Mastiffs, often they will allow visits....ask..worse they can say is no....Dennis

:( If they allow pet visits-I would hope my sweet Mastiff could come!