Visiting Pets at Hospitals and Rehab Centers

Visiting Pets at Hospitals and Rehab Centers

By Dez Crawford

Regardless of the nature of their illness, it has been demonstrated that hospitalized patients can benefit tremendously from contact with a beloved pet. Even patients whose communication is severely limited often respond profoundly to a visit from a friendly animal, whether it is their own pet from home or a "visiting pet" brought to the hospital by local volunteers working for a visiting pet program.

Many hospitals and live-in rehab facilities today allow "visiting pets" to cheer and comfort the patients in their care. Some of these animals arrive in the hands of volunteers from local humane societies, who bring specially trained, gentle animals for patients to stroke and cuddle.

A number of facilities also allow family pets to visit the patient, provided the family complies with sensible guidelines governing the pet's health, demeanor and level of cleanliness.

When my husband, David, was in the rehab hospital post-stroke, visits from our family cats made a tremendous difference in his comfort level. He sorely missed his cats, and looked forward to a daily visit from each of our pets.

You might be able to bring the same happiness to your own friend or family member by bringing their beloved dog or cat for a visit.

Before you consider bringing a pet to visit, consider the following:

Does the patient want to see the pet? For some patients, visits from a pet may be more stressful than not seeing the pet at all. A pet visit may be too confusing for some patients; others may be more saddened than cheered by brief visits from a pet they cannot have at their side all the time.

The hospital will be a new and unfamiliar environment to the pet. Does your pet do well in unfamiliar situations, or does it become nervous and irritable? Remember that some of the same scents and sights found in a hospital, such as disinfectant, bright lights, and humans wearing medical scrubs, may be reminiscent of a trip to the vet's. Your pet's behavior at the vet's office may be a good indicator of its possible behavior in a hospital situation. Be cautious of bringing a pet to a hospital if it becomes nervous or irritable at the vet's.

Likewise, your pet will be around unfamiliar people. A pet that doesn't like strangers is a poor choice for a hospital visit.

Ask yourself:

If the pet is a dog: is it friendly to strangers, is it obedience trained, and does it handle well on a leash?

If the pet is a cat: is it friendly to strangers, and is it calm in most situations? A cat who runs from strangers, or who spends most of her time hiding under the bed at home, is very unlikely to relax in new surroundings. For most hospitals and live-in rehab facilities, which allow visiting pets, the following requirements apply:

1.    At most facilities only one animal visitor is allowed at a time.

2.     Pet must be healthy, free from fleas and other parasites, and up-to-date on rabies shots and other         vaccinations. Be sure to bring printed information on the pet's health and vaccination status along.

3.     In most cases, the pet must have been bathed at least within the last 72 hours. Some facilities require bathing within the last 24 hours. Be sure the pet is freshly brushed so it does not shed hair in the hospital.

4.    Pet must be restrained. This means a collar and leash for dogs, and a harness and leash for cats.

5.     Some facilities allow other pets, such as ferrets or birds, if their health can be verified. Bring this information with you. Because birds, primates, reptiles and certain other pets can sometimes carry zoonotic diseases (diseases transmittable to humans), some facilities do not allow them to visit. Ferrets must be restrained on a leash and harness. Birds should have their "fly feathers" trimmed to restrict flying. Transport birds and ferrets to and from the facility in a cage or carrier.

6.     The animal handler must have complete control over the animal at all times.

7.     Cats and small dogs are best transported to and from the facility in a pet carrier.

8.     Be sure to "bathroom" the dog shortly before you enter the facility. For cats, bring a large, covered, plastic shoebox with some kitty litter in it, and place it in a private corner of the room with the lid removed while you visit.

9.     Be certain that the person bringing the pet is able to completely control the animal without assistance from others. A large dog that is not obedience trained, who jumps up on people, or who is not accustomed to walking on a leash, does not make a good visitor. At all times, make sure the pet does not get underfoot in a situation where it could trip the patient.

10. Trim your pet's claws or nails before your visit.

11. Most importantly, NEVER bring an excitable or nervous pet, or a pet that has ever bitten a human being.

Call the hospital or rehab center before your visit to make sure you are in complete compliance with their visiting pets policy -- specific policies may vary from one facility to another. Some facilities, for example, allow only small pets. Some allow the patient's personal pet to visit only the patient, while others allow the pet to be "shared" by other patients. And some facilities do not allow certain breeds, which are generally perceived to be aggressive, such as Rottweilers and pit bull dogs. If your specific pet is not allowed inside the facility, you might ask if the patient may visit the pet outside, in a patio or parking area.

When you enter the patient's room, do not immediately plop the pet into the patient's lap. Allow the patient time to acknowledge that the pet is there. Likewise, allow the pet time to adjust to its new surroundings. Dogs will want to sniff around for a few minutes. Allow a cat a few minutes to check out the situation before you remove it from the pet carrier. Make sure the patient is seated or in bed when the pet is presented, especially if it is a medium-to-large sized dog. You don't want a large dog to jump up on a standing patient whose balance is poor.

Bring the pet to the patient slowly. Allow the patient time to stroke and touch the pet while you hold the animal. Assist the pet and patient with more intimate contact as desired, for example, lifting the pet onto the patient's lap. Keep the pet's leash in your own hands at all times. Don't expect the patient to control the pet if it gets excited and jumps off the patient's lap.

Both pets and patients get tired. When either the pet or patient shows signs of fatigue, irritability, anxiety or restlessness, either kennel the pet for the duration of your visit, or bring it directly home.

If you plan to "share" your family pet with other patients, follow the same guidelines. Be especially certain that a "shared" pet is completely comfortable with strangers before you offer a visit. Remember that pets whose personalities are too intimate or "licky" may not be welcome by other patients. Your own family member may love to be licked by your slobbering St. Bernard, but other people may not find this level of affection appealing.

It's also a good idea to bring paper towels, a plastic bag and a squirt bottle of sanitizer in case your pet has an accident inside the hospital. A water bowl is a must if the visit will last more than a few minutes, and a having small amount of pet treats handy is helpful. By following a few simple guidelines, you may be able to provide a great deal of joy and comfort to your family member by bringing a pet for regular visits. Like visits from human family members and friends, visits from a pet bring familiarity, comfort and love to the patient who is trapped in a strange and sometimes frightening environment.

My husband, Dave, says: "When you are hospitalized for a stroke, it is like getting slam-dunked into a program, without any preparation. After being hospitalized awhile, I realized that my cats were what I missed the very most from home. Being able to see them was a great relief. I was glad to see them and they were glad to see me."

Please feel free to e-mail me at dezcrawford@hotmail.com for further information.

The Stroke Network, Inc.

P.O. Box 492 Abingdon, Maryland 21009