Posted on 05/11/2009 10:51:54 PM PDT by Chet 99
A new study of pet therapy dogs shows just how easily hospital germs can be transmitted to visitors.
Canadian researchers studied 26 therapy dogs who visited patients in hospitals or long-term care facilities. Before and after each visit, a dog’s forepaws and the hands of its handler were tested for three bacteria that commonly cause hospital infections — Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci and Clostridium difficile. To detect whether a dog was carrying germs on its fur, the researcher also sanitized her hands, petted the dog and had her hands tested for the pathogens.
None of the dog paws, handlers or the researcher tested positive for the bacteria before the hospital visits. But after the hospital visits, two of the dogs were contaminated. One dog, a greyhound, had C. difficile on its paws. Another dog, a pug, appeared to pick up MRSA on its fur. (MRSA was found on the hands of the investigator after she petted the dog upon its return.)
(Excerpt) Read more at well.blogs.nytimes.com ...
Very positive comments about the GOOD THINGS these dogs do for the patients....
Thanks for the article! It was a joy reading those comments.
My wife ran a dog program through her volunteer department in a California hospital. The patients loved them, and some patients that wouldn’t react for other things, just blossomed for the dogs.
I’m not happy to hear of this study, one that could jeopardize the programs.
Did they test the shoes and clothes of human visitors to hospitals? Probably the same stuff on the soles of their shoes and all over their clothing.
Bathe the dogs before and after visits. People wash their hands, humans have to help keep the dogs clean.
I agree, D1....
I took one of my GSD's to the car wash a couple of weeks ago and there was an elderly couple who had a love-fest with the dog...their faces totally relaxed. It was SO neat to watch....
Some people with mental disabilities also react well with the dogs. The positive reaction to dogs is pretty universal. I’m sure there are those who don’t want to participate, but folks would really be surprised how patients who get passed up, feel slighted and beg to have the dogs come see them.
It’s a great program. Sound like you had a good time at the car wash.
She’s ALWAYS a hit at the car wash. Except for the time the Muslim dude came in.
She doesn’t like that sort of person...
No, she didn’t try to attack him...
:)
VERY interesting about the mental disabilities...I’ve been meaning to check with some local nursing homes to see if they’d let her in w/o the service vest etal...she’d SO love the attention.
Well, if the researcher could sanitize her hands, so can the dogs and their owners be sanitized, run them under one of those germicidal lamps or have an alcohol spray. If the dogs can’t go then neither could there be visitors because you can bet that humans carry out the same germs on their clothing and hair.
“Ban pit germs” ping.
Harley Sez : “Pits Are germs!”
His mama and papa are both therapy dogs...;0)
I've worked with Therapy Dogs for years, and especially on visit days the dogs are probably cleaner than most humans... For anyone that doesn't know, it is fairly easy to train a dog for this type of work, and the benefits you will reap are great.
Don't get me wrong it can be difficult at times, especially if you are dealing with Hospice or Acute Care patients, but if you throw yourself in it, you can make a tremendous impact on someones life, or the end of their life...
I got into it so much I became a TDI Tester/Observer after training and certifying my Golden Retriever and my Chocolate Labrador (Both have passed on over the last couple of years), but now we are training out newest addition for future visits.
If you would like to get involved in a program using your dog, pay a visit to Therapy Dogs Inc. for more information on how to train and certify your dog.
The dogs are pre-tested for appropriateness and temperment beforehand. There are training sessions and seminars here in Maryland.
A very worthwhile organization. My Dobes belong.
When I mentioned the mental disabilities, I was thinking of autistic children. I’ve heard some kids with problems like that do react well to dogs. You might want to Google the subject.
Once the patient runs their hands over the coat of the dog, the dog is potentially contaminated (so to speak). Then when the dog goes on to the next patient room, you get cross contamination. It would be pretty hard to make sure the dogs were cleaned thoroughly between each patient.
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