Call For Puppies To Be Banned In Aged Care Facilities

[julesluvscavs]

Ive worked in nursing homes and its amazing how many food and human bacteria related incidents happen that are kept very quiet and under the wraps !

Perhaps they were using the puppy as a scapegoat !

I would like to get Miah into visiting nursing homes down the track, if shes suitable, but the organisation I would be doing it though say they have to be an adult dog to get into it.

Edited March 23, 2013 by Jules❤3Cavs

[Steph M]

I think the original article said fecal samples from human and canine but heavens knows how reliable that info is.

I also would like to think a bit of happy puppy time would be a plus, so long as the puppy wasn't in any danger of getting hurt.

I'd love to do some of this when we eventually get a dog, I think it's just so worthwhile for all parties!

Dog gets a day out and spoiled rotten, you get a chat and the feel good, doing a nice thing feeling and the residents get some human/canine interaction and something to look forward to. Lots of the oldies and I've met in these situations have had to move into care and give up their pets so it's great at least it's not the whole scheme being given the boot.

[mita]

I can't see it's all that dreadful. Dogs over the age of 12 months (given OK general health) will still be allowed in nursing homes.

No one regarded it as odd that puppies under 12 months were not selected for the children's hospital pet therapy. It was a matter of a still developing immune system still not at top speed with seeing off infections.

And frail elderly tend to have weakened immune systems. More prone to infections getting a hold.

Presence of a puppy can't be blamed solely for any such outbreak. Puppies are in households... & the general hygiene advice applies, like washing hands, same as if there were no puppy. Infections like that are not just spread by puppies.

Edited March 24, 2013 by mita

[Loving my Oldies]

Seems like an extreme case. When I worked in aged care we had lots of families bring in their dogs, it's great therapy and much safer then taking them into a hospital with sick immunocompromised people. Aged care doesnt equal sick people for the most part.

Sounds like poor infection control/hand washing post handling/food/mouth/animal.

I agree, it's annoying when the powers that be just find it easier to ban animals from places rather than actually learn and enforce good hygiene, they will run out of things to ban and still get people getting sick because they don't wash their grubby mitts.

. Considering the constant reports of shockIng infection control in hospitals and nursing homes, they are probably taking the easy way out and blaming the pup.

The test will be if it continues post puppy banning.

. Well that is something we won't get to hear about. It would be good if someone who had a relative there and approved of dogs in homes cared to keep track :D