Dogs in Healthcare Settings
Published: 20 April 2022
Published: 20 April 2022
You may be overjoyed to hear that interacting with dogs can have a variety of health benefits to people.
However, before you invite man’s best friend into your care facility, there are several considerations that need to be made in order to ensure that clients, volunteers, visitors, staff and dogs can all have a safe and enjoyable experience.
The main types of dogs that you may encounter in healthcare settings are:
(Healthdirect 2020; NSW Health 2020)
Under the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992, assistance dogs have the right to be taken into any public place (Healthdirect 2020). However, there may be an exception if the owner is in a space where their disability is being addressed by means other than the dog, or where there are strict sterility requirements (e.g. an operating theatre) (Assistance Dogs Australia 2022; Agriculture Victoria 2022).
Assistance dogs may also need to pass a Public Access Test (PAT) (depending on the jurisdiction) in order to prove they meet the minimum standards for public access rights. These include:
(PTV 2019)
Unlike assistance dogs, ‘companion’, 'therapy' and 'emotional support' dogs are not recognised by Australian legislation and have no public access rights (Dog and Cat Management Board 2021; Canine Essentials 2016). Therefore, whether or not these dogs are permitted in healthcare settings and for what purposes is up to the discretion of an individual organisation.
Despite this, it’s reasonable to expect that other non-assistance dogs have basic ‘good manners’ and meet the same standards as assistance dogs when in public (Canine Essentials 2016).
As well as offering practical assistance with daily tasks (in the case of assistance dogs), there are several other physical, psychological and social benefits associated with animal interaction.
Studies have found that interacting with, stroking and petting animals lowers blood pressure and reduces levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Animals may also decrease loneliness, improve mood and help people feel socially supported (Better Health Channel 2015; NIH 2018).
Furthermore, people who own or interact with animals are overall more healthy than those who do not. Older adults who interact with animals have been found to recover from illness and surgery more quickly and deal with stress more easily, and are less likely to experience heart disease (Aged Care Guide 2021).
In healthcare settings, interacting with animals may:
(Aged Care Guide 2021)
While there are several benefits associated with the presence of dogs in healthcare settings, there are also three main areas of risk:
(RCN 2019)
Let’s look at how each of these risk areas can be addressed.
It's possible, albeit highly unlikely, for dogs to transmit zoonotic pathogens such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridioides difficile, Campylobacter, Salmonella and even rabies virus to humans (Smith 2012; Murthy et al. 2015).
To reduce this risk, dogs visiting healthcare settings should receive all recommended vaccinations and undergo screening for parasites and skin issues, three-monthly worming and monthly flea control (WA Country Health Service 2019).
Clients who are immunocompromised may need to be assessed on a case-by-case basis before having access to dogs (WA Country Health Service 2019). Furthermore, precautions may need to be taken for clients who have very recently received a bone marrow transplant or are severely neutropenic (RCN 2019).
In order to minimise the risk of infection, it’s recommended that healthcare organisations:
(WA Country Health Service 2019; SESLHS 2020; RCN 2019)
Dog allergies are common. Before a dog is allowed into the premises, it should be determined whether any person in the facility has a significant dog allergy, and if so, it’s important to consider where interactions with the dog will occur to reduce the risk of adverse reactions (RCN 2019).
If the dog is visiting one specific person only, it might be most suitable for the interaction to take place within a separate room or cubicle. If the dog is visiting a group, a communal dayroom might be the most appropriate option (RCN 2019).
Healthcare organisations allowing dogs into the premises should take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of clients, volunteers, visitors, staff and the dog itself (RCN 2019).
Visiting or resident dogs should be behaviourally sound. Ideally, dogs should be assessed by a qualified behavioural trainer to determine:
(WA Country Health Service 2019)
It’s also essential to consider potential barriers clients may have in relation to interacting with dogs, for example:
(WA Country Health Service 2019)
Staff and clients (or their carers) must consent to animal interaction. This consent can be withdrawn at any time, and if any person (or the dog) becomes distressed, the dog should be removed immediately (WA Country Health Service 2019).
In order to minimise the risk of harm to people or dogs, it’s recommended that healthcare organisations:
(RCN 2019; WA Country Health Service 2019)
If there is any doubt about the dog, it should not visit (RCN 2019).
Any injuries involving a dog must be addressed immediately, and an appropriate incident reporting process may need to take place (WA Country Health Service 2019).
Question 1 of 3
True or false: Assistance dogs can legally enter any public area (apart from in very specific circumstances).