My poor coworker:(

Specialties Home Health

Published

One of the MSW's I work with who is a complete dog lover was petting the small dog of a hospice patient. The dog snapped and bit her nose and gashed it and she was gushing blood and the family did nothing ! She drove home bleeding and her mom found. Good plastic surgeon t a prestigious ospitl in our area. She got 15 stitches on her nose. She is a beautiful girl. She is sooooo traumatized right now from the whole event.And the family didn't apologize or even ask how she was. Let alone offer to call an ambulance. My heart breaks for her. She is so sweet and trusting.Talk a about occupational hazards.

Specializes in ICU.

It was reported and its a sad unfortunate incident. Unfortunately a kind social worker who is supporting a family of a dying patient kindly pet a dog sitting next to her and she got bit in the face.Until it actually happens, no one usual thinks there is harm in petting a dog who has been very friendly in all the times she has visited.She found out the hard way, but it wasn't like " she asked for it"

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It was reported and its a sad unfortunate incident. Unfortunately a kind social worker who is supporting a family of a dying patient kindly pet a dog sitting next to her and she got bit in the face.Until it actually happens, no one usual thinks there is harm in petting a dog who has been very friendly in all the times she has visited.She found out the hard way, but it wasn't like " she asked for it"

Of course not.

I've been known to reach out to a pet . . . they certainly sniff my feet as I have two dogs and a cat. :yes: It's hard as an animal lover not to at least put your hand out to let the smell you. So far I've been lucky. One dog would come up and put his paws on my thigh and then lay his face down on his paws . . .he looked like he was praying.

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this is a hospice patient......they're dying right? kind of harsh to report their pet. just don't pet him next time.

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Specializes in ICU.

The pet has to be reported for the safety of the person bit to make sure it's up to date on everything!!!!

Forget next time, this time she is scarred directly in her face. I think she knows not to pet someone pet.

Oh, talk about harsh, the family said " when the patient dies, we are putting the dog down anyways"

Well, the patient died last week, wonder what happened to the dog.

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Specializes in Pulmonary, Lung Transplant, Med/Surg.

My agency has a strict pet policy, if family refuses to sequester pet in another room the nurse/therapist/msw, etc does not even have to go into the house. I wonder if this will entice your agency to create such a policy?

I agree the dog should be reported for the safety of the nurse, you'd be surprised how many people are irresponsible when it comes to vaccinations for their dogs.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
this is a hospice patient......they're dying right? kind of harsh to report their pet. just don't pet him next time.

We have a legal obligation to report bites to the Health Dept. It's a public health issue, not an "I'm telling on your dog and he is in big trouble" thing.

Here's an overview of the law in my county. Yours is likely similar.

LA Public Health - Veterinary Public Health

Sorry for what happened to your coworker MomRN0913. She is really lucky to have a good plastic surgeon on her case. I've worked with a few nurses who are totally spooked by pets now and insist they be tied, on a leash, or otherwise away from them when they visit the patient.

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That is awful! Poor girl! I was bitten by a yappy little bastard right on my butt. It barely broke the skin. Definitely a job hazard.

I feel so bad for her and I pray for a speedy recovery.

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poor dog... he got reported, and it appears as though he ended up getting a death sentence. :poop:

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.
poor dog... he got reported, and it appears as though he ended up getting a death sentence. :poop:

How do you know that?

Again, this is not about feeling sorry for a dog or getting a dog in trouble. It's about protecting the public and following the guidelines set by the Health Department that has jurisdiction over the address the incident occurred in.

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Specializes in ICU.

No...... The dog disn't die, the patient did. The dog got quarantined for 10 days. The family said they wanted to put the dog down after the patient died because they aren't the nicest people. Who knows if the dog is still alive, but if it isn't, it isn't because it got reported.

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How do you know that?

im the dog whisperer

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Specializes in MDS/ UR.
im the dog whisperer

Have a cookie and off you go.

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