My poor coworker:(

amoLucia · Feb 15, 2013

I believe, animal bites are reportable to local Health Depts, so there may be some official followup. Of course, I am assuming that this incident WAS reported to the proper authorities. The dog should be quaranteed and she may need the rabies injection series (?). Don't understand the low-key response of the family, but I wonder if their dog was legally licensed and vaccinated?? Maybe that explains their response?

If your coworker was injured on-the-job performing job related dutes, she may be elegible for Work Comp benefits. I hope she filed an employee injury incident /accident report. Your agency should have P&P re same.

Any household pet is a potential occupational hazard. Your coworker most likely doesn't want to cause any further problems for that family, but... She WAS INJURED; it could have been YOU; it may be another visitor, maybe a child. It really needs to be reported.

LaRN · Feb 16, 2013

I love animals too, but I've learned to leave patient's animals alone. same thing with their grand kids.

Hopefully she won't snitch on the dog.......she got in his space.

MomRN0913 · Feb 16, 2013

Snitch in the dog?She had to " snitch" on the dog. When you arrive at the er with a bloody gash on your face and are bit by a dog you have to. She had to let them know what happened, she had to make sure the dog was properly vaccinated for her own protection.She got in its space? She was petting a dog while providing counseling to the family. Ecause she had seen this dog other times, the family told her how good it was, it jumped on the couch next to her and they don't bother to lock up the dog when hospice comes in......I think this was an accident, not the owners fault, not my coworkers fault. But I do think the proper steps need to be taken.She needs to file workers co o so the ALL the proper steps had to be followed.The dog was only quarantined for 10 days. The family didn't bother telling the nurse when she went in the other day and when they locked up the dog it managed to " push" the dog open and no one bothered to lock it back up.Oh yeah, and the family said " oh, when the patient dies, we are putting the dog down anyways"Nice, huh?

Mulan · Feb 17, 2013

One shouldn't touch strange dogs, or any animal for that matter.

Ruas61, BSN, RN · Feb 17, 2013

I love animals too, but I've learned to leave patient's animals alone. same thing with their grand kids.
Hopefully she won't snitch on the dog.......she got in his space.

Are you serious?

sharpeimom · Feb 17, 2013

The last time we had a routine vet appointment, someone called with a similar question. Here's what the receptionist said:

If a dog bites a family member or friend, it does not legally have to be reported if no charges will be pressed. The dog must be up-to-date on all shots, including rabies vaccine.

If you are bitten by (or your dog bites) someone who will press charges, it must be reported and the vet must provide proof of immunizations and current rabies protection.

If you (or a family member) are bitten, tell the MD or ER staff what happened and which dog did it, if you know. If you don't know the dog, give a description of it to police.

Our two dogs are always current on ALL shots and always have their licenses, rabies tags, and ID tags attached to their collars. They are also microchipped.

As friendly and loving and goofy as our two dogs are, we prefer that people that aren't regular visitors don't pet them. We think of them as our big, silly, loving, furry kids, but they are DOGS, after all.

paradiseboundRN · Feb 18, 2013

I have been attacked by 2 dogs in my HC career. Both times I was not engaging with the dogs at all. Luckily, both times the dogs tore my clothes (a blouse and my pants at the ankle) and not my skin. The first time, the Meals on Wheels delivery person went to house right after me and was severely bitten in mutiple places and taken to the hospital. I learned my lesson, these dogs need to be reported right away.

HmarieD · Feb 18, 2013

I love animals too, but I've learned to leave patient's animals alone. same thing with their grand kids.

HAHAHAHAHA That is hilarious :)

LaRN · Feb 24, 2013

Are you serious?

YES I'm serious. after a few uncomfortable lessons, I've learned to not touch, do or disturb anything other in a patient's home than what i am there for. I have plenty examples, but this one stands out in my mind: was visiting a patient who had been trying unsuccessfully to move her television set into another room. It wasn't very big, so I offered to move it for her.....and when I did, the damned thing broke....apparently it was dry rotted and the front cover where the on/off and volume buttons crumbled and broke off. I had to replace her t.v. because she thought I broke it. :sour:

and this was a small dog, how did it manage to bite her face? He's either a high jumper or she put her face next to his.

MomRN0913 · Feb 24, 2013

The dog was sitting on the couch next to her while she was counseling a family. She wasn't in its face.

allnurses Guide · Feb 24, 2013

Regardless of the reason and regardless of the fact that you shouldn't try to pet a patient's dog, this does need to be reported.

I think people are reacting to the idea that a person shouldn't tell . . . . that's just silly.

But yes, stay out of a dog's space. And if you get bit, it needs to be reported to the Sheriff's office (what we do here) or Animal Control.

http://www.ehow.com/how_6129616_report-dog-bites.html

http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Dog-Bites/dogbite-factsheet.html