Home care nurse needs serious advise re ? abused dog

[nurse4sale]

Dear Nurses,

I need good sound advise for this could cost me my very good job. I am a home health care nurse. I went into a patients home to care for a child. The house was a mess, but the child looked well taken care of physically. I knew they had a dog (large brown Lab), approx. one to two years old. I went into their downstairs den area and seen the dog in a medium size metal cage with no cushion under the dogs feet, so basically she was lying on a wire cage. She did not bark at me, didn't stand up and wag her tail, she was curled up in the far corner of this cage scared and I could tell right away that this dog was scared and neglected. My question is this. Do I just forget what I've seen, or do I do something about it? How can I help this poor defenseless animal without losing my job, or creating a big commotion? What would you do in my situation?

[elkpark]

There is always the option of asking about the dog, and chatting with the family members. Most people love to talk about their dogs. :) That might give you a better picture of the dog's day-to-day life. I agree they might just be crating the dog while you're there, and, if the dog isn't trained and accustomed to being crated, could look the way you describe just because it's uncomfortable suddenly being stuck in the crate.

I know that if I suddenly was obligated to start putting my dog in a crate, when he's never been crated before, he'd look darned sad and scared, too.

[Ndy-RN]

Wow all great answers people! I had nothing else to say when I read the replies ....you said it all[emoji122]🏻🖐🏼[emoji111]🏽️

[whichone'spink, BSN, RN]

I don't use crates for my dogs, but other do. And some don't put cushions or blankets inside. Maybe the dog is just chilling like it usually does in the crate, nothing amiss. I would be happy if I was making a home visit and the family dog was somewhere safe, not getting in my way. I'm not a home health nurse, but I do know if I were a home health patient, I would have my dogs put in another room while the nurse visited. One dog will bark at the nurse, and the other dog is very friendly, but will get in the way.

[LaneyB]

My dog is crate trained as I needed a safe place for him when I couldn't watch him directly because he was a horrendous stinker until he was 2 1/2 years old. He slept in his crate at night until he was able to be trusted without supervision. He hates anything in the crate. When I would put a blanket or cushion in he would bunch it as small as he could in the corner of the crate, then pull it out as soon as I opened the crate. I think he likes the coolness of the metal bottom.

Now that he has free reign I still keep his crate in his bedroom, and he goes in voluntarily and naps in the crate during the day. He also likes to sleep in his crate at night (and he has a bed in his room that he also sleeps on when the mood strikes).

I wouldn't read too much into the dog being crate trained. My dog wouldn't have survived puppyhood without his crate.

Added -

And I do crate him sometimes when people come over because he is a big, clumsy guy. Especially if the person is there to accomplish a task then they don't need to deal with him trying to play and running and getting his toys.

[LaneyB]

OP - do you mean wire or is there a solid metal tray at the bottom? The actual wire at the bottom would be a different matter.

[Idaho_nurse]

I am also very active in a rescue organization. I do say something, but nicely. I just ask about the dog, breed, etc... just to get the conversation going, and see what is said. I have offered to find new homes for dogs of my clients, and have done that for them when they just couldnt handle them anymore. There is nothing wrong, IMO, with approaching the subject in a "nice, non judgmental" way. I go way above for my clients, and if they need assistance for their dog, I try to help that situation out as well.