A therapy dog brings comfort to ER doctors on the frontlines

[Dennis Donovan]

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/26/health/therapy-dog-er-doctor-trnd-wellness/index.html


Susan Ryan and Wynn.

By Amanda Jackson, CNN

Updated 0706 GMT (1506 HKT) March 26, 2020

(CNN) Heroes come in all shapes and sizes -- this one just happens to have four legs and a furry coat.

Wynn, a service dog in training, is bringing joy and comfort to the medical staff on the front lines of the coronovirus fight in Denver.

The one-year-old yellow Labrador serves up cuddles to health care workers who need a much needed mental break from the emergency room at Rose Medical Center.

Wynn is no stranger to the medical staff, as she's being trained by Susan Ryan, an emergency physician at the hospital.

Ryan shared an image of the two of them on Sunday. In it, the doctor is seen wearing a face shield and a mask while sitting on the floor of the hospital petting Wynn.

"I saw Wynn coming back in from being walked outside," Ryan told CNN. "I just slumped down on the floor and said 'can I just have a minute with her'?'"

</snip>

I love the pups!

[Throck]

1. How do they know the virus isn't on the dog's coat?

[Laurelin]

2. It's not likely

I can't remember where I read it, now, but hair isn't a good place for the virus to be. I know IBEXX, a veterinary diagnostic lab, has tested many dogs and cats to see if they have the virus and none have, and some veterinary journal I was reading weeks ago said it doesn't seem to be present on animal hair. That's probably important to vets since they can't order gloves or masks anymore. Human doctors need them. (Actually I don't know about all vets, just my friends in several different states, so I assumed all...)

I imagine that in that photo the doctor's clothing and ppe, and the floor, and the wall, and the doctor herself, are far more likely to be contaminated than the dog..

[Throck]

3. So we have tests for dogs and cats and not humans?

[hlthe2b]

11. See my earlier post

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213173454

If you don't think it was essential for a global veterinary reference lab to develop a PCR test to answer the question as to whether dogs, cats or other companion animals might be able to be infected and potentially spread the virus, well, you'd be absolutely wrong.

[hlthe2b]

10. Some correctons. Veterinary Medicine is consider part of health care & essential services.

Veterinarians CAN order gloves & masks but face the same shortages. Like physicians, dentists, ophthalmologists, and all health providers, they do not do elective surgery right now. However much of what veterinarians see is an emergency and they are continuing to do those surgical procedures and treat what might be serious zoonotic disease including leptospirosis emerging now in some areas (all requiring masks and gloves).

The lab is IDEXX, but yes as one of the world's largest veterinary reference labs it has tested thousands of submitted dog and cat specimens and found zero positive for COVID-19 on RT-PCR. That is significant.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213173454

As for the dog's hair, the dog's fur is undoubtedly cleaned regularly, but most important no HCW is treating touch any different than they would a contaminated surface. They will disinfect their hands and/or glove afterwards. The dog is there for trained HCW staff--not patients.

[smirkymonkey]

4. Sweet, beautiful pupper!

They are just the best healers. I love doggies!

[Duppers]

7. They truly are!

Btw, re: my handle, "Duppers"...
I usually called our first yellow Lab by her nickname, "Puppers," which quickly morphed into Duppers.
She was a better person than I am, so I really don't deserve to use her name...but do so just in remembrance of her.

Dogs are THE BEST!! 💕

[mahina]

5. I do too.

The medical people do not deserve to be treated as if they are disposable. God damn that evil venal moron to hell.

[Duppers]

8. "Medical people do not deserve to be treated as if they are disposable"

Dang right, Mahina! Thank you.

[BigmanPigman]

6. Two heroes!

[Scarsdale]

9. Poor doctor looks

exhausted. The dog is so calming, just cuddled beside her. Both heroes together. I wonder when life will "get back to normal" whatever "normal" is these days?