Canephile: My introduction

[Canephile]

Good morning, everyone!  My name is Dennis P. Owens.  I have known several people over the years who routinely experience dialysis, but I recently began working with a client in New York City who asked me to do public access and task training for her service animal candidate.  This client provided the motivation for my joining this forum, as she is my first SD client to receive dialysis.  The dog will need to be comfortable with the hospital's dialysis unit, as well as the routine care that the handler receives in the unit.

I'd be very grateful for discussions about dialysis, how it affects the body's systems, and of course - anyone who is partnered with a service animal who might be willing to discuss how their experience of dialysis has changed through the presence or work of a service dog.

If you or someone else in the U.S. has had difficulty with access (because of the presence of a service animal, for instance) to an in-hospital dialysis unit, and want a resource in dealing with getting an accommodation, the ADA Information Line (http://www.ada.gov/infoline.htm) and/or 800-514-0301 (voice); 800-514-0383 (TTY).  I'm happy to discuss and advise, as well.

Thanks for the welcome!

Have a great day!

Dennis

[Shaks24]

Welcome Dennis. I hope you get answers here that help you help your clients.   

[Bambino_Bear]

 

[CebuShan]

     Dennis! I'm not sure if there is a thread specifically for people with service animals but you might look. I know several people that do have them.
Hope you can get all your questions answered for your client!

[Rerun]

Hi Dennis, and welcome to IHD.  I don't know of any dialysis patients that have service animals.  I would think it would be a problem with a clean environment but then again some people are really dirty and still come and never wash their blankets. 

Your client should look into home dialysis.  Home Hemodialysis is done pretty easy now at home with a Next stage (NxStage).  They would have a partner and boom done.

I don't do home because I'm alone.  Although some do it alone.  OK... I am not willing to stick myself with those honken 15ga needles!

                                   
Rerun, Moderator   

[MaryD]

Welcome, Dennis!     

I have seen a guy with a seeing eye dog waiting for dialysis and leaving after dialysis at our clinic.  The HD clinic shares a waiting room with PD patients and the other HD patients are very caring towards each other but particularly towards this man and his dog.  Once when I was in the actual HD clinic I saw the man having his dialysis.  The dog was on a blanket near the wall of his cubicle.  I'm sure suitable care would have been taken with infection control etc.  There seemed to be no problem with the dog.

P.S.  I am in Australia - maybe you have different rules in USA.  Here, service dogs can go pretty much anywhere.