Does anyone here have a dog and is on Dialysis?

[LuvforMom]

Does anyone know if hemo dialysis patients can't have dogs? My mom was on PD dialysis and got an infection, they told me that I had to get rid of my dog since they think she had gotten the bacteria from the dog. Not even considering that she worked at a hospital as a Nursing Assistant. Same day they told me that, my mom had to be rushed to the hopital due to severe leg cramps. Since then, her PD catather was taken out and a Pit line was put in to start her on hemo dialysis instead. I spoke with her Infection Control Doctor and he said it was most likely contracted from the hospital where she worked and unlikely from the dog.

Does anyone here have a dog and is on dialyisis? how can I make i'm not putting my mom at risk by keeping our family dog?

[petey]

We have an "inside" dog and my husband's on home hemodialysis.  Hop-Sing (my dog, who is 7 years old) doesn't cause any problems for my husband.  But, my husband does seem to irritate the dog -- especially when Marvin won't share his snacks with Hop-Sing.  Seriously, I've never heard of this before.

[LuvforMom]

Thank you for that, I will dicscuss with my mom and of course her doctors. Yes I know it's un-usual, imagine my shock when they told me to get rid of the dog! I thought I had brought this upon her and I was super guilty that she was hospitalized...

[thegrammalady]

i have been on hemo dialysis for three years, up untill a month ago we had two very furry four footed friends and i have had no problems.

[cookie2008]

I have dogs and a cat and do home hemo.

[Hanify]

I have 3 cats, do home PD and haven't had a problem.  If she does home haemo you should make sure the dog doesn't go in the room where she does it - that's all.  Lots of us have cats and dogs.  They're being overcautious.

[marti824]

I love when they blame us.  These techs and nurses are real peaches.  it's never anything that they do.  I'd change centers before I'd give up a member of my family.  it's like telling you that your children cause germs and you'd better not keep them in the house.  When i did pd, I just had to make sure that the dog wasn't in the room when I went on or came off the machine.

[aharris2]

I have 3 cats, do home PD and haven't had a problem.  If she does home haemo you should make sure the dog doesn't go in the room where she does it - that's all.  Lots of us have cats and dogs.  They're being overcautious.

Or perhaps simply trying for a little redirection. Don't blame us, the hospital, crawling with every microorganism you can imagine and some that you haven't even in your worst nightmares. Instead, blame your dog that you've been living with forever, already accustomed to each others germs.

I am glad you asked here instead of just listening to "them". Like Hanify said, lots of us have cats and dogs and they are an important part of our quality of life.

Alene

[petey]

I have 3 cats, do home PD and haven't had a problem.  If she does home haemo you should make sure the dog doesn't go in the room where she does it - that's all.  Lots of us have cats and dogs.  They're being overcautious.

We've been doing home hemo now for 2 years (did in-center for years and even tried PD for a couple of months).  Hop-Sing goes in Marvin's "clinic" (spare bedroom we converted to a dialysis room) all the time.

When we first started training on home hemo and started setting up Marvin's "clinic," I thought it might not be a good idea if Hop-Sing came in the room because the room is small and now full of all that stuff (dialysis chair, PureFlow, NxStage machine, blood counter, sink, rolling carts, etc.).  I was afraid Hop-Sing would get in the way and get stepped on (he's small).  So, that first night as we were setting everything up in the room, I told Hop-Sing "No" and "Out" and "This is not your room."  He looked at me rather pitifully but went out in the hallway, plopped down on the floor, and looked up at us as we worked.  He positioned himself so that he was just outside the doorway.  That night, we went to bed.  The next morning, I woke up to find about 25 of Hop-Sing's stuffed toys in a pile in the middle of Marvin's clinic.  Apparently, Hop-Sing had worked all night long movig his toys in the clinic as if to say, "But, I want this to be my room, too."

That was all it took for me.  Hop-Sing was allowed to come and go in Marvin's clinic any time he wanted.  Now, when Marvin's running and I go in every 30 minutes to get his readings, check his bp, etc., I'll call Hop-Sing.  "Let's go to Daddy's room."  And Hop-Sing will come running.  He stands beside me as I check Marvin.  He makes sure Marvin's not eating a snack (because he would have to have a bite), and then we go out and finish our chores around the house.  When it's time for me to take Marvin off the machine, Hop-Sing goes into the clinic and stands at Marvin's feet.  It's almost as if he knows that's an important part of our treatments; it's like he's guarding Marvin.

I love Hop-Sing and could never get rid of him.  He's a big part of our family.  He's a real cutie, and he's even smarter than he is cute (and that's a lot).

[Darthvadar]

We have an "inside" dog and my husband's on home hemodialysis.  Hop-Sing (my dog, who is 7 years old) doesn't cause any problems for my husband.  But, my husband does seem to irritate the dog -- especially when Marvin won't share his snacks with Hop-Sing.  Seriously, I've never heard of this before.

My mum is on CAPD... She has had two episodes of peretionitis, but they're guessing that it's coming from her bowel as she has a history of Diverticular Disease...

We have a hooligan (otherwise known as a small dog!), and Dougal's been VERY good for Mum... He's improved her mood, she's eating better (wants to have 'nice things' for her 'little man' to eat, so he gets leftovers!), gets her up in the morning to get hin fed... I think he's been a godsend for her, and the Neph. agrees... Once you take the usual hygene precautions, I shouldn't worry...

Petey, I HOWLED with laughter about Hop-Sing demanding food from your other half... Dougal sits glaring at Mum if she has a cup of tea, and doesn't give him any... If she doesn't give in to the glaring, he'll start barking at her until she pours tea into his dish!...

Darth...

[lola]

Otto has his Lola, she lays in his lap when he's on

[greco02]

Hospitals are one of the dirtyest places in the world.  If Jim wasn't able to have Missy with him he probably wouldn't do the dialysis.  She has more baths than most people. 

[willieandwinnie]

LuvforMom. We did my hubbies dialysis for 5 years at home. We have 2 yorkies and had a long haired cat. The doctors told me that my husband was exposed to them for years with no problems. We never let them in the chair until Len was hooked up. Hubby had both catheter and graft and never had an infection.

[LuvforMom]

Thank you so much for all the stories about your pets. It makes me feel confident that my Sadie gets to stay at home with us!! My mom loves her too and I know she was quite upset seeing me upset when her nurses told her she might have gotten the infection from our dog.

I can't believe that they had no problem blaming me for it, I even brought up that she was working at the hospital and all they said was "oh that could be it too, in the meantime it's either your dog or your mom" and YES, they really did say that to me!!

[okarol]

When I asked the doctor about doing home hemo instead of going in-center he said "There are 1000 less germs in your home!"

I just saw the vet for our cat and he mentioned that dogs and cats can pass a particular bacteria (Bartonella) to humans, but it's a simple blood test for the pet to be sure they don't have it. I had our cat tested because Jenna is immunosuppressed. The treatment, if positive, is antibiotics.

[TiffanyJean]

We have 2 dogs... no problems so far!! Knock on wood! closest to knocking on wood... lol!!

TJ

[twirl]

for over four years I have been on dialysis and we have two dogs and two cats
Sad Sack and Zuko have passed away
now we have Lady Bird - 10 week Bassett Hound puppy
and Yogi -- 7 year old cow dog
and Slugger - 15 year old cat
and David13 -- a kitten I am sharing with my neighbor

pets are so important

[Hanify]

You called your Kitten David13?  lol

[Lucinda]

I do homedialysis at 3.00am in the morning and my three dogs come into the dialysis room with me and sleep on the bed.  One is an Irish Wolfhound cross so not much room when she is on the bed with the other two.  My clinic has been to my place when all three of them are on the bed and they have no problem with it at all.  They are in a routine and sit outside the door until I am hooked up and then as soon as they hear the television come on they know it is their signal to get on the bed.  There is absolutely no reason why you should get rid of your dog.  That is just TOO sad. xx

[peleroja]

I've never had a dog, but my friend has had a succession of dogs through hemo, PD, and now transplant.  She has never gotten sick from any of her dogs.