Animals and pet therapy programmes help improve residents' quality of life by offsetting loneliness, helplessness and boredom.

With the integration of animals and pet therapy into aged care facilities, it is vital that appropriate infection control measures are implemented to reduce the risk of infection.

Although uncommon, animals within a facility may be associated with introducing infectious diseases (zoonosis). Examples may include psittacosis, toxoplasmosis, Q fever and leptospirosis. Identifying unusual behaviours, signs and symptoms in animals may suggest a disease may be present, and a checkup is necessary.

The facility should have a designated person who is responsible for the management of animals residing and visiting the facility and the processes for relevant animal care requirements.

Hand Hygiene

All residents and employees should always complete hand hygiene after handling or patting animals.

Resident Health

Extra consideration must be taken when introducing animal therapy to those residents who are immunocompromised or who have invasive devices present, e.g. indwelling catheter, PICC line, dialysis shunt or catheter, etc.

Consult with residents regarding any animal allergies and take precautions to reduce allergic responses

Consult with residents regarding any religious or cultural reasons for not being near animals

Consult with HCWs if residents are confused or hallucinating.

Cleaning Procedures

Use standard precautions and routine cleaning procedures for surfaces following pet therapy sessions. Animal-related cleaning tasks should be assigned to an employee not responsible for resident care. 

Each aged care facility should establish schedules for regularly cleaning animal equipment or dwellings, which should include the following

Cleaning fish tanks - When cleaning fish tanks, employees must take care to avoid splashing tank water

Cleaning rodent and bird cages

Cleaning of animal bedding - When handling animal bedding, employees should take care to avoid contaminating environmental surfaces 

Cleaning of cat litter boxes - Litter should be disposed of daily, and gloves must be worn when handling and cleaning litter boxes 

Cleaning of any other animal pens or dwellings

NB: Pet waste must not be used as fertiliser because of the risk of disease in humans.

Restricted Areas

Animals must at all times be restricted from accessing

Food preparation areas

Dining areas

Laundry areas

Sterile and clean supply storage areas

Medication preparation areas

Resident Animals

Animals residing within the facility should be clean and well-groomed and, ideally, have received behavioural training from a person who is experienced in this field.

Resident animals must be provided with permanent and safe forms of housing and shelter, access to water around the facility, regular exercise, and access to veterinary services for standard veterinary and annual health checks. 

Animal Health

Routine veterinary screening of pets residing in the facility is necessary to prevent illnesses. Any ill or newly acquired pet must be checked by a vet as soon as possible.

Vaccinations

Animals residing within the facility should be fully vaccinated, and records of animal vaccinations must be maintained. Ensure animals' vaccinations are kept up to date.

Worms

Animals should be healthy and have tested negative for enteric parasites or have completed recent worming. Dogs and cats must be dewormed regularly.

Fleas

Monthly flea control is recommended. In the event of flea infestation, effective flea control products must be used to treat affected animals.

Visiting Animals

Visiting animals should be controlled by persons trained in providing activities or therapies safely. The supervisor should know the animal's health status and behaviour traits.

Animal Health

Vaccination certificates should be available for all visiting animals. All visiting animals must be checked for parasites and general health before each visit.

Animal Hygiene

Animals must be cleaned and groomed 24 hours before each visit to the aged care facility to minimise the shedding of animal dander or fur.

Biting and Scratching Prevention

Bite and scratch-transmitted diseases can be avoided by understanding the psychology of companion animals. Residents, employees, and visitors must be made aware to avoid provoking animal behaviours.

Provocative behaviours may include

Interference with feeding

Threatening behaviours

Intrusions into 'home’ territory

Engaging in rough play

Spaying may calm animals down and reduce the risk of biting or scratching.

If A Bite or Scratch Occurs

Take prompt action when an incident of biting or scratching by an animal occurs.

Promptly clean and treat scratches, bites or other breaks in the skin

Report the incident promptly to the appropriate authorities (e.g. IP Lead, animal programme coordinator)

Animals that bite should be permanently removed from therapy programmes.