Thread: AA and pets
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Old Tue Oct 18, 2011, 09:32 PM
Neil Cuadra Neil Cuadra is offline
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Los Angeles, California
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Hi JArch417.

You are sensible to ask this question, because there are two sides to the coin and different doctors may give different advice about it.

I suggest that you read the comments I posted here about having pets at home after a bone marrow or stem cell transplant. The same comments could apply to anyone who is immunosuppressed and at risk of infection, including many patients who have just undergone ATG.

When a doctor gives advice about pets they are probably balancing two factors: your level of risk of infection, and what they know about the therapeutic value of having your pet around and your life as normal as possible.

It usually comes down to a personal decision. Unless the doctor advises staying away from pets, or you're too worried about the risk to enjoy your pet, it's a reasonable choice to keep your pet around, leave the litter box for someone else to handle, wash your hands frequently, and use common sense as you would with any potential source of infection, e.g., gardening, salad bars, or even children!

Whatever you decide, keep in mind that it's temporary. As you recover from ATG and your white count returns to normal you won't need to be quite as cautious. Even if you avoid your pet for a while you'll be pals again soon.
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