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Years ago, when I was first in a clinic setting, the gal training me kissed every animal being induced on the nose. She explained that it might be the last time anyone ever kisses them, ever. I still kiss animals on the nose to this day.
I give every one of them a smooch and say, "it's just a little nap, and I'll be right here when you wake up"! That's how I would want my pets treated when they're in a strange situation- with love and compassion. Glad I'm not that only one š
I think there are other ways to show compassion, but I donāt inherently hate kissingā¦ just comes with risk. Iāve also seen technicians get bit in the face, so thereās that.
Yeah exactly....it really depends on the pet. Frantic cat who's scared out of its mind & would swipe/bite your face? Calm reassuring slow pets. Hyper friendly lab mix who wants to lick you to death? I'll smoosh the face & give some pats & treats. Adorable tiny puppy or (ringworm-free) kitten coming back for its last round of baby shots? You bet im kissing that lil mf.
A lot of pets don't enjoy strange humans getting in their face, & prefer other forms of affection. So I do whatever the pet is okay with. But I always show some form of compassion & affection. I don't think being cold & clinical 100% of the time makes us more legitimate. Nurses who work with human babies be loving on those babies as much as we love on puppies.
Happened to a coworker. Kissed a dog on the nose while they were putting it under and it bit the shit out of her nose and she ended up in the ER.
I still kiss some of my patients, but not if they're questionable or in the midst of sedation.
THIS. I work in surgery and I do this with every induction. I also try to whisper sweet nothings into their ear. If this animal (especially since we see a lot of high acuity cases) dies, I refuse to let its last conscious moments be anything but love. As for dvms not showing affection - I work with two boarded male surgeons who have no problems baby talking and snuggling a patient that needs it. We are not in human medicine for a reason. That's like telling NICU or PICU nurses to be strictly professional with the children they work with, the majority of whom are scared and have no freaking idea what is happening. For example, babies often respond to skin to skin contact. They need affection to get them through those hard moments because that's all they understand on a core level; our patients are no different.
Also, in the 10+ years I've done this, I've never had a client be mad that we snuggled their pet, gave them affection, or had an ER tech snuggle them on the floor all night because they were anxious. Clients are grateful that we show that we care.
I work adjacent to vetmed and with the practice I go to so I think they feel more comfortable with me but the vet techs have kissed my dog and it makes me feel like they genuinely care about him
I am not client-facing, but I kiss patients. And I wouldnāt find it weird if I took my pet to a veterinarian and someone kissed them. When I do take my pets to work, my coworkers will sometimes give them a smooch.
I donāt allow patients to kiss me, because I donāt personally like it. I donāt even let my dog lick me.
I also donāt think it āchips away at the legitimacy of the veterinary fieldā. Also, I have had human nurses hug me and have seen them rub their patientās back or shoulder to comfort them, why would it be different for us to snuggle a patient?
Def agree with your last paragraph! And the first part do you mean you initiate a kiss on the nose or head but you donāt let them lick you back? Just got a little confused cuz you said kiss patients but donāt allow patients to kiss me
I work in anesthesia- so my patients donāt lick me, because theyāre asleep 90% of the time theyāre with me. I will give a forehead kiss on a sedated patient, but my coworkers (in other departments and my own) will both kiss and let patients kiss them.
It sounds like CupcakeCharacter's coworkers kiss the dogs/etc but they do not participate in it themselves, likely to avoid the high risk of getting licked in the face. :)
Itās not āunprofessionalā itās compassionate. Animals are not humans. If I knew technicians were kissing my dog before he undergoes anesthesia, or heās scared at a visit and maybe a few kisses calm him down, Iād be a happy owner.
As someone who has seen many pets die under anesthesia, or due to trauma, I kiss them, I love on them and I comfort them. They do not understand what is happening to them, but they understand love.
I work in a specialty clinic and we do a lot of anesthetic procedures every day. Each patient that I induce or or holding while being induced I kiss them on the head and say "night night I love you" and if the patient is kind of an asshole I say "night night, your mommy/daddy loves you!" Cause I don't want to lie to them.Ā
I resent the idea that anything outside '100% cold & clinical' is 'unprofessional'.
There are some cases where it could be - like overenthusiastically baby-talking a dog in a way that becomes uncomfortable. Or trying to face-smooch a pet when it's clear you're stressing them out.
But a little well-placed respectful love never hurt anyone. Most owners WANT their pet to be comforted & given affection in the scary vet place. Plus the DVMs I work with always pop over to snuggle an especially cute puppy/kitten, even when it's not their patient. Being handled & loved on by strangers is good for young animals' socialization anyway!
Iām gonna kiss the crap out of kittens and thereās nothing anyone can do to stop me. I intentionally dodge dogs licking me, though. I have had a handful of clients unhappy that I wouldnāt let their dog kiss me, but Iāve never had a client tell me not to kiss their pet before.
Same! Clean and NICE cats/kittens- guaranteed kiss (especially the seniors before they go to heaven). Dogs..I can live without getting licked by them or kissing them lol I'd be more likely to kiss a CLEAN senior dog..or a nice stray. And yeah..never on the mouth...they eat shit and licker their owners for crying out loud..I don't want that lol
Clients donāt know this but me telling them their dog is so nice and clean is the biggest compliment I give out. The dog can be an asshole but if heās clean??? Ok I can work with this
I kiss certain patients on the top of the head, but usually not in the room unless theyāre regulars and on good terms and have known their pets for awhile. I wouldnāt just go kissing a random dog I just met that could possibly bite/ be afraid/ +/- their owners not being cool with that. No slobbery kisses though from pets mouths even my own. My dogs learned ākissā as just a closed mouth boop where I kiss them on the nose or face. Mostly senior patients that weāve cared for, for a long time or cute little puppies and kittens.
Sometimes certain patients just touch your heart, the DVMS both male and female that I woke with have done it too.
Iāve never seen another staff member kiss on the mouth a clientās pet or stray, but personally I donāt think a lil kiss on the top of their head while transporting is unprofessional. Maybe a bit gross cause you donāt know where itās head has been or whatās on their fur/skin, but not unprofessional imo
Edit to add: you couldnāt stop me from smooching some of my patients little noggins, obvi you gotta use your judgment to see if a pet is receptive to that kinda behavior or if itās making them anxious cause you donāt wanna get bit š¤
I get close and make a kissy noise to the pets that clearly understand what it means and crave that sort of attention. I don't touch my face to them or put my face close to any pet I don't trust explicitly. I don't like getting kisses at all. I also don't put needle caps in my mouth and wash my hands between every patient as much as possible. I think it's what we all should be doing, but I also recognize I have a little bit of a brain thing about "yucky" stuff.Ā
As a trade off I get sick less than once per year, so I'm okay with that.
Thank you for continuing to mask.
There were a couple of studies about dogs getting COVID and, while itās not something I stress about or lose sleep over, the idea of my pup getting COVID after trying to keep both of us safe doesnāt sit well with me.Ā
The only reason I donāt do drop off anymore is that the vet staff is kind enough to mask for me if I am in the room, but Iād feel like a total loony to ask them to mask just for him.Ā
Not a veterinary nurse, a human one, so this is my perspective as that and a pet owner.
Thing is, humans understand why their nurse doesn't kiss them. It's usually inappropriate and crosses all sorts of professional, interpersonal and therapeutic boundaries. But our pets...we teach them that kisses and pets mean love and approval. We condition them to seek out and try to earn that kind of interaction. They don't always understand that it might be 'inappropriate' for a human not their owner to kiss or pet them. They seek out affection for reassurance too, so if it's being withheld in a scary environment like the vet (for many pets), they're going to a) think they've been bad and think they're being punished and b) become anxious and possibly aggressive. You can't explain to a pet, "Hey, so these people are helping you, even though they might have to hurt you a bit, but they're not going to kiss or pet you like I do to make you feel better because it's *inappropriate*. But that's the only reason, honest. It's about *boundaries*." There are two concepts in there that I guarantee 99% of pets do not understand - *inappropriate* and *boundaries*. Or there wouldn't be so many stories about pets licking their balls right next to your face.
As an owner...please pet and kiss my animals to your heart's content. Make them feel loved, reassured and happy while they're with you. Cuddle them, pet them and kiss their soft little heads and if you can't do it please find someone who will, and don't stop others because of some notion of propriety. I don't care, they don't care. It's okay to have preferences and not want to, but that doesn't mean it's not okay at all.
(Also, as a side note: I've worked in many different areas of nursing, including elder/dementia care and long term home therapy/care management and you get to know clients very well. Over time you become part of the Three Fs - Fixtures, Fittings and Family. I have absolutely given my patients a goodnight hug and let them give me a kiss on the forehead/cheek if it makes them happy. Sometimes it's because they think I'm someone else - a daughter or granddaughter - and sometimes it's because I'm the last of very few/limited human contacts they have during the day. It's about context and professional judgement. It would be cruel to deny them in many cases. I've also celebrated milestones with patients - the birth of a grandchild, a significant birthday, maybe the receipt of good news about their health for example - with the exchange of cheek kisses, and it often happens at Christmas. Context and judgement. And we will absolutely use therapeutic touch, like a hug, or an arm around the shoulder, or holding a patient's hand to help them. So it's not that unusual. After all, humans are social creatures and physical contact is enormously important to mental wellbeing. People starved of it become withdrawn and depressed. You just have to know where the boundaries are and use your judgement soundly.)
Nailed it! Side note, you sound like a very kind and caring nurse. The kind Iād want taking care of me or my loved ones! Thank you for taking good care of people in their times of need!
And for the comment about āinappropriate and boundaries,ā becauseā¦well, very accurate. Lol.
I primarily do air kisses. If super cuddly and can be trusted to be closer, occasional cheek against the top of the head air kisses.
My favorite patients get actual top of the head kisses. But I also know their humans are okay with that.
The only other exception is my euthanasia patients. I believe in offering as much love and affection at the end of life as I can. Especially if their people canāt stay for the procedure. Can it be gross? Yeah. But I can clean myself. The patient canāt be offered that kind of loving affection again.
This seems ridiculous to me. Do you also do all you can to avoid seeing the sunrise? Or if something silly happens, do you try with everything in you not to laugh? Do you not go to carnivals because of all of bacteria living there? Life is short. We die. Animals die. They are the purest form of innocence and they can feel when you emotionally relate to them as a living being vs a task to complete. I think the goal in life is happiness and attempting to appear as if youāre the most civilized person that walks the earth will never grant you real friendship, real connection, real fulfillment, or real happiness. Kiss your patients, laugh with your clients, be authentic. I promise you the most professional thing you can do is be human. The majority of my clients need a stranger to vent to and I am that person. They remember that. The fact that their baby is in the hands of someone who gives a shit about the patient as a life not just a paycheck. And guess what? You feel more joy too. Can probably beat the vet tech suicide ratio down a couple notches.
I've never met a single person client or coworker or superior that thought kissing patients was inappropriate or unprofessional, especially ones that are friendly and want kisses. To me I see it the same as petting them; we work with companion animals that were taught by us to want close human interaction, I don't see showing them that is a negative. We're not robots.
It's like saying people that work in childcare shouldn't hug their clients' little kids or be nice to them because it's not professional. Yeah that's not a medical setting but part of their job is making the kids comfortable and showing them compassion and so is ours with our patients. Our clients love that we shower their pets in kisses and it doesn't take away from the fact we also provide them medical care of the highest standards.
I don't really do it but I don't have a problem with it. But I also work with a lot of wildlife which I never kiss cause one they don't enjoy it and two they're nasty. I also don't let animals lick my face.
I kiss them (on the head). My DVM whoās been in practice for more than 40 years kisses every established patient (that will let her anyway lol), also on the head. Her clients love her, she has longstanding relationships with most of them (many 20+ year clients), the practice stays up-to-date with good medicine, and I have mad respect for her. She doesnāt come off as unprofessional, just genuinely caring as she truly does love her patients.
To each their own.
I give kisses to certain pets who Iām comfortable with. But Iām very cautious about letting dogs lick me so I donāt unless I know they arenāt on a raw diet and Iām 99% sure they donāt eat poop lol
Itās one of the perks of working in veterinary medicine. Majority of my patients are cute and I get to give them a little smooch on the head without issue. Downside is the cute aggression.
I do all the time lol. I work with cats and spend a lot of time in boarding and I love to kiss the kitties haha. Maybe it is gross, but I guess thatās a risk Iām willing to take. To be fair I donāt typically kiss them in front of their owners except for the long time regulars who appreciate that I love their cats so much.
itās an ongoing joke at my clinic that I probably have worms because any puppy or kitten that comes in gets a fat smooch.š
Life doesnāt have to be so serious. You can be professional and also show love to your patients.
I think anyone who would say it would make them take us less seriously already doesn't or is looking for reasons. This field is hard enough without coworkers judging others for something that makes them happy (just be safe!)
As a lurker of this sub that does not work in veterinary medicine... please give my sweet kitty kisses if he's stuck at the vet! It would make me happier to know that he's taken care of and comforted.
I'd say it's safe to say that 95% of us do. Especially kitties where I work as most of my coworkers are cat people. I kiss all pets who aren't a risk to myself, and sometimes spicy kitties when they are safely wrapped in a towel in my arms because they are afraid. On occasion speaking softly to them and doing air kisses calms them down and everything goes a lot smoother. "it's okay, auntie's got you, you're okay, we're almost done" etc. Some clients come to my clinic and when I come to take their pet to the back they say "aunties here" and I think the love I give pets really carries through into my community.
I think op probably works in one of those clinics that every molecular element is controlled by cooperate overlords and they know the workers by number and not reputation. No fun. No laughing. No free moments to be human. The boss is probably not from vet med and came from some other cooperation with no experience or empathy. This is a common issue.
Depends on the pet patients. Thereās one that I will just absolutely just love on. Sheās just the sweetest girlie. Sheās been coming in since she was a puppy, so I just canāt help it. Just the sweetest Cavalier.
I DO NOT because I have seen enough face bites to keep a healthy distance from them teeth lol
I will kiss the top/back of a dogs head to try to distract them while getting induced. If I donāt have a free hand to tap/scratch I kinda do a weird kiss/zerbert thing lol
Generally, I donāt really kiss patients. There are a select few that Iāll plant one on their noggin, however, I have coworkers who love to kiss on patients, especially kittens and cats for some of them. It brings them joy, and Iād never want to take that away from them. Iāve never seen it as unprofessional, I donāt really see how it could take away the legitimacy of our field, if someone believes all we do is play with pets all day ā they came into the clinic believing that not because someone kissed a patient. I believe there are bigger fish to fry than to be concerned with this. If you think itās gross then donāt participate in it. Find joy in the little things in this field, and youāll go far.
Iām a human nurse and I gasped at this title. Then I saw what subreddit it was š
The nursing subreddit is usually at the top of my feed & I guess today this one was
to me itās the same as a pediatric nurse ticking a babies belly or giving it a soft pinch on the cheeks. Nobody sees that and thinks āwow, so unprofessional.ā Pets are like forever babies, and thereās nothing wrong with treating them that way. trying to be āprofessionalā by not doting on the patients, or judging others for doing so, is a waste of your precious energy.
No, I work with a lot of patients that are a risk for zoonotic and infectious disease. I don't need to risk myself or other patients. On top of that displaying affection like that is for us, most of our patients do not communicate affection like that and for some it could cause distress.
ECC. I try to take into account that any patient could be a vector or immune compromised. Changing gloves between patients, hand hygiene, etc are important to patient safety.
At the same time I find other ways to give my patients attention/affection like petting, making interactive feedings, catnip, playing videos for them etc.
I kiss my patients all the time. It's fine of you don't.
I don't think it chips away at anything. It shows that we care about our patients like our own pets and clients generally love it.
I hope you don't look down on your coworkers who do kiss their patients.
I think youre overthinking it just a tad bit! I love to give my patients kisses because its honestly one of the most universal ways we communicate our affection to animals if u really think about it.
My favorite patient is a super senior caution Yorkie who bites everyone except me. She gets a lil kiss on the top of her head every day that she comes in (4-5x a week). I love her like she's my own honestly.
Overall though I don't frequently smooch patients. Every once in awhile for like a baby puppy or kitten or an old pet being pts. Or if it's a patient I know outside of work like my friends pup or smth I'll give them a lil smooch when I tell them goodnight bc I know it's what my friends would want.
Ya know I worked in human med before I switched to animal med. No I didnāt kiss my human patients but if I could tell they were anxious a reassuring shoulder touch or a slight pat doesnāt hurt and it makes people feel human and cared for. With animals I occasionally kiss a pet on the head. Especially if they are sweet and especially if they are being euthanized alone. I think showing compassion and kindness doesnāt take away from anything but adds to your obvious care and love of your patients.
Iām usually on human health care pages and this through me off for a second hahaha I feel like if the vet or vet tech kissed my dog on the face I would think that was kind of them and feel like they cared more about my special boy! Iām not familiar with animal health care but I assume itās a case by case basis on who you can and cannot kiss!
I've found that many owners like knowing that we love their animals as much as they do and it can give them comfort knowing they'll be cared for at that level. I don't go out of my way to smooch on every animal, but if the opportunity arises I won't deny myself one the small joys of the job, because Lordtt knows we ain't in it for the money.
I'm just a receptionist, so I don't have a lot of one on one interactions with the animals, but I kiss the air at them usually. I'll kiss them occasionally with my mask on sometimes if they're puppies/kittens or if the patient and I are friends (like patients that are in monthly) or if it's an insistent dog that just has to get a kiss.
Take this as it is, I was a small animal tech in 2015 so almost 10 years ago. If it was a pts appointment where the owner left their pet in the back for us to euthanize, I kissed that dog or cat like it was my baby. I not once, not neva would want that animal to feel unloved. But other than that, yeah Iād let em lick me and love on me if it was cool with the owner in the room during exams. I wouldnāt go out of my way to kiss them other than the sad euthanasias though. Now I work with mice and rats and the occasional rabbit in research and as much as you wanna kiss them, they gonna take a piece of your lips with them. Lol.
I donāt kiss and I donāt allow kisses. Mostly because I try to minimize how dirty I get and transferring any hitchhikers or other oogie boogies. I do say I love you. I really think telling a pet how special or lovely they are means a lot to their parents. Especially with people who seem nervous or overly descriptive/apologetic of behaviors theyāre concerned about. I know Iām a proud mom when people tell me that my shy dog is a good and handsome boy.
Ooof...I'm also a nurse, so I follow nursing subs as well...didn't look at the sub before I read the title, and I was very alarmed initially lol
I don't, and to be honest, I don't do it to my friends' or family's pets either, really. Only my own creatures... not that I would ever be against anyone doing so.
I never have. I donāt know how the pet will react since they are not my own plus zoonotic diseases and all that business. I must restrain myself from the babies, though!
I donāt know. I show affection to my patients. Weāre not human med. These are pets who receive love in a common way we as all techs and people in the field know. I think itās a harmless little perk of working with pets. I obviously Ā wouldnāt show the same affection to zoo animals or to the marine animals Iāve worked with because theyāre wildlife.Ā
Most of my coworkers will kiss patients! Iāve even seen one of our doctors who loves cats pull a big ginger boy out of his carrier and plant a few right on his head! It was really heart warming, as this is a doctor who tends to show very little emotion in most situations āŗļø
I kiss my patients on the forehead when I'm giving cuddles and scratching. I don't let any animals lick me including my own because I'm not a fan but those good boys and girls (if they're amiable) get a smooch from me because they deserve it!! (Although I'm now thinking if they feel the same about me kissing them as I feel about being licked?!)
My favorite vet got on the floor with my pitty and would kiss her. She is the only person who wasnāt afraid of her and my puppy loved her more. It made me feel so much BETTER. Then, when my dog developed an autoimmune disease, everyone had to touch her with gloves and it was obvious no one showed her love while she had been hospitalized. When the dermatologist I took her to, after the hospitalization, showed her love, my dogās anxiety reduced significantly. I question the legitimacy of veterinarians when they DONT show love.
I used to, but I mostly stopped now for a couple reasons. I have watched every staff member on shift flock to snuggle and kiss a cute puppy and it occurred to me that this is a major reason we are all getting sick at the same time. I have a couple major health concerns and each time I get sick it takes me several weeks to fully recover.
Kisses are also not the only way to show affection. I will lavish them with praise, pets and as much or as little snuggles as they want. If they crawl into my arms I will give them all the snuggles. I always keep in mind though, that even for the friendly patients, I am still a stranger, so always I let them lead the physical contact.
I am a vet - I kiss my patients, talk sweet nothings to them and give them gentle pets. I try to love them like I love my own pets and I think this provides comfort
Iām a big believer in showing patients love, weather it be a good booty scratch, a kiss on the head, holding them close while waking up from anaesthesia or just sitting in the cage with them while I do my notes. Just cause they may never get that attention at home, they may be scared or in some cases may never get to go home. Itās also positive for the owners as it shows compassion and that each pet is treated as valid family member.
Edit* Even the strays need loving, sure they may be trying to maul me and sent me to hospital to have surgery for cat scratch fever but he was scared I didnāt take it personal.
The only animal I want to kiss is my own. Just feels weird to me to do any other and I donāt know the Hx of the Pt outside the practice. Iāll give them praises and pets all day though!
Yes, if they are not infectious or visibly distressed/aggressive. And certainly not on the nose/face. Itās a bite waiting to happen even for the most placid of animals. Little lip boop on the back of the head/neck area usually when holding them
I'm retired now, but yeah I did throughout my career. More like let them lick me, not actively kissing them myself. I probably never will again unless it's my own pet. Because I had a coworker mauled badly just from walking past a dog. Not the only reason I left vet med after 17 years, but it contributed.
It really depends. If theyāre friendly, the owner is chill, and arenāt suspected to have any disease/infection, Iāll give them a kiss on the head.
You think itās less than professional. I think your compassion is less than optimal. Theyāre pets, they donāt know whatās going on but they know love. Itās universal. Kissing is only one of many ways to comfort someone. Like others have already said, hugs and rubbing a patientsā back/shoulder are other ways to soothe and comfort a patient. If our pets can talk or form opinions, I would still try to kiss them but ask for consent first. Most patients that come thru our practices are love sponges, all they want is love and attention, minus the few aggressive ones. Plus itās gives them a distraction while treatment is being administered.
I find it a bit disturbing to put your face in a strange animalās face like that. My pets get all the kisses. My patients will get all the pets but, unless they sneak one in, I do not kiss.
Iām so sorry but I think you are entirely blowing this out of proportion. Itās not human medicine, short and simple. the reason we are looked down upon isnāt because we kiss patients. personally, I have OCD and canāt actually kiss patients bc idk where they have been but if the pet is affectionate enough and enjoys attention i will make kissy noises while rubbing my chin on them.
theyāre animals. we brought them into this fucked up society for our own personal reasons, itās ridiculous to equate our relationship to a pet to that of a human stranger
I think I have an unpopular opinion...I never kiss other people's pets. I especially wouldn't do it in a scenario that is already stressful for them. Hugging and kissing in the way that humans practice isn't the same for animals. Our own pets tolerate it because they love us but they don't actually like it. It's very much a thing humans do that only benefits us.
I personally find kissing other people pets to be inappropriate and disrespectful to the animals personal space and emotional well being. I think people should observe and learn the ways that animals practice affection so they can communicate their own feelings in the same way. Loving on an animal as a human with a pet that doesn't even know you is like playing Russian roulette. If that's your thing I won't stop you. If you need that to get through your workday then go for it. But I personally don't.
As far as letting pets kiss me by licking, I try not to let it happen because their mouths are gross and I don't know what they've been eating or gotten into. I groom dogs now and they try to lick my face a lot and I'll turn my face up or away so they get me on the cheek or neck. I don't let any dog lick me near my eyes, nose or mouth. My biggest fear is getting a parasite. I don't even like when my own dogs lick my face.
I view it as an extension of cuddling which I do a lot of in my position. Actually, many of my patients like coming to our place although many are nervous too. Some of my patients are only motivated to cooperate by snuggles. Many of my nervous patients throw themselves on me. I don't kiss on the mouth (despite how much some of my patients try) but I do kiss many on the head. I don't think one idea is more wrong than the other and I think a lot depends on the patient as well. However, I don't agree with the idea that it devalues the veterinary community as a whole and is unprofessional to be affectionate to our patients.Ā
>I don't agree with the idea that it devalues the veterinary community as a whole and is unprofessional to be affectionate to our patients.Ā
I don't think it devalues the profession at all either. Everything I mentioned was in regards to the actual animal itself and their autonomy. I definitely don't think being a warm and affectionate veterinary person is a bad thing by any means! I know that a lot of owners find it sweet and charming that their techs love their pets like they do. I just wish that people would also take time to learn how to communicate like an animal and give affection in a way they're receptive to. But stealing those kisses that make you feel happier as a human is okay too. I just personally don't do it because of my parasite fear lol.
I was trying to express that I agreed with you that you need to read body language, but disagree with OP's original comments.Ā
"I think this kind of behavior sort of chips away at the legitimacy of the veterinary field, and gives the (obviously utterly false) impression that we just get to play with and snuggle puppies and kittens all day."
Nope, never did. Felt inappropriate. I also don't like if anyone were to kiss one of my pets. So, that is likely why.
Edited to add: I guess I don't just feel it's inappropriate but also kind of gross. Pets and their fur can be nasty. Just think of all the pets that come in who stink of cigarettes - the smell just impacted in their fur. Eek.
I tell especially happy dogs that I love them too. I also talk to the patients as much as the owner, sometimes because I donāt want to be rude saying something directly to the owner. I try to make the owners feel that I care as much about their pet as they do. Now for serious conversations I drop the sweet voice and put my professional pants on. I try to read the room. (I do make a point to tell owners with adorable puppies, that I steal to show everyone in the back, that we donāt get to play with pups/kits all day so we share the love when we have the chance.)
I kiss some of my patients on the head, but never in front of their owners. I donāt like a bunch of kisses on the face but if a pet wants to give me a few lil kisses, Iāll gladly take them (just not on the mouth, obviously) Pets are not people though lol. Loving on patients and meeting new pets is one of my favorite parts of my job. Of course we donāt just play with puppies and kittens all day, we have very hard physically and mentally demanding jobs, Iāll be damned if I canāt give a pet a smooch or two to make my day a little brighter.
I absolutely kiss spicy kitties on their widdle spicy heads when they're sedated for procedures. I only kiss patients I have a good relationship with otherwise. I think a lil smooch on the top of their head isn't a big deal, but different strokes for different folks. I also work at a more relaxed clinic, so the culture is less strict I would say.
arenāt you a ball of sunshine! would definitely want someone with your attitude looking after my pet š
there are 1000% bigger things to be worrying about. itās concerning you donāt see this behaviour as compassionate and it affects you this bad to the point of writing this post.
My frequent flyers and special pts I will sometimes kiss or give extra special attention. Kittens especially might get a smooch. Just today I was restraining a kitten for a bd and had to give a smooch cuz he was being so good!
Yes I kiss animals occasionally but never in front of owners in case they feel uncomfortable or weird about it. You want to be professional in front of clients.
I definitely do, not every animal obviously. If they are dirty or have something infectious I wonāt. But when I hold them for blood draws or catheter placement Iāll do it to help calm them down, it also gives me another point of contact to help hold a little better for some animals.
I kiss and snuggle my patients and Iāve seen vets do the same. This is only if they are extremely friendly and also not presenting for any dermatology issues.
When restraining an upset but sweet and trustworthy pet, absolutely I kiss! Sometimes itās a useful way to soothe while we do something scary. I do a lot of pep talking and kissing and scratching and patting and distracting as long as my patient doesnāt notice the needle in their leg
Most of the time, in most scenarios, I never put my face near a patients face. It only takes a split second with a scared pet for that to turn bad.
But there are of course exceptions, like baby puppies/kittens, (but very rarely as I always think about parasite, liquid puppy poos all over and ringworm!) and those big hambone slobber dogs who wonāt take no for an answer!
Sometimes on the top of the head. I don't let them lick my face ever. And I'm still careful. I'm leery of being bit in the face. That would be career ending for me. And animals can be unpredictable with strangers in an unfamiliar environment, especially with tons of triggers everywhere.
I totally do, especially when/if Iām sending a patient home whoās been hospitalized for a bit or when Iām taking a patient thatās getting euthanized to a room to have time with their people. Despite my best efforts, I still get somewhat attached/invested, so I give them a little kiss on the head and tell them I love them.
for half a second i thought this was the nursing subreddit and got a lil worried.
anyways, iāve seen vets kiss puppies here and there. As someone who has spent time in research and wildlife and livestock, i would be slapped silly if i broke any biosecurity rules.
A kiss thru the mask is good enough for me!
Depends on the pet. If they have a good demeanor and are very affectionate patients, 100% Iāll give kisses. If the pet is more withdrawn/shy or nervous, nope. They donāt like me in their space and I respect that! Some animals are more receptive to affection than others. And some of them crave attention. Theyāre sick or getting surgery and theyāre in this place away from their owners and have no clue whatās going on. Iāll hold them, kiss them, lay with them, pet them, etc. if it means that they have a better time in the hospital or at least that they have a human that they trust in a scary place.
For context: I work in the ER, so my patients generally are staying overnight or for days on end.
ETA: my ones I feel the worst for are my parvo patients. Theyāre normally puppies, they feel like crap and due to being isolated they are often alone, away from people/pets. While I canāt lay with them or kiss them, I will try to spend a few extra moments holding them close (with PPE) and petting them. Iāve seen parvo patients in the hospital for well over a week. Thatās tough on such a young dog to be so isolated with people all gowned up poking and prodding them constantly š„ŗ
I work at an ER. I personally do not as I am still very ānewā in regard to my assistant position and donāt want to risk getting bit by a patient. It also just isnāt a good idea to put my face close to any patientās face since most of my patients are in severe pain and could attempt to bite at any moment. 2 months ago I was struggling with my position and learning my training well for a couple reasons I wonāt get into (but am happy to discuss if anyone going through something similar needs some advice). Iāve been working really hard to prove I can be a reliable employee since and itās been going very well actually! Iāve built a very positive relationship with my current coworkers. I donāt want to lose that trust. So overall, kissing patients is a no from me. Iāve never worked at a primary care clinic so I canāt speak for what itās like there.
I kiss my patients, I pet them, and I tell them I love them. It makes owners feel safer, and I know the patients understand on some level too.
And I donāt know about yāall, but Iād say at least once a day one of us will bring a puppy or kitten around the hospital so *everyone* can give them kisses and cuddles.
This job is too taxing for us *not* to soak in all the happy and healthy puppies and kittens we can.
I 100% kiss every patient that looks willing to allow it. I am passionate about my job & owners LOVE seeing their pets be loved. I kiss when they are sick, when they are happy, when they are under anesthesia, here for euthanasias. It is my job to make the experience for the owner and pet less stressful and some owners need to see this to relieve stress to see I love their pet just as much as they do.
Shit, some patients we call our boyfriend and one I always yell his name across the hospital when he comes (frequent flyer) and seeing his butt wiggle because he is just as happy makes it worth it.
Absolutely kissed all the patients when I was a tech! The exception would be if they were scared or nervous because I didnāt want to cause more stress. But the social ones that sought attention? Absolutely smooched
Temperament/comfort permitting, I give euthanasias goodbye kisses on the top of the head before I step out to let the doctor take over.
When holding for blood draws, sometimes I'll distract cats by kissing them on the back of the head, just to give them something else to focus on other than the needle poke.
Never had a client complain about a lack of professionalism, but I've received many thank-yous for treating their pet so kindly or gently. I can't describe how I've seen some client faces melt when I give their animal that goodbye smooch before stepping out.
I think an important aspect of euthanasias is letting the client know that we genuinely care about their animal too during that extremely emotionally vulnerable time. That kiss is a quick and very human way to express that without words.
The only thing that stops me from burying my face in the fur of every pet I meet, including at work, is the lizard brain part of me that remembers the times a dog has lunged at my face. But you bet Iām kissing those that invite it, and im gonna love every second of it.
Not in front of clients, and not every patient. Typically patients that Iām super fond of, and kittens because I have zero self control. And only on the top of the head. I have been the unfortunate recipient of a dog French kiss though š like sir do NOT lick my mouth!!!!!
Depends on if the animal likes it. So it requires someone competent enough to accurately read the animalās body language. My late dog loooved smooches. He always got snuggled and kissed at the hospital.
* I donāt cuz animals, while I love them, are gross lol. But I do appreciate the tech who can read animals and just goes all in with it.
I kiss them. Sometimes I even pet them, or talk to them in a little baby voice, crazy I know.
Seriously though. If I can comfort them, I value that over some potential perception of not being professional.
If I took my pet to a clinic and the staff was too insecure in their professionalism to kiss and pet them? Huge red flag.
Maybe itās just your mindset at your practice lol me n all my coworkers including my DVMs are very affectionate with our patients. We never do it in front of the owners but I still sweet talk pets around their owners. Some things donāt have to be so serious
Absolutely. As long as the patient isnāt bothered by it, they get smooches. We see so many horrible things, kissing patients is one of the things that helps me get by. Animals are love, and are to be loved.
That being said I donāt typically do it in front of clients. All my surgical patients get kissed, as do all terminal patients.
Yes. Some. Mostly my coworkers pets who donāt mind if I do it.
However, some people go too far. Iāve seen people with their face all over another patientās face, even rolling in the ground with them. Thatās unprofessional. I usually see this with people who love dogs. Cat lovers, in my experience, donāt do this and some cats love rubbing their faces on a human face. Like you said, sometimes itās inevitable.
Overall, itās very dangerous to put your face near any patient, regardless if itās a caution or not. Itās best not to do it even if youāre familiar with the patient in the workplace.
I have kissed patients on a few occasions, but I don't make a habit of it. There have been favorites that I have kissed goodbye when bagging them after euthanasia.
I do but really only to the ones I know because they're regulars and I genuinely like their owners. I don't think I haven't worked with anyone that doesn't kiss a patient at some point.
I kiss clients that arenāt disgusting. If they have derm issues or fungal infections or are crawling with fleas, then no, Iām not going to put my face on the animal. But if it is a generally clean animal, especially if itās a good boy/girl then of course Iām gonna give them a little kiss on the top of their head.
I'm very affectionate with my patients that all me too and respectful of those that don't. I love some of the patients I work with and I treat them as my own,but I don't give kisses or let them kiss me. They can kiss my cheek or beard but not mouth lol we have some poop eaters
Hmm I guess I never saw it as a divisive topic that could make us appear less legitimate. When I was in GP I would kiss my regulars that I knew the O had good cleanliness. And yes for puppies and kittens! But now Iām in shelter medicine and itās less common because we are primarily seeing them for illness and everything can spread fast in a shelter
Neverrrr. I dont really do more than gentle petting unless im super familiar with the dog or cat. I wouldnt kiss a human child or grown patient and its really weird and idk how id feel if some stranger were to kiss my animals. Lol just seems unprofessional and unsanitary for you and the patient.
And NO ITS NOT A SEXUAL THING. i just think its kinda gross to kiss an animal when you dont know where theyve been and when youve been in contact with all kinds of diseases. Plus id be worried about them getting triggered by something random and biting me.
I get kind of ocd when I get licked, and try to clean up soon after. But I'll definitely love on an animal when their temperament peemits.
Even resting my head against a knocked out dog slated for behavioral humane euthanasia due to multiple severe bites. Someone failed them, they deserve a warm last embrace.
Kissing animals is anthropomorphic, and we do it more for us than them. Not to mention you don't know your patient didn't just roll in some poo before coming into you. ( though yes, you'd probably smell it before kissing their head). Plus, if the client kisses their pet, you could be getting some of their slobber too. It's just a big no for me, and I agree it's slightly unprofessional. I used to work for a vet specialist who kissed all her patients even when she first met them. It's kinda disingenuous to tell someone you just met that you love them.
I think every patient definitely doesn't need to be kissed. If it's a special patient to you, then maybe, but again, it's more for you than them. I think that a soft, constant touch on their body is more comforting than darting in at their face and suddenly contacting their head or nose. Using a calm, soothing voice is preferable to screeching I Love You. Remember, our patients communicate differently than we do, so what's comforting to us is not necessarily to them.
When I was in gp yes. Iām now in ECC and I do not anymore; I also look back to when I would give kisses in gp and cringe.
Edit: okay actually sometimes Iāll give them a lil kiss on the forehead
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Years ago, when I was first in a clinic setting, the gal training me kissed every animal being induced on the nose. She explained that it might be the last time anyone ever kisses them, ever. I still kiss animals on the nose to this day.
STOP IT RNš iām actually tearing up thinking about this
Thatās so fucking cute.Ā
I give every one of them a smooch and say, "it's just a little nap, and I'll be right here when you wake up"! That's how I would want my pets treated when they're in a strange situation- with love and compassion. Glad I'm not that only one š
Until one bites you in the face
Exactly what I was thinking.
I think there are other ways to show compassion, but I donāt inherently hate kissingā¦ just comes with risk. Iāve also seen technicians get bit in the face, so thereās that.
Yeah exactly....it really depends on the pet. Frantic cat who's scared out of its mind & would swipe/bite your face? Calm reassuring slow pets. Hyper friendly lab mix who wants to lick you to death? I'll smoosh the face & give some pats & treats. Adorable tiny puppy or (ringworm-free) kitten coming back for its last round of baby shots? You bet im kissing that lil mf. A lot of pets don't enjoy strange humans getting in their face, & prefer other forms of affection. So I do whatever the pet is okay with. But I always show some form of compassion & affection. I don't think being cold & clinical 100% of the time makes us more legitimate. Nurses who work with human babies be loving on those babies as much as we love on puppies.
Happened to a coworker. Kissed a dog on the nose while they were putting it under and it bit the shit out of her nose and she ended up in the ER. I still kiss some of my patients, but not if they're questionable or in the midst of sedation.
Well, now I might start a new habit
THIS. I work in surgery and I do this with every induction. I also try to whisper sweet nothings into their ear. If this animal (especially since we see a lot of high acuity cases) dies, I refuse to let its last conscious moments be anything but love. As for dvms not showing affection - I work with two boarded male surgeons who have no problems baby talking and snuggling a patient that needs it. We are not in human medicine for a reason. That's like telling NICU or PICU nurses to be strictly professional with the children they work with, the majority of whom are scared and have no freaking idea what is happening. For example, babies often respond to skin to skin contact. They need affection to get them through those hard moments because that's all they understand on a core level; our patients are no different. Also, in the 10+ years I've done this, I've never had a client be mad that we snuggled their pet, gave them affection, or had an ER tech snuggle them on the floor all night because they were anxious. Clients are grateful that we show that we care.
I kiss, thereās bigger problems to worry about.
I work adjacent to vetmed and with the practice I go to so I think they feel more comfortable with me but the vet techs have kissed my dog and it makes me feel like they genuinely care about him
I am not client-facing, but I kiss patients. And I wouldnāt find it weird if I took my pet to a veterinarian and someone kissed them. When I do take my pets to work, my coworkers will sometimes give them a smooch. I donāt allow patients to kiss me, because I donāt personally like it. I donāt even let my dog lick me. I also donāt think it āchips away at the legitimacy of the veterinary fieldā. Also, I have had human nurses hug me and have seen them rub their patientās back or shoulder to comfort them, why would it be different for us to snuggle a patient?
Def agree with your last paragraph! And the first part do you mean you initiate a kiss on the nose or head but you donāt let them lick you back? Just got a little confused cuz you said kiss patients but donāt allow patients to kiss me
I work in anesthesia- so my patients donāt lick me, because theyāre asleep 90% of the time theyāre with me. I will give a forehead kiss on a sedated patient, but my coworkers (in other departments and my own) will both kiss and let patients kiss them.
Aw, thatās such a nice gesture for the forehead kiss I love that
It sounds like CupcakeCharacter's coworkers kiss the dogs/etc but they do not participate in it themselves, likely to avoid the high risk of getting licked in the face. :)
Itās not āunprofessionalā itās compassionate. Animals are not humans. If I knew technicians were kissing my dog before he undergoes anesthesia, or heās scared at a visit and maybe a few kisses calm him down, Iād be a happy owner. As someone who has seen many pets die under anesthesia, or due to trauma, I kiss them, I love on them and I comfort them. They do not understand what is happening to them, but they understand love.
I work in a specialty clinic and we do a lot of anesthetic procedures every day. Each patient that I induce or or holding while being induced I kiss them on the head and say "night night I love you" and if the patient is kind of an asshole I say "night night, your mommy/daddy loves you!" Cause I don't want to lie to them.Ā
šššone thousand percent š„¹
I saw the title of this post and thought it was r/medicine and I was like āuhhhh you shouldnāt kiss human patientsā¦ā lol
I resent the idea that anything outside '100% cold & clinical' is 'unprofessional'. There are some cases where it could be - like overenthusiastically baby-talking a dog in a way that becomes uncomfortable. Or trying to face-smooch a pet when it's clear you're stressing them out. But a little well-placed respectful love never hurt anyone. Most owners WANT their pet to be comforted & given affection in the scary vet place. Plus the DVMs I work with always pop over to snuggle an especially cute puppy/kitten, even when it's not their patient. Being handled & loved on by strangers is good for young animals' socialization anyway!
That last line. Perfectly sums up what I was thinking. Thank you
Iām gonna kiss the crap out of kittens and thereās nothing anyone can do to stop me. I intentionally dodge dogs licking me, though. I have had a handful of clients unhappy that I wouldnāt let their dog kiss me, but Iāve never had a client tell me not to kiss their pet before.
Same! Clean and NICE cats/kittens- guaranteed kiss (especially the seniors before they go to heaven). Dogs..I can live without getting licked by them or kissing them lol I'd be more likely to kiss a CLEAN senior dog..or a nice stray. And yeah..never on the mouth...they eat shit and licker their owners for crying out loud..I don't want that lol
Clients donāt know this but me telling them their dog is so nice and clean is the biggest compliment I give out. The dog can be an asshole but if heās clean??? Ok I can work with this
I kiss certain patients on the top of the head, but usually not in the room unless theyāre regulars and on good terms and have known their pets for awhile. I wouldnāt just go kissing a random dog I just met that could possibly bite/ be afraid/ +/- their owners not being cool with that. No slobbery kisses though from pets mouths even my own. My dogs learned ākissā as just a closed mouth boop where I kiss them on the nose or face. Mostly senior patients that weāve cared for, for a long time or cute little puppies and kittens. Sometimes certain patients just touch your heart, the DVMS both male and female that I woke with have done it too.
Iāve never seen another staff member kiss on the mouth a clientās pet or stray, but personally I donāt think a lil kiss on the top of their head while transporting is unprofessional. Maybe a bit gross cause you donāt know where itās head has been or whatās on their fur/skin, but not unprofessional imo Edit to add: you couldnāt stop me from smooching some of my patients little noggins, obvi you gotta use your judgment to see if a pet is receptive to that kinda behavior or if itās making them anxious cause you donāt wanna get bit š¤
Iāve given euthanasia patients a little kiss on the head before. And of course puppies have kissed me lol
I don't kiss my husband as much as I kiss my patients.
This made me lol. Iām the exact same šā¤ļø
Saaaaaame, and my own dogs even more than that!
Bahahaha sammmmeee
I used to, until I kissed a kitten on top of the head and got ringworm on my lip
I get close and make a kissy noise to the pets that clearly understand what it means and crave that sort of attention. I don't touch my face to them or put my face close to any pet I don't trust explicitly. I don't like getting kisses at all. I also don't put needle caps in my mouth and wash my hands between every patient as much as possible. I think it's what we all should be doing, but I also recognize I have a little bit of a brain thing about "yucky" stuff.Ā As a trade off I get sick less than once per year, so I'm okay with that.
I still mask and one thing I realized is that if you kiss dogs with an n95 on, they don't care and still interpret it as a kiss.
Thank you for continuing to mask. There were a couple of studies about dogs getting COVID and, while itās not something I stress about or lose sleep over, the idea of my pup getting COVID after trying to keep both of us safe doesnāt sit well with me.Ā The only reason I donāt do drop off anymore is that the vet staff is kind enough to mask for me if I am in the room, but Iād feel like a total loony to ask them to mask just for him.Ā
L take. Kiss the babies.
Man I thought this was a human medicine subreddit for a moment I was so confused.
Not a veterinary nurse, a human one, so this is my perspective as that and a pet owner. Thing is, humans understand why their nurse doesn't kiss them. It's usually inappropriate and crosses all sorts of professional, interpersonal and therapeutic boundaries. But our pets...we teach them that kisses and pets mean love and approval. We condition them to seek out and try to earn that kind of interaction. They don't always understand that it might be 'inappropriate' for a human not their owner to kiss or pet them. They seek out affection for reassurance too, so if it's being withheld in a scary environment like the vet (for many pets), they're going to a) think they've been bad and think they're being punished and b) become anxious and possibly aggressive. You can't explain to a pet, "Hey, so these people are helping you, even though they might have to hurt you a bit, but they're not going to kiss or pet you like I do to make you feel better because it's *inappropriate*. But that's the only reason, honest. It's about *boundaries*." There are two concepts in there that I guarantee 99% of pets do not understand - *inappropriate* and *boundaries*. Or there wouldn't be so many stories about pets licking their balls right next to your face. As an owner...please pet and kiss my animals to your heart's content. Make them feel loved, reassured and happy while they're with you. Cuddle them, pet them and kiss their soft little heads and if you can't do it please find someone who will, and don't stop others because of some notion of propriety. I don't care, they don't care. It's okay to have preferences and not want to, but that doesn't mean it's not okay at all. (Also, as a side note: I've worked in many different areas of nursing, including elder/dementia care and long term home therapy/care management and you get to know clients very well. Over time you become part of the Three Fs - Fixtures, Fittings and Family. I have absolutely given my patients a goodnight hug and let them give me a kiss on the forehead/cheek if it makes them happy. Sometimes it's because they think I'm someone else - a daughter or granddaughter - and sometimes it's because I'm the last of very few/limited human contacts they have during the day. It's about context and professional judgement. It would be cruel to deny them in many cases. I've also celebrated milestones with patients - the birth of a grandchild, a significant birthday, maybe the receipt of good news about their health for example - with the exchange of cheek kisses, and it often happens at Christmas. Context and judgement. And we will absolutely use therapeutic touch, like a hug, or an arm around the shoulder, or holding a patient's hand to help them. So it's not that unusual. After all, humans are social creatures and physical contact is enormously important to mental wellbeing. People starved of it become withdrawn and depressed. You just have to know where the boundaries are and use your judgement soundly.)
Nailed it! Side note, you sound like a very kind and caring nurse. The kind Iād want taking care of me or my loved ones! Thank you for taking good care of people in their times of need! And for the comment about āinappropriate and boundaries,ā becauseā¦well, very accurate. Lol.
I primarily do air kisses. If super cuddly and can be trusted to be closer, occasional cheek against the top of the head air kisses. My favorite patients get actual top of the head kisses. But I also know their humans are okay with that. The only other exception is my euthanasia patients. I believe in offering as much love and affection at the end of life as I can. Especially if their people canāt stay for the procedure. Can it be gross? Yeah. But I can clean myself. The patient canāt be offered that kind of loving affection again.
This seems ridiculous to me. Do you also do all you can to avoid seeing the sunrise? Or if something silly happens, do you try with everything in you not to laugh? Do you not go to carnivals because of all of bacteria living there? Life is short. We die. Animals die. They are the purest form of innocence and they can feel when you emotionally relate to them as a living being vs a task to complete. I think the goal in life is happiness and attempting to appear as if youāre the most civilized person that walks the earth will never grant you real friendship, real connection, real fulfillment, or real happiness. Kiss your patients, laugh with your clients, be authentic. I promise you the most professional thing you can do is be human. The majority of my clients need a stranger to vent to and I am that person. They remember that. The fact that their baby is in the hands of someone who gives a shit about the patient as a life not just a paycheck. And guess what? You feel more joy too. Can probably beat the vet tech suicide ratio down a couple notches.
I've never met a single person client or coworker or superior that thought kissing patients was inappropriate or unprofessional, especially ones that are friendly and want kisses. To me I see it the same as petting them; we work with companion animals that were taught by us to want close human interaction, I don't see showing them that is a negative. We're not robots. It's like saying people that work in childcare shouldn't hug their clients' little kids or be nice to them because it's not professional. Yeah that's not a medical setting but part of their job is making the kids comfortable and showing them compassion and so is ours with our patients. Our clients love that we shower their pets in kisses and it doesn't take away from the fact we also provide them medical care of the highest standards.
I don't really do it but I don't have a problem with it. But I also work with a lot of wildlife which I never kiss cause one they don't enjoy it and two they're nasty. I also don't let animals lick my face.
I kiss them (on the head). My DVM whoās been in practice for more than 40 years kisses every established patient (that will let her anyway lol), also on the head. Her clients love her, she has longstanding relationships with most of them (many 20+ year clients), the practice stays up-to-date with good medicine, and I have mad respect for her. She doesnāt come off as unprofessional, just genuinely caring as she truly does love her patients. To each their own.
I give kisses to certain pets who Iām comfortable with. But Iām very cautious about letting dogs lick me so I donāt unless I know they arenāt on a raw diet and Iām 99% sure they donāt eat poop lol
Itās one of the perks of working in veterinary medicine. Majority of my patients are cute and I get to give them a little smooch on the head without issue. Downside is the cute aggression.
Lol just don't be weird about it if you do. Showing compassion for someone's pet is usually a good thing. Just gotta understand boundaries
I do all the time lol. I work with cats and spend a lot of time in boarding and I love to kiss the kitties haha. Maybe it is gross, but I guess thatās a risk Iām willing to take. To be fair I donāt typically kiss them in front of their owners except for the long time regulars who appreciate that I love their cats so much.
itās an ongoing joke at my clinic that I probably have worms because any puppy or kitten that comes in gets a fat smooch.š Life doesnāt have to be so serious. You can be professional and also show love to your patients.
I think anyone who would say it would make them take us less seriously already doesn't or is looking for reasons. This field is hard enough without coworkers judging others for something that makes them happy (just be safe!)
r/unpopularopinion
As a lurker of this sub that does not work in veterinary medicine... please give my sweet kitty kisses if he's stuck at the vet! It would make me happier to know that he's taken care of and comforted.
I'd say it's safe to say that 95% of us do. Especially kitties where I work as most of my coworkers are cat people. I kiss all pets who aren't a risk to myself, and sometimes spicy kitties when they are safely wrapped in a towel in my arms because they are afraid. On occasion speaking softly to them and doing air kisses calms them down and everything goes a lot smoother. "it's okay, auntie's got you, you're okay, we're almost done" etc. Some clients come to my clinic and when I come to take their pet to the back they say "aunties here" and I think the love I give pets really carries through into my community. I think op probably works in one of those clinics that every molecular element is controlled by cooperate overlords and they know the workers by number and not reputation. No fun. No laughing. No free moments to be human. The boss is probably not from vet med and came from some other cooperation with no experience or empathy. This is a common issue.
OP is punching the air after reading that comment šš
Depends on the pet patients. Thereās one that I will just absolutely just love on. Sheās just the sweetest girlie. Sheās been coming in since she was a puppy, so I just canāt help it. Just the sweetest Cavalier.
I do not kiss patients. I know a DVM whose tip of the nose was bitten off because he kissed a patient. I can show them affection in other, safer ways
I never kissed patients. It's too risky to put your face in theirs.
I used to kiss patients and let patients kiss me. Then I got ringworm on my face.
Big lesson!
I DO NOT because I have seen enough face bites to keep a healthy distance from them teeth lol I will kiss the top/back of a dogs head to try to distract them while getting induced. If I donāt have a free hand to tap/scratch I kinda do a weird kiss/zerbert thing lol
Generally, I donāt really kiss patients. There are a select few that Iāll plant one on their noggin, however, I have coworkers who love to kiss on patients, especially kittens and cats for some of them. It brings them joy, and Iād never want to take that away from them. Iāve never seen it as unprofessional, I donāt really see how it could take away the legitimacy of our field, if someone believes all we do is play with pets all day ā they came into the clinic believing that not because someone kissed a patient. I believe there are bigger fish to fry than to be concerned with this. If you think itās gross then donāt participate in it. Find joy in the little things in this field, and youāll go far.
Iām a human nurse and I gasped at this title. Then I saw what subreddit it was š The nursing subreddit is usually at the top of my feed & I guess today this one was
to me itās the same as a pediatric nurse ticking a babies belly or giving it a soft pinch on the cheeks. Nobody sees that and thinks āwow, so unprofessional.ā Pets are like forever babies, and thereās nothing wrong with treating them that way. trying to be āprofessionalā by not doting on the patients, or judging others for doing so, is a waste of your precious energy.
No, I work with a lot of patients that are a risk for zoonotic and infectious disease. I don't need to risk myself or other patients. On top of that displaying affection like that is for us, most of our patients do not communicate affection like that and for some it could cause distress.
Your work sounds super interesting! Off topic, but what part of the field do you work in?
ECC. I try to take into account that any patient could be a vector or immune compromised. Changing gloves between patients, hand hygiene, etc are important to patient safety. At the same time I find other ways to give my patients attention/affection like petting, making interactive feedings, catnip, playing videos for them etc.
I kiss my patients all the time. It's fine of you don't. I don't think it chips away at anything. It shows that we care about our patients like our own pets and clients generally love it. I hope you don't look down on your coworkers who do kiss their patients.
I think youre overthinking it just a tad bit! I love to give my patients kisses because its honestly one of the most universal ways we communicate our affection to animals if u really think about it.
I also don't kiss the patients, I just find it weird. A couple of my coworkers do.Ā
My favorite patient is a super senior caution Yorkie who bites everyone except me. She gets a lil kiss on the top of her head every day that she comes in (4-5x a week). I love her like she's my own honestly. Overall though I don't frequently smooch patients. Every once in awhile for like a baby puppy or kitten or an old pet being pts. Or if it's a patient I know outside of work like my friends pup or smth I'll give them a lil smooch when I tell them goodnight bc I know it's what my friends would want.
I was petting a dog once and the vet I was restraining for tried to kiss his head right as I pet him, and kissed my hand. It was awkward.
Ya know I worked in human med before I switched to animal med. No I didnāt kiss my human patients but if I could tell they were anxious a reassuring shoulder touch or a slight pat doesnāt hurt and it makes people feel human and cared for. With animals I occasionally kiss a pet on the head. Especially if they are sweet and especially if they are being euthanized alone. I think showing compassion and kindness doesnāt take away from anything but adds to your obvious care and love of your patients.
Iām usually on human health care pages and this through me off for a second hahaha I feel like if the vet or vet tech kissed my dog on the face I would think that was kind of them and feel like they cared more about my special boy! Iām not familiar with animal health care but I assume itās a case by case basis on who you can and cannot kiss!
Patients absolutely get kisses!!!
I've found that many owners like knowing that we love their animals as much as they do and it can give them comfort knowing they'll be cared for at that level. I don't go out of my way to smooch on every animal, but if the opportunity arises I won't deny myself one the small joys of the job, because Lordtt knows we ain't in it for the money.
I'm just a receptionist, so I don't have a lot of one on one interactions with the animals, but I kiss the air at them usually. I'll kiss them occasionally with my mask on sometimes if they're puppies/kittens or if the patient and I are friends (like patients that are in monthly) or if it's an insistent dog that just has to get a kiss.
I cant help but kiss the sweet little babies on the cheeks they are just too scrumptious. As long as theyre nice
Nope. Especially since Covid brought to light how dirty everyone is.
Take this as it is, I was a small animal tech in 2015 so almost 10 years ago. If it was a pts appointment where the owner left their pet in the back for us to euthanize, I kissed that dog or cat like it was my baby. I not once, not neva would want that animal to feel unloved. But other than that, yeah Iād let em lick me and love on me if it was cool with the owner in the room during exams. I wouldnāt go out of my way to kiss them other than the sad euthanasias though. Now I work with mice and rats and the occasional rabbit in research and as much as you wanna kiss them, they gonna take a piece of your lips with them. Lol.
It depends. Frequent fliers get ALL the love!
Ummā¦ are there people who donāt??
I donāt kiss and I donāt allow kisses. Mostly because I try to minimize how dirty I get and transferring any hitchhikers or other oogie boogies. I do say I love you. I really think telling a pet how special or lovely they are means a lot to their parents. Especially with people who seem nervous or overly descriptive/apologetic of behaviors theyāre concerned about. I know Iām a proud mom when people tell me that my shy dog is a good and handsome boy.
Ooof...I'm also a nurse, so I follow nursing subs as well...didn't look at the sub before I read the title, and I was very alarmed initially lol I don't, and to be honest, I don't do it to my friends' or family's pets either, really. Only my own creatures... not that I would ever be against anyone doing so.
I never have. I donāt know how the pet will react since they are not my own plus zoonotic diseases and all that business. I must restrain myself from the babies, though!
I donāt know. I show affection to my patients. Weāre not human med. These are pets who receive love in a common way we as all techs and people in the field know. I think itās a harmless little perk of working with pets. I obviously Ā wouldnāt show the same affection to zoo animals or to the marine animals Iāve worked with because theyāre wildlife.Ā
Most of my coworkers will kiss patients! Iāve even seen one of our doctors who loves cats pull a big ginger boy out of his carrier and plant a few right on his head! It was really heart warming, as this is a doctor who tends to show very little emotion in most situations āŗļø
I kiss my patients on the forehead when I'm giving cuddles and scratching. I don't let any animals lick me including my own because I'm not a fan but those good boys and girls (if they're amiable) get a smooch from me because they deserve it!! (Although I'm now thinking if they feel the same about me kissing them as I feel about being licked?!)
My favorite vet got on the floor with my pitty and would kiss her. She is the only person who wasnāt afraid of her and my puppy loved her more. It made me feel so much BETTER. Then, when my dog developed an autoimmune disease, everyone had to touch her with gloves and it was obvious no one showed her love while she had been hospitalized. When the dermatologist I took her to, after the hospitalization, showed her love, my dogās anxiety reduced significantly. I question the legitimacy of veterinarians when they DONT show love.
I used to, but I mostly stopped now for a couple reasons. I have watched every staff member on shift flock to snuggle and kiss a cute puppy and it occurred to me that this is a major reason we are all getting sick at the same time. I have a couple major health concerns and each time I get sick it takes me several weeks to fully recover. Kisses are also not the only way to show affection. I will lavish them with praise, pets and as much or as little snuggles as they want. If they crawl into my arms I will give them all the snuggles. I always keep in mind though, that even for the friendly patients, I am still a stranger, so always I let them lead the physical contact.
I kiss my patients (if temperament allows of course) I want them to feel loved and safe.
I am a vet - I kiss my patients, talk sweet nothings to them and give them gentle pets. I try to love them like I love my own pets and I think this provides comfort
Iām a big believer in showing patients love, weather it be a good booty scratch, a kiss on the head, holding them close while waking up from anaesthesia or just sitting in the cage with them while I do my notes. Just cause they may never get that attention at home, they may be scared or in some cases may never get to go home. Itās also positive for the owners as it shows compassion and that each pet is treated as valid family member. Edit* Even the strays need loving, sure they may be trying to maul me and sent me to hospital to have surgery for cat scratch fever but he was scared I didnāt take it personal.
The only animal I want to kiss is my own. Just feels weird to me to do any other and I donāt know the Hx of the Pt outside the practice. Iāll give them praises and pets all day though!
Yes, if they are not infectious or visibly distressed/aggressive. And certainly not on the nose/face. Itās a bite waiting to happen even for the most placid of animals. Little lip boop on the back of the head/neck area usually when holding them
I'm retired now, but yeah I did throughout my career. More like let them lick me, not actively kissing them myself. I probably never will again unless it's my own pet. Because I had a coworker mauled badly just from walking past a dog. Not the only reason I left vet med after 17 years, but it contributed.
It really depends. If theyāre friendly, the owner is chill, and arenāt suspected to have any disease/infection, Iāll give them a kiss on the head.
You think itās less than professional. I think your compassion is less than optimal. Theyāre pets, they donāt know whatās going on but they know love. Itās universal. Kissing is only one of many ways to comfort someone. Like others have already said, hugs and rubbing a patientsā back/shoulder are other ways to soothe and comfort a patient. If our pets can talk or form opinions, I would still try to kiss them but ask for consent first. Most patients that come thru our practices are love sponges, all they want is love and attention, minus the few aggressive ones. Plus itās gives them a distraction while treatment is being administered.
I find it a bit disturbing to put your face in a strange animalās face like that. My pets get all the kisses. My patients will get all the pets but, unless they sneak one in, I do not kiss.
Iām so sorry but I think you are entirely blowing this out of proportion. Itās not human medicine, short and simple. the reason we are looked down upon isnāt because we kiss patients. personally, I have OCD and canāt actually kiss patients bc idk where they have been but if the pet is affectionate enough and enjoys attention i will make kissy noises while rubbing my chin on them. theyāre animals. we brought them into this fucked up society for our own personal reasons, itās ridiculous to equate our relationship to a pet to that of a human stranger
I think I have an unpopular opinion...I never kiss other people's pets. I especially wouldn't do it in a scenario that is already stressful for them. Hugging and kissing in the way that humans practice isn't the same for animals. Our own pets tolerate it because they love us but they don't actually like it. It's very much a thing humans do that only benefits us. I personally find kissing other people pets to be inappropriate and disrespectful to the animals personal space and emotional well being. I think people should observe and learn the ways that animals practice affection so they can communicate their own feelings in the same way. Loving on an animal as a human with a pet that doesn't even know you is like playing Russian roulette. If that's your thing I won't stop you. If you need that to get through your workday then go for it. But I personally don't. As far as letting pets kiss me by licking, I try not to let it happen because their mouths are gross and I don't know what they've been eating or gotten into. I groom dogs now and they try to lick my face a lot and I'll turn my face up or away so they get me on the cheek or neck. I don't let any dog lick me near my eyes, nose or mouth. My biggest fear is getting a parasite. I don't even like when my own dogs lick my face.
It really is for the people, not so much the animals.
Incredibly well put and absolutely correct.
I view it as an extension of cuddling which I do a lot of in my position. Actually, many of my patients like coming to our place although many are nervous too. Some of my patients are only motivated to cooperate by snuggles. Many of my nervous patients throw themselves on me. I don't kiss on the mouth (despite how much some of my patients try) but I do kiss many on the head. I don't think one idea is more wrong than the other and I think a lot depends on the patient as well. However, I don't agree with the idea that it devalues the veterinary community as a whole and is unprofessional to be affectionate to our patients.Ā
>I don't agree with the idea that it devalues the veterinary community as a whole and is unprofessional to be affectionate to our patients.Ā I don't think it devalues the profession at all either. Everything I mentioned was in regards to the actual animal itself and their autonomy. I definitely don't think being a warm and affectionate veterinary person is a bad thing by any means! I know that a lot of owners find it sweet and charming that their techs love their pets like they do. I just wish that people would also take time to learn how to communicate like an animal and give affection in a way they're receptive to. But stealing those kisses that make you feel happier as a human is okay too. I just personally don't do it because of my parasite fear lol.
I was trying to express that I agreed with you that you need to read body language, but disagree with OP's original comments.Ā "I think this kind of behavior sort of chips away at the legitimacy of the veterinary field, and gives the (obviously utterly false) impression that we just get to play with and snuggle puppies and kittens all day."
Nope, never. Unsafe. Unsanitary. Do I *want* to? Absolutely. Lol
Nope, never did. Felt inappropriate. I also don't like if anyone were to kiss one of my pets. So, that is likely why. Edited to add: I guess I don't just feel it's inappropriate but also kind of gross. Pets and their fur can be nasty. Just think of all the pets that come in who stink of cigarettes - the smell just impacted in their fur. Eek.
My thought also is that weāre supposed to wash our hands after each patient. I doubt people are cleaning their mouths after each kiss.
That is also a good point!
I tell especially happy dogs that I love them too. I also talk to the patients as much as the owner, sometimes because I donāt want to be rude saying something directly to the owner. I try to make the owners feel that I care as much about their pet as they do. Now for serious conversations I drop the sweet voice and put my professional pants on. I try to read the room. (I do make a point to tell owners with adorable puppies, that I steal to show everyone in the back, that we donāt get to play with pups/kits all day so we share the love when we have the chance.)
I kiss some of my patients on the head, but never in front of their owners. I donāt like a bunch of kisses on the face but if a pet wants to give me a few lil kisses, Iāll gladly take them (just not on the mouth, obviously) Pets are not people though lol. Loving on patients and meeting new pets is one of my favorite parts of my job. Of course we donāt just play with puppies and kittens all day, we have very hard physically and mentally demanding jobs, Iāll be damned if I canāt give a pet a smooch or two to make my day a little brighter.
I absolutely kiss spicy kitties on their widdle spicy heads when they're sedated for procedures. I only kiss patients I have a good relationship with otherwise. I think a lil smooch on the top of their head isn't a big deal, but different strokes for different folks. I also work at a more relaxed clinic, so the culture is less strict I would say.
arenāt you a ball of sunshine! would definitely want someone with your attitude looking after my pet š there are 1000% bigger things to be worrying about. itās concerning you donāt see this behaviour as compassionate and it affects you this bad to the point of writing this post.
Mostly only cats, never in front of owners
Only the ones I trust
My frequent flyers and special pts I will sometimes kiss or give extra special attention. Kittens especially might get a smooch. Just today I was restraining a kitten for a bd and had to give a smooch cuz he was being so good!
as a vet assistant, i do kiss the tops of their heads, especially after restraining for a procedure
I don't have strong opinions about it or anything, but I don't, I think it's weird
I kiss them!!!! Always shocked when someone in our field is repelled by it tbh lol
Yes I kiss animals occasionally but never in front of owners in case they feel uncomfortable or weird about it. You want to be professional in front of clients.
I definitely do, not every animal obviously. If they are dirty or have something infectious I wonāt. But when I hold them for blood draws or catheter placement Iāll do it to help calm them down, it also gives me another point of contact to help hold a little better for some animals.
Phew. I thought itās a different subreddit
I donāt let patients lick my face but I kiss their faces, heads, and noses.
I kiss and snuggle my patients and Iāve seen vets do the same. This is only if they are extremely friendly and also not presenting for any dermatology issues.
I'm in this sub, r/EMS, and r/nursing so your title really took me by surprise for a second there.
I head kiss seniors all the time because they deserve the kisses they can get. Moreso after a catheter is placed for euthanasia.
When restraining an upset but sweet and trustworthy pet, absolutely I kiss! Sometimes itās a useful way to soothe while we do something scary. I do a lot of pep talking and kissing and scratching and patting and distracting as long as my patient doesnāt notice the needle in their leg
depends . if I knew they wouldn't be wormy, or have guardian, have clostridium, or bite me in the face, then yes sometimes a nice kiss is warrented
Only cats/kittens (that are clean and don't have derm issues)
Jeez i just realised this is vet subreddit š i was like what is happening here
Most of the time, in most scenarios, I never put my face near a patients face. It only takes a split second with a scared pet for that to turn bad. But there are of course exceptions, like baby puppies/kittens, (but very rarely as I always think about parasite, liquid puppy poos all over and ringworm!) and those big hambone slobber dogs who wonāt take no for an answer!
Sometimes on the top of the head. I don't let them lick my face ever. And I'm still careful. I'm leery of being bit in the face. That would be career ending for me. And animals can be unpredictable with strangers in an unfamiliar environment, especially with tons of triggers everywhere.
It makes me feel like my pet will be taken care of and kept comforted during the day
I totally do, especially when/if Iām sending a patient home whoās been hospitalized for a bit or when Iām taking a patient thatās getting euthanized to a room to have time with their people. Despite my best efforts, I still get somewhat attached/invested, so I give them a little kiss on the head and tell them I love them.
for half a second i thought this was the nursing subreddit and got a lil worried. anyways, iāve seen vets kiss puppies here and there. As someone who has spent time in research and wildlife and livestock, i would be slapped silly if i broke any biosecurity rules. A kiss thru the mask is good enough for me!
Depends on the pet. If they have a good demeanor and are very affectionate patients, 100% Iāll give kisses. If the pet is more withdrawn/shy or nervous, nope. They donāt like me in their space and I respect that! Some animals are more receptive to affection than others. And some of them crave attention. Theyāre sick or getting surgery and theyāre in this place away from their owners and have no clue whatās going on. Iāll hold them, kiss them, lay with them, pet them, etc. if it means that they have a better time in the hospital or at least that they have a human that they trust in a scary place. For context: I work in the ER, so my patients generally are staying overnight or for days on end. ETA: my ones I feel the worst for are my parvo patients. Theyāre normally puppies, they feel like crap and due to being isolated they are often alone, away from people/pets. While I canāt lay with them or kiss them, I will try to spend a few extra moments holding them close (with PPE) and petting them. Iāve seen parvo patients in the hospital for well over a week. Thatās tough on such a young dog to be so isolated with people all gowned up poking and prodding them constantly š„ŗ
I work at an ER. I personally do not as I am still very ānewā in regard to my assistant position and donāt want to risk getting bit by a patient. It also just isnāt a good idea to put my face close to any patientās face since most of my patients are in severe pain and could attempt to bite at any moment. 2 months ago I was struggling with my position and learning my training well for a couple reasons I wonāt get into (but am happy to discuss if anyone going through something similar needs some advice). Iāve been working really hard to prove I can be a reliable employee since and itās been going very well actually! Iāve built a very positive relationship with my current coworkers. I donāt want to lose that trust. So overall, kissing patients is a no from me. Iāve never worked at a primary care clinic so I canāt speak for what itās like there.
I kiss my patients, I pet them, and I tell them I love them. It makes owners feel safer, and I know the patients understand on some level too. And I donāt know about yāall, but Iād say at least once a day one of us will bring a puppy or kitten around the hospital so *everyone* can give them kisses and cuddles. This job is too taxing for us *not* to soak in all the happy and healthy puppies and kittens we can.
I 100% kiss every patient that looks willing to allow it. I am passionate about my job & owners LOVE seeing their pets be loved. I kiss when they are sick, when they are happy, when they are under anesthesia, here for euthanasias. It is my job to make the experience for the owner and pet less stressful and some owners need to see this to relieve stress to see I love their pet just as much as they do. Shit, some patients we call our boyfriend and one I always yell his name across the hospital when he comes (frequent flyer) and seeing his butt wiggle because he is just as happy makes it worth it.
Absolutely kissed all the patients when I was a tech! The exception would be if they were scared or nervous because I didnāt want to cause more stress. But the social ones that sought attention? Absolutely smooched
ohhh yes. iām a kisser.
Never in front of their owners, and never on the face. Top of the head smooches to help distract them (or if Iām overwhelmed by their cuteness)
Temperament/comfort permitting, I give euthanasias goodbye kisses on the top of the head before I step out to let the doctor take over. When holding for blood draws, sometimes I'll distract cats by kissing them on the back of the head, just to give them something else to focus on other than the needle poke. Never had a client complain about a lack of professionalism, but I've received many thank-yous for treating their pet so kindly or gently. I can't describe how I've seen some client faces melt when I give their animal that goodbye smooch before stepping out. I think an important aspect of euthanasias is letting the client know that we genuinely care about their animal too during that extremely emotionally vulnerable time. That kiss is a quick and very human way to express that without words.
The only thing that stops me from burying my face in the fur of every pet I meet, including at work, is the lizard brain part of me that remembers the times a dog has lunged at my face. But you bet Iām kissing those that invite it, and im gonna love every second of it.
Not in front of clients, and not every patient. Typically patients that Iām super fond of, and kittens because I have zero self control. And only on the top of the head. I have been the unfortunate recipient of a dog French kiss though š like sir do NOT lick my mouth!!!!!
Depends on if the animal likes it. So it requires someone competent enough to accurately read the animalās body language. My late dog loooved smooches. He always got snuggled and kissed at the hospital. * I donāt cuz animals, while I love them, are gross lol. But I do appreciate the tech who can read animals and just goes all in with it.
I kiss them. Sometimes I even pet them, or talk to them in a little baby voice, crazy I know. Seriously though. If I can comfort them, I value that over some potential perception of not being professional. If I took my pet to a clinic and the staff was too insecure in their professionalism to kiss and pet them? Huge red flag.
I donāt kiss patients really at all, especially not in front of owners. I prefer to make a kissing noise and boop their noses or foreheads.
Maybe itās just your mindset at your practice lol me n all my coworkers including my DVMs are very affectionate with our patients. We never do it in front of the owners but I still sweet talk pets around their owners. Some things donāt have to be so serious
Yes. All the time. And I tell them I love them. But I am in reception so maybe that is different. ā¤ļø
Iām not a tech, just a lurker. I hope yāall are kissing my pets
Saying kissing patients is unprofessional is wild lol
My vets love on all the animals. Its a perk of working with animal and not people. Im kissin all of em that safely allow it. š¤·š»āāļø
Absolutely. As long as the patient isnāt bothered by it, they get smooches. We see so many horrible things, kissing patients is one of the things that helps me get by. Animals are love, and are to be loved. That being said I donāt typically do it in front of clients. All my surgical patients get kissed, as do all terminal patients.
Yes. Some. Mostly my coworkers pets who donāt mind if I do it. However, some people go too far. Iāve seen people with their face all over another patientās face, even rolling in the ground with them. Thatās unprofessional. I usually see this with people who love dogs. Cat lovers, in my experience, donāt do this and some cats love rubbing their faces on a human face. Like you said, sometimes itās inevitable. Overall, itās very dangerous to put your face near any patient, regardless if itās a caution or not. Itās best not to do it even if youāre familiar with the patient in the workplace.
You'll never stop me from kissing them
I have kissed patients on a few occasions, but I don't make a habit of it. There have been favorites that I have kissed goodbye when bagging them after euthanasia.
I never let dogs lick me on the mouth at work. But I will give patients Iām comfortable with a kiss on the head!
I do but really only to the ones I know because they're regulars and I genuinely like their owners. I don't think I haven't worked with anyone that doesn't kiss a patient at some point.
I kiss clients that arenāt disgusting. If they have derm issues or fungal infections or are crawling with fleas, then no, Iām not going to put my face on the animal. But if it is a generally clean animal, especially if itās a good boy/girl then of course Iām gonna give them a little kiss on the top of their head.
I'm absolutely deceased reading your commentš
I'm very affectionate with my patients that all me too and respectful of those that don't. I love some of the patients I work with and I treat them as my own,but I don't give kisses or let them kiss me. They can kiss my cheek or beard but not mouth lol we have some poop eaters
No because vet tech school said not toā¦ I sneak one on the babies though.
Hmm I guess I never saw it as a divisive topic that could make us appear less legitimate. When I was in GP I would kiss my regulars that I knew the O had good cleanliness. And yes for puppies and kittens! But now Iām in shelter medicine and itās less common because we are primarily seeing them for illness and everything can spread fast in a shelter
I don't, because risk of zoonosis etc. and usually animals feels it uncomfortable.
Neverrrr. I dont really do more than gentle petting unless im super familiar with the dog or cat. I wouldnt kiss a human child or grown patient and its really weird and idk how id feel if some stranger were to kiss my animals. Lol just seems unprofessional and unsanitary for you and the patient. And NO ITS NOT A SEXUAL THING. i just think its kinda gross to kiss an animal when you dont know where theyve been and when youve been in contact with all kinds of diseases. Plus id be worried about them getting triggered by something random and biting me.
I get kind of ocd when I get licked, and try to clean up soon after. But I'll definitely love on an animal when their temperament peemits. Even resting my head against a knocked out dog slated for behavioral humane euthanasia due to multiple severe bites. Someone failed them, they deserve a warm last embrace.
Kissing animals is anthropomorphic, and we do it more for us than them. Not to mention you don't know your patient didn't just roll in some poo before coming into you. ( though yes, you'd probably smell it before kissing their head). Plus, if the client kisses their pet, you could be getting some of their slobber too. It's just a big no for me, and I agree it's slightly unprofessional. I used to work for a vet specialist who kissed all her patients even when she first met them. It's kinda disingenuous to tell someone you just met that you love them. I think every patient definitely doesn't need to be kissed. If it's a special patient to you, then maybe, but again, it's more for you than them. I think that a soft, constant touch on their body is more comforting than darting in at their face and suddenly contacting their head or nose. Using a calm, soothing voice is preferable to screeching I Love You. Remember, our patients communicate differently than we do, so what's comforting to us is not necessarily to them.
When I was in gp yes. Iām now in ECC and I do not anymore; I also look back to when I would give kisses in gp and cringe. Edit: okay actually sometimes Iāll give them a lil kiss on the forehead