Ms Brunner, do you sometimes experience in your practice that someone "buys" a pet without having informed themselves about its characteristics and needs beforehand?
Gabrielle Brunner: In general, people do take care of guidance. But it is not uncommon for people to gather information but only take note of what they like. And only afterwards do we realise: "Actually, I should have been aware of this problem, but I thought everything would work out by itself. During the corona pandemic, it happened a few times that people followed the current trend and got a dog - only to soon realise that they had decided too quickly and too rashly.
What do you think of the educational principle that a pet is meaningful for a child's development?
G.B.: My personal experience as a mother is confirmed by various scientific studies: The relationship with the animal promotes the child's development in terms of social competence, consideration and empathy. However, the necessary conditions are not always given.
In what way?
G.B.: When I see a child in our practice grabbing his cat by one leg and holding it up without the parents intervening - "He/she always does that at home, too." - I realise once again how important it is for parents to accompany and act as role models in the child-animal relationship. In this respect, sometimes alarming deficiencies can be observed.
Can the animal-child relationship also be therapeutically effective?
G.B.: Yes, if the environment and the therapeutic concept are carefully coordinated. If the basic concept is right, the animal can, for example, offer a lot of positive things to a child suffering from an autistic disorder. The individual case is decisive: if the child is expected to take too much responsibility for the animal from the beginning, the intended educational effect will fizzle out.
Are hamsters and guinea pigs considered cuddly animals?
G.B.: Exactly these types of animals cannot fulfil cuddling expectations. The child's parents must be aware that even a rodent such as a hamster must be kept in a species-appropriate manner. Rodents are escape animals and are not meant to be cuddly playmates. The most suitable would be rats, which, like a dog or cat, can get used to dealing with people. But rats are not popular pets.
Is it responsible to keep a cat in the flat without any opportunity to run around?
G.B.: The Animal Welfare Act stipulates that a so-called indoor cat may not be kept as a single animal. If a lone cat is assigned a companion and the animals do not like each other, this solution is not ideal either. The situation is satisfactory when a kitten - I like to talk about kittens - gets enough encouragement and exercise from the beginning and the human being actively engages with the animal. The pet owner must be willing to invest time and interest. It is not enough if he or she only opens cans of cat food and cuddles the animal from time to time. The physical fitness and also the spirit of the cat can be stimulated with retrieving games or little tricks. There is plenty of guidance on this subject in non-fiction books.
Does it often happen that someone develops an allergy to animal hair?
G.B.: Not often, but it does happen from time to time. However, it is not the hair that causes the allergy, but the saliva that sticks to the animal hair. Especially for families with children, I recommend taking the precaution of keeping an animal in the family for a few days before making the final decision for the pet or dog. To test for allergy susceptibility, the duration of exposure should be prolonged if possible - for example, do not wash your hands thoroughly after petting the animal or dog, but wait for the reaction. I will never forget an excellently trained and distinguished veterinarian who was on her rounds in the animal hospital one day and suddenly collapsed. Ambulance, hospital, diagnosis: The woman had developed an allergy to cat hair over the course of years. The repetitive contact with cats had added up so that the allergy could break out overnight.
But you can be desensitised to animal hair allergy?
G.B.: This is possible, but often difficult to arrange. During the desensitisation phase, you are not allowed to have any contact with the animal and you have to try to find an outside placement.
Pet parasites are probably also a problem issue?
G.B.: Diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans and vice versa are called zoonoses. As a rule, these are skin fungi; in the case of parasites, the spectrum is not very broad. If you follow the usual hygiene rules, there are hardly any problems. However, caution is advised in case of pregnancy - keyword feline toxoplasmosis. If a woman is pregnant or wants to become pregnant, it is advisable to clarify her immune status with regard to toxoplasmosis.
How dangerous is toxoplasmosis?
G.B.: If infection occurs during pregnancy via the cat's faeces, this can harm the baby's development. If the pregnant woman has already developed antibodies, she is not at risk. Otherwise, she should stay away from cleaning the litter box. Fortunately, cat lovers have now understood that a mouth guard should be worn when cleaning the "cat box" and that careful hand hygiene is a must. Of course, you will also make sure that no child tries to tamper with the litter box.
A wide field is probably the topic "The elderly person and his pet"?
G.B.: As you say, a detailed article could be written on this topic alone. I know from direct experience how valuable an animal companion can be for a person suffering from dementia, for example, but also how much attention and care is required by relatives or carers. Therapy dogs that do their job during visits to old people's and nursing homes often achieve amazing things. But here, too, it must be clear what is reasonable and what is not, what needs to be observed and what effort is necessary.
Is the pet often a partner substitute or sometimes a substitute for a child?
G.B.: In recent years, the mandate to the animal has changed a lot. Increasingly, it is the basis for social contact, if not the only being with whom one has close contact. If the animal can fill a social vacuum, it takes on an important mission. The dog as a compagnon, as a companion, is an important factor. I observe and experience this quite often during home visits and it touches me. In our practice we have moved away from the term "pet owner", which has a possessive character. We like to speak of "pet parents".
