Visiting Pets
Pet Visits to Mott Hospital
During a long hospital stay, a visit from a beloved pet can make our patients feel better! To arrange for a pet visit for a Mott Hospital patient, first talk with the patient’s nurse. The nurse will give you a health certificate that must be completed by a veterinarian and approved by the child’s physician.
Visits are limited to dogs and cats. Turtles or other amphibians, birds or reptiles never visit patients. Visits by other animals should be arranged by the patient’s nurse who will need to call Infection Control at 734-936-6355.
When to visit
The family, the patient’s nurse and, if necessary, a Child Life staff member will agree on a time for the pet visit. The patient’s nurse or a Child Life staff member will accompany the patient and family during the visit. The patient’s health determines the length of the visit. The maximum visit is two hours.
Where Pets Can Visit
- the University Hospital courtyard
- the patient’s room, if private
- the Mott Hospital 8th level activity room or unit activity rooms (coordinated with the Child & Family Life department)
Do’s and don’ts
- Pets may visit their own human companions - not other patients.
- The adult who accompanies the pet is totally responsible for the care and management of the visiting pet while the pet is at Mott. That adult must stay with the pet during the entire visit. The adult must clean up any pet soil and inform a nurse so that Housekeeping can sanitize the area.
- The adult handler must follow any requests made by the nurse.
- While on hospital premises, the pet must remain on a collar or harness and leash, or in a pet carrier.
- People who touch the pet must wash their hands.
- Pets must not lick patients.
It’s showtime! Getting the pet visitor ready
- Bathe, groom and exercise dogs before they visit. Walk dogs outside before they come into Mott Hospital.
- Brush cats, and apply an anti-allergen grooming product.
- Stop feeding the animal at least two hours before the visit and do not feed the pet while it is visiting.
Termination of visiting privileges
While we recognize the beneficial effects of pet visits, we also want to protect the health and safety of all Mott patients. As such, we may terminate pet visitation privileges at any time, if necessary.
Pet therapy
For information about volunteer pets (pets whose hospital visits are managed by an organization that specializes in pet therapy), visit the Therapaws site.
