Patient/Caregiver Instructions (Animal-Assisted Therapy)

Patient Name: [Patient name]

Date of Visit: [Date]

Clinician: [Clinician name and credentials]

Clinic Contact: [Clinic phone number]. After hours: [After-hours instruction]

Next Appointment: [Date, time, location] (Omit this line if not scheduled.)

If this is an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

What We Did Today

[1–3 sentence summary of today's Animal-Assisted Therapy session, including why AAT was used, what activities occurred, and 1–3 specific goals practiced] (Use second person and plain language. Keep it personalized to what occurred today.)

What to Practice at Home

(Include this section only if home practice was recommended. Limit to 1–3 activities. Omit entire section if no home practice was discussed.)

• [Activity name]: [Brief purpose in one sentence]

  1. [Step 1 in plain language]
  2. [Step 2]
  3. [Step 3]

  (Number steps only if order matters. Keep steps short and clear.)

  How often and how long: [Frequency and duration in simple terms]

  Stop if: [Symptom-based stop rules such as pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or strong emotional distress]

(Repeat structure above for each additional activity, up to 3 total.)

(If practice involves an animal at home, include the following safety boundaries.)

• Have an adult supervise children during practice.
• Do not practice if the animal is sick or acting aggressively.
• Practice only the activities discussed with your clinician.

(If no animal is available and non-animal alternatives were recommended, add: [Non-animal alternative practice].)

(If a caregiver will help implement the plan, include 2–3 specific tasks.)

• [Caregiver task 1: e.g., set reminders, prepare space]
• [Caregiver task 2: e.g., supervise hand hygiene or safety boundaries]
• [Caregiver task 3: e.g., help track practice time or symptoms]

Staying Safe Around Animals

• Wash your hands with soap and water after touching animals and before eating.
• Do not let animals lick your face or touch broken skin.
• Do not eat or drink while you interact with animals.

(If the patient has allergies, asthma, or experienced symptoms during the session, add the following.)

• Watch for itchy or watery eyes, sneezing, skin hives (raised, itchy bumps), or wheezing (a whistling sound when breathing).
• If symptoms start, step away, wash your hands, and use your usual medicines if prescribed.
• Contact the clinic if symptoms persist or get worse.

(If the patient is documented as immunocompromised or has open wounds or indwelling devices such as ports or catheters, include this statement. Do not infer high-risk status.)

Stricter precautions apply: Avoid contact with animal saliva, urine, or feces. Clean any scratches right away with soap and water. Contact the clinic before the next session if you are unsure whether AAT is safe for you.

(If a bite or scratch occurred during today's session, include this subsection.)

Bite or Scratch Care

• Wash the area with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Watch for redness, swelling, warmth, pus, or fever.
• Contact the clinic as instructed if these signs appear.

When to Call Us

Call the clinic if:

• You have new or worsening allergy symptoms (hives, itching, sneezing).
• You see signs of infection after a scratch (redness, warmth, pus, or fever).
• You have increased pain or emotional distress related to the session.
• You have questions about home practice.

Call 911 or go to the emergency department if:

• You have severe trouble breathing.
• You have swelling of your face, lips, or throat.
• You have severe bleeding.

Next Steps

(If a follow-up is scheduled:)

Your next visit: [Date, time, location]. Bring [items to bring such as home practice log, questions, or assistive device]. (Only include items actually discussed.)

(If not yet scheduled:)

Scheduling: Call the clinic to schedule your next visit within [timeframe].

Before your next AAT session, please tell us if you have:

• New fever, vomiting, or diarrhea
• New or worsening allergy symptoms with animal contact
• New open wounds or any new medical devices (like a catheter or port)
• Any bite or scratch since your last session

My Plan

(Include this quick recap especially when a caregiver will help or when there are multiple home practice steps.)

• ☐ I will practice: [Brief activity list with frequency]
• ☐ I will call if: [Key reason to call, in plain language]
• ☐ My next visit is: [Date/time or action to schedule]