Pets

Hi Hugh. A big deal for us. But before I start 100% I say for sure get that guidance from your Mayo care team. But it will be interesting if other folks chip in with thoughts. I have had 9 dogs over my 68 years and loved every one. The golden retriever I had 2 years ago when I had my liver transplant just passed away and I am battling with my wife to get another one. We did long walks every day. At the time of the transplant Mayo/local DRs said dogs were ok but be careful at first. A fellow transplant patient at the same hotel in AZ and her family (she was a nurse) got a puppy (a husky ) while they were down there. She named it "Handsome" and it lived right there in the hotel for the 2 months I was down there. I think she was chided by Mayo but it all worked out. Different story with cats. I was told it was a bigger issue with cats (don't recall why) and even had to get a shot (vaccine ?) before the transplant just because one of my sons and his family have a cat and we visit them often. Get the official line from Mayo but I bet dogs are ok but you should not be kissing your kitty (or cleaning the litter box). Good luck. (----:

I have had cats and horses my whole life. After liver transplant 27 yrs ago I was told no animals, period. That was not an acceptable option, so I was meticulous about no face contact and frequent hand washing. Really went overboard for the first 6 months, until the correct dosage of tacrolimus was determined. Yes, animals carry all sorts of bacteria but your body knows and recognizes YOUR animals' bacteria and has developed a certain immunity to it. This is not a good time to add an animal that your immune system does not know, also do not pet other people's animals. Be mindful of protecting yourself when cleaning their poop, no face or finger licking and maybe extra baths for the dog. After a year from transplant is when I started loosening up the guard. Animals bring us such joy and comfort, we just have to figure out how to negotiate the initial post transplant vulnerability. Needless to say, the directives from your transplant team rule.

52% of cat owners are carriers of toxoplasmosis. If your donor was a carrier (as mine was) your transplant team would have you on Bactrim for life and have you totally stay away from cats and rabbits, and especially their litter boxes.

We have 2 maltipoos and there has never been an issue. In fact, I think in some ways they saved my husband. He had a liver transplant 2 1/2 years ago. Before transplant, he was so sick, as you must know. Every single day, he laid on the couch and just watched TV. One dog laid by his head all day and the other at the end of the couch all day. They never left him. They are his buddies. When he had his transplant in Tampa, they came to the airbnb we rented for a month. No one ever asked about pets and it really never occurred to me they would be an issue.