[Blindtlk] Guide dogs and the Dentist

[Mark Tardif]

I think I owe everyone an apology here.  I do think there are advantages to 
the cane and I would imagine to working with the dog guide as well.  But 
obviously there are a lot of people who have no trouble at all going to the 
dentist with their dog guides, so I certainly stand corrected in the 
previous message I sent earlier today.  I do apologize.



Mark Tardif
Nuclear arms will not hold you.
-----Original Message----- 
From: Szostak, Christine via blindtlk
Sent: Monday, January 12, 2015 5:31 PM
To: Blind Talk Mailing List
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Guide dogs and the Dentist

Hi All,
  I had to almost laugh when reading this as I just returned from the 
dentist with my guide and this was the first message I read.
  I put my guide dog right next to the chair and have always done so with no 
problems at all. If the dog freaks out a little over any of the sounds, I 
just place my hand gently on his back or head and say good boy and he calms 
right down. Usually he  falls asleep and the dental staff every place I have 
taken my guide loves having him and never seems to have issues with him 
being at all in the way. Usually, I make sure he is on the side opposite 
from the main person doing the work (e.g., if the dentist is working on me, 
than he goes on the side of the assistant since that person usually mainly 
has jobs like getting me wet:)) though I always ask the dental staff which 
side they prefer that I place him on and to let me know if he is getting in 
their way.
Happy Monday!
Chris (and a dog who was just glad it was not himself in the dentist's 
chair:))
________________________________________
From: blindtlk [blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] on behalf of Christopher-Mark 
Gilland via blindtlk [blindtlk at nfbnet.org]
Sent: Monday, January 12, 2015 8:59 AM
To: blindtlk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Blindtlk] Guide dogs and the Dentist

Guys,

This may seem like a somewhat off-the-wall question, but I got to thinking
this morning...  Tomorrow, I have a dental appointment.  Now, I myself am a
cane user, and don't have a dog.  Never have.  I'd love to get one one of
these days, but that's another topic entirely.  LOL!  Anyway, as most of you
probably know, a dentist office in general would be fine for a service
animal, like a guide dog, but once they call you back for your appointment,
most of you probably know that for one thing, those rooms are pretty small
as is.  Now, of corse, if you're at a place like I was as a kid where there
is no privacy, and you're out in the bare butt openning with all other
children, then that's another story, but again, that's a topic for another
day.  But generally speaking, most of the time, 95 percent the time, those
rooms are going to be not only quite little, but quite narrow as well.
Then, you put the dental chair in there, plus the cart with the tray of tool
instruments, plus usually a desk with a computer, then you take the dentist
and his/her assistant dental
hygienist, it's going to get super super crouded!  This said, you can't
exactly put the dog under the chair, as for one, the chair moves, which if
not careful could hurt the dog, 2, if you're getting novicayne, and are
anything like me, you're gonna yelp pretty loud when they stick ya, which of
corse would alarm the dog... Good? Fido, nice? Fido... LOL!  Just kidding.
But seriously, my point being, where the heck do you all  stash the dog when
in the back room?  OK, if it was a regular family physician appointment,
then yeah, ok, that wouldn't be an issue.  Just lie the dog down out of your
way and the doctor's way, as most examining rooms are big enough to do that,
but not so much a dentistry room.  Do you all just leave the dog out in the
waiting room?  Surely, if you're going by yourself, you don't do that.  Uh,
skeuze me, sir?  uh, like, I'm blind and am going back in the back, will you
watch ma dog?  Um... Yeah... me thinks not.



So, what do you all normally do?  I know there are certain times you just
can't! take the dog, much as you'd probably like to.  Is this one of those
times?



Chris.


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