Views from a physician and veterinarian: How to improve barriers to pet care when owners are hospitalized

Views from a physician and veterinarian: How to improve barriers to pet care when owners are hospitalized Sadie Harley Scientific Editor Robert Egan Senior Editor The human-animal bond is often so strong that pet owners may delay or forgo medical treatment or leave a health care facility against medical advice if they have no one to care for their pet at home. A perspective paper published in the New England Journal of Medicine explains why pet owners may need different approaches to care when hospitalized, according to an Emory University physician and an Ohio State University veterinarian. Reshma Jagsi, MD, DPhil, the Lawrence W. Davis Professor and chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Emory University, and Rustin Moore, DVM, Ph.D., Rita Jean Wolfe Endowed Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at The Ohio State University, began a conversation at a conference earlier this year. In her presentation, Jagsi spoke about her appreciation of veterinary medicine after her Goldendoodle, Daisy, became seriously ill last year. Daisy has since recovered. That led Moore to ask whether pets are included in conversations when someone is hospitalized. "We started talking about how caring for animals is such an important part of the core identity of many human patients and yet is often overlooked by physicians," Jagsi says. "We discussed the interdependency of human and animal health and realized that we had complementary perspectives on a challenge that is seen in human patients, but with limited solutions." "From that conversation came the idea for this manuscript: to raise awareness among human health care providers about the importance and impact of the human–animal bond and to encourage health care systems to embrace a more complete concept of family-centered care—one that recognizes that, for millions of people, family includes pets," Moore says. Pets shape care decisions Surveys show that about two-thirds of U.S. households include at least one pet. Nearly all pet owners consider their pets to be part of their family, with about half indicating that pets are as much family as human members, according to the researchers. Research has shown that pet companions contribute to reduced stress, increased physical activity, improved cardiovascular outcomes, enhanced emotional stability and social connection in their humans. Pets also depend on their owners for care. "When people become seriously ill, their animals do not suddenly become less important. In many cases, the bond becomes even more consequential," Moore says. "However, illness and hospitalization can abruptly disrupt access to that relationship, creating two interconnected concerns: the welfare of the animal and the well-being of the person." "Yet these critical relationships are rarely discussed or considered in clinical care, leading to missed opportunities to improve patients' health or misinterpretation of decisions that are constrained by competing obligations to patients' pets," Jagsi notes. The researchers highlight that this disconnect occurs because relevant questions about pet responsibilities are rarely asked in health care settings. A simple screening question Asking about patients' pets or companion animals can strengthen the clinician-patient relationship, leading to improved communication, greater patient openness and disclosure of responsibilities that may shape how patients make decisions, the authors write. Proactive screening and coordinated support for pet care while patients are hospitalized align with addressing social determinants of care, which could lead to a practical, patient-centered approach to improving adherence and continuity of care. A single question could then trigger a referral to case management or social work to help remove barriers to care. "For those of us who are physicians, it's a foregone opportunity not only to facilitate care but to build bonds with our patients—it's such a simple thing to include information about pets in the medical record," Jagsi says. "Pet ownership is an important element of the social history for so many people." Building support beyond the hospital While recognizing the importance of keeping people and their animals together, implementation efforts remain fragmented. The researchers note that collaborations between health systems and local animal shelters, rescue organizations, veterinarians, social service agencies, foster networks and other nonprofit organizations could help coordinate temporary animal care for ill humans and their pet companions in need, leading to improved outcomes for both humans and animals. "At its core, we are advocating for a broader vision of total family care," Moore explains. "If a patient considers an animal part of their family—and that relationship materially affects their well-being and health care decisions—then our systems should at least recognize the relationship, ask about it and have pathways to help when that bond is disrupted by illness." Moore is the proud pet parent of three rescued black miniature schnauzers named Teddy, Travis and Tucker. Jagsi, who is also part of Emory Healthcare and Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, now routinely asks her patients about pet ownership in hopes of reducing barriers to health care access. She states, "Caring for animals is perhaps one of the most essential aspects of what makes us human; human medicine must no longer ignore that." Moore could not agree more. "If we truly aspire to provide compassionate, patient- and family-centered health care, we should recognize the family as the patient defines it. And for millions of people, that family member has four legs, a name and is someone waiting for them at home." Publication details Rustin M. Moore et al, Human–Animal Bonds as Social Determinants of Health Care Access, New England Journal of Medicine (2026). DOI: 10.1056/nejmp2605774 Journal information: New England Journal of Medicine Provided by Emory University