Lung cancer and pets: Is it safe to have them around?

I have a question for everyone here,

It looks like my husband might finally be transitioning from the hospital to home care next week—a small victory, I suppose. He’s battling lung cancer. I find myself wondering if we should consider rehoming our dog. Is there any chance that being around him could actually cause harm? I would truly appreciate hearing from anyone who has navigated something similar. On another note, my husband absolutely adores our pup; he keeps dreaming about finally getting back out for those long walks together once he's home—even though, as things stand, he can barely move at all.

Best to you all,
electricgardener14

I truly struggle to see why avoiding contact is even necessary here. If your husband doesn't suffer from an actual allergy to dog hair—which, of course, could lead to breathing difficulties—then the dog shouldn't be a source of trouble at all. Please, don't go "getting rid" of him—though, if you ask me, you should probably focus more on "getting rid" of those guests who might visit your husband and decide to light up a cigarette right in front of him or engage in rather inappropriate conversations; honestly, stress, lifestyle, and diet will likely pose much larger threats than a pet. Let him have his joys, which surely include that dog. Simply petting the animal and having its company will do wonders for his mental state and bring a bit of life back into the house—and perhaps you’ll find yourselves able to relax a little more too, knowing he isn't so isolated.

That being said—and I do mean this with caution—if the dog is frequently urinating and your husband is currently feeling quite weak, just ensure he doesn't inhale any stray droplets, and make sure the dog isn't licking his face; he certainly doesn't need to deal with respiratory infections on top of everything else. Now, I am by no means an expert when it comes to animals, but if you are genuinely worried, perhaps it would be wise to give him a good bath and take him to the vet for a quick checkup? It might be worth seeing if he needs an antibiotic or some other preventative measure before your husband returns home.

Best wishes!

It’s probably not a serious dog hair allergy

If he truly loves that pup and spends his time dreaming about their walks together, losing him would probably break his spirit
She’d be heartbroken over losing her little companion, and he’d likely end up blaming himself for the dog being gone
The real question is how much motivation he'll have to recover if he can't go on those walks with his best friend

I know I personally couldn't do it
I know for a fact that if my own pets were "taken care of," I'd be absolutely devastated
Even if it meant finding them a great new home through a rescue organization

Please, don't take matters into your own hands. If it really comes down to that, let it be at your husband's request

I can only imagine how incredibly hard it is to care for him right now. Watching someone you love suffer is so much more draining than just physical caregiving, but try to find the strength to look after that sweet animal too

Sending him so much luck for a smooth recovery, and wishing you both tons of strength
🙂 😘