Client and Animal Safety Flashcards
7 cards from real AAT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Client and Animal Safety flashcards as text
A therapy dog shows whale eye (visible sclera) and a stiff body while a client reaches toward it. What is the MOST appropriate immediate action?
Answer: Redirect the client and create distance between them and the dog
Whale eye and stiff body are stress signals indicating the animal may bite; immediate separation prevents injury.
Which zoonotic disease is of greatest concern when a therapy animal has an open wound that comes into contact with an immunocompromised client?
Answer: Capnocytophaga canimorsus infection
Capnocytophaga canimorsus, found in dog saliva and wounds, poses severe sepsis risk for immunocompromised individuals.
Before an AAT session in a hospital, a handler discovers the therapy animal has loose stools that morning. The BEST course of action is:
Answer: Cancel the visit and consult a veterinarian
Gastrointestinal symptoms may indicate infectious illness, and visiting with a potentially ill animal risks spreading pathogens to vulnerable clients.
A client with dementia suddenly grabs a therapy cat tightly around the neck. The handler should FIRST:
Answer: Calmly redirect the client's hands while gently removing the cat
A calm, gentle physical redirect protects both the animal and the client without causing additional distress.
What minimum health documentation should a therapy animal have updated annually according to standard AAT guidelines?
Answer: Rabies vaccination and a veterinary health certificate
Annual rabies vaccination and a current veterinary health certificate are the baseline documentation requirements for therapy animal visits.
During a session, a child client begins pulling a therapy dog's tail. The handler should:
Answer: Immediately intervene, redirect the child, and use it as a teaching moment about gentle touch
Immediate intervention protects the animal, prevents a bite, and provides a therapeutic teaching opportunity about safe animal interaction.
Which of the following environments requires the STRICTEST animal cleanliness protocols before an AAT visit?
Answer: Oncology ward
Oncology patients are severely immunocompromised, requiring the strictest hygiene protocols including recent bathing and nail trimming of the therapy animal.