While Bailey is not an employee at Boudry Dentistry in downtown Fond du Lac, don’t tell him that. Upon request, the 65-pound goldendoodle assists dentist Tammy Boudry by sitting alongside uneasy children undergoing work in the dental chair.
“It’s usually a mom who requests Bailey as a way to help her child relax,” Boudry said. “It’s a win-win because Bailey loves the attention and the patient becomes more relaxed.”
Bailey is a certified therapy dog, a canine trained to provide comfort and affection. He will eventually train to be a service dog and provide help to people with disabilities.
“He is very outgoing and friendly,” Boudry said. “He is even more than I hoped for and is the type of dog you just immediately fall in love with.”
In order to incorporate 7-year-old Bailey into the office, which opened in May 2014 at 10 Forest Ave., Boudry sought approval and licensing from the Wisconsin Dental Association. She may be the first Wisconsin dentist to use a therapy dog. “They had to write an insurance policy just for me," she said. "There are lots of extra precautions and rules I follow to maintain a clean and safe environment.”
Bailey, a mixture of golden retriever and poodle, does not shed hair and is a breed considered to be hypoallergenic, meaning people are unlikely to be allergic to him. Both positives in a dentist's office.
As a dental chair companion, Bailey is brought into the office on days when a patient has requested him ahead of time. An option is that Bailey can recline on a table next to the patient.
Katie Schmude of Fond du Lac said her two children enjoy having Bailey next to them during dental work. “My youngest son used to sit on my lap while getting dental work," she said. "Now, he’s fine in the dentist chair.”
The idea to add Bailey came to Boudry after reading an article about use of therapy dogs in several medical clinics nationwide. Therapy dogs have especially been used to comfort children with autism.
Boudry now mentors other dentists around the state who are considering a therapy dog. “I love the fact that I can be a small part of helping another office help their patients,” Boudry said.
Using a therapy dog isn’t the only unusual relaxation tactic Boudry offers in her practice. In addition to the common use of numbing agents, she provides options like TV goggles, warm towels, iPads, freshly flavored water, coffee, hot chocolate and a snack bar. She also emanates calming essential oils into the air daily.
Born and raised in Fond du Lac, Boudry returned to her hometown to practice dentistry after earning her dental degree at Marquette University.
“My parents are both small business owners in Fond du Lac, and it seemed only fitting that I open my practice here," she said. "I love this community.”
source: http://www.fdlreporter.com/story/news/2015/11/30/dental-dog-calms-young-patients/75923798/
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