AAT Risk Management Protocols 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following animal behaviors is classified as a 'distance-increasing signal' indicating the animal wants interaction to stop?
- Soft eye contact and slow tail wag
- Lip licking, yawning, and turning the head away (Correct answer)
- Approaching the client with ears forward
- Leaning into the client's hand during petting
Correct answer: Lip licking, yawning, and turning the head away
Lip licking, yawning, and head turning are calming or appeasement signals indicating the animal is stressed and trying to increase distance from the stimulus.
Question 2: An AAT handler notices a therapy dog is shedding excessively and scratching more than usual. The handler's FIRST concern from a risk management standpoint should be:
- Scheduling a grooming appointment before the next session
- Ruling out a parasite infestation or dermatological condition before continuing sessions (Correct answer)
- Switching to a different therapy animal breed
- Increasing the dog's dietary fat intake
Correct answer: Ruling out a parasite infestation or dermatological condition before continuing sessions
Excessive shedding and scratching can indicate parasites or skin conditions that pose zoonotic risks to clients, warranting veterinary clearance before sessions resume.
Question 3: When is it appropriate for an AAT animal to be off-leash in a healthcare facility session?
- Whenever the client requests direct contact
- Only in purpose-designed, fully enclosed spaces when the handler maintains full control (Correct answer)
- During any indoor session with the door closed
- Never; AAT animals must always remain on leash in healthcare settings
Correct answer: Only in purpose-designed, fully enclosed spaces when the handler maintains full control
Off-leash work in AAT healthcare settings is only appropriate in enclosed, controlled environments where the handler can maintain safety and prevent unexpected escapes.
Question 4: What is the recommended minimum vaccination that therapy dogs must maintain to participate in AAT programs, as commonly required by healthcare facilities?
- Rabies only
- Rabies, distemper, parvovirus, and Bordetella at minimum (Correct answer)
- Annual influenza vaccine only
- No vaccinations required if the animal appears healthy
Correct answer: Rabies, distemper, parvovirus, and Bordetella at minimum
Healthcare facilities typically require therapy dogs to maintain core vaccines (rabies, DA2PP) plus Bordetella to reduce infectious disease risk in vulnerable populations.
Question 5: A bite incident occurs during an AAT session with a pediatric client. After ensuring the child's immediate safety, the NEXT step is to:
- Immediately discharge the therapy animal from the program permanently
- Document the incident, report to facility administration, and quarantine the animal per protocol (Correct answer)
- Apologize to the parents and offer a replacement session
- Determine the child's fault level before filing any report
Correct answer: Document the incident, report to facility administration, and quarantine the animal per protocol
Post-bite protocol requires incident documentation, administrative notification, and animal quarantine per local public health regulations, regardless of circumstances.
Question 6: Which concept describes the maximum number of sessions or hours an AAT animal should work within a defined period to protect its welfare?
- Session saturation limit
- Work-to-rest ratio or welfare threshold (Correct answer)
- Behavioral extinction point
- Therapeutic load ceiling
Correct answer: Work-to-rest ratio or welfare threshold
Work-to-rest ratios define how many sessions an animal can participate in relative to recovery time, preventing burnout and maintaining reliability.
Question 7: A facility asks an AAT team to visit a ward where a patient has an active open wound. Which risk management step is MOST critical?
- Ensure the dog is freshly bathed before the visit
- Consult the infection control team to assess whether animal contact is safe for that patient (Correct answer)
- Keep the animal at least 3 feet from the patient at all times
- Limit the session to observational contact only without prior consultation
Correct answer: Consult the infection control team to assess whether animal contact is safe for that patient
Open wounds present a bidirectional infection risk requiring infection control clearance before any animal is introduced to that patient's environment.
AAT Risk Management Protocols 4
Which of the following animal behaviors is classified as a 'distance-increasing signal' indicating the animal wants interaction to stop?