ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the unique and complex connections at the heart of the doctor (or staff member)/client/patient relationship.
In addition to the relationships between practitioner and client, and practitioner and patient, a third relationship exists: that between practitioner and the human–animal bond. Although the human–animal bond is itself a relationship, it is something we feel a connection to. We cannot touch it as we can the points of the triangle, but a relationship is present, nonetheless, and this connection is an important part of companion animal practice.
The daily routines of patient and client are the essential building blocks of the human–animal bond. This chapter explores the importance of preserving daily routines when making recommendations and co-creating solutions for patient care with clients, and includes examples.
This chapter also discusses “Narrative Glimpses,” which are snippets of stories, typically human–animal bond related, that can provide valuable insights into the home lives of our patients.
