| Don't become a statistic; teach children how to avoid dog bites. Annually, almost 5 million people are bitten by dogs. Dog bite victims
requiring medical attention in the United States number 500,000 to 1
million annually. Countless more bites go unreported and untreated. On
average, about a dozen people die each year from dog bites. During a six year study, more than 18,000 injuries or illnesses
involving dogs or cats were reported to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics. You might be inclined to believe that working with pets is
also a very dangerous proposition; however veterinarians and
veterinary staff accounted for less than 5% of the total, despite
their obvious closeness with their patients. What secrets can this
profession teach us about avoiding these injuries and the associated
costs? Veterinarians and their staff see a large numbers of dogs each day and
staff members learn to read a dog's body language to help prevent dog
bites. Dogs likely to bite usually will show distinct body language
signs. These include: tenseness, growling, raised hair on the neck and
the back, menacing bark, and even a slowly wagging tail. Dogs that are
confident will often lean forward as they show these signs, preparing
to launch an attack. Less confident dogs may lean away from the
person, preparing to run. On some occasions, dogs may appear to bite
without any warning signs. These dogs may have been previously
punished for growling or showing outward signs of aggression. Even the sweetest pup can bite if provoked. Continually assessing the
dog's body language is the best way to avoid being bitten by the dog.
Children make up more than 60 percent of all dog bite victims. The
national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates half of
all children 12 and younger have been bitten by a dog.
Teaching your children some of the following guidelines could help to
avoid a painful lesson and potentially even save his or her life. • Children should be taught to never run up on a dog, especially one who
is feeding.
• Explain to your child that not every dog may be as friendly as their
own pet. Tell them to never approach a stray dog unless Mom or Dad has
assessed the situation.
• Teach your child to ask the dog owner if it is ok to approach the
dog or pet the dog.
• Use your judgment as a parent. If you sense that your child
shouldn't be near a certain pet, avoid the situation.
As dog owners, we love our pets and want the very best for them. They
are amazing creatures that bring so much joy and pleasure to our
lives.
No one wants to see dogs euthanized for dangerous behavior issues but
we also don't want to see our kids hurt or worse because pets have not
been given proper behavior training from puppies on up.
Prevention is the key. If you are having difficulty with your dog and aggression, please see your veterinarian immediately. To learn more about avoiding dog bites and keeping yourself and your family safe, visit http://www.myvnn.com/playvideo.php?story=64 to watch a video.
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