FAMILY HEALTH

Preventing Dog Bites

DOPTIONS AND PURCHASES OF puppies and dogs have skyrocketed in KNOW WHEN TO BACK OFF • Most dog bites are preventable. To help reduce the risk of your BY PILAR BRADSHAW, M.D., F.A.A.P. | EUGENE PEDIATRIC ASSOCIATESA the past year, proving once again that these furry child being injured by a dog: animals are people’s best friends—especially during a • • Teach kids to never go near a dog while it’s eating or drinking. Explain that a sleeping dog can be easily startled and bite as a result. pandemic. Unfortunately, the incidence of dog bite • Instruct children not to taunt dogs with toys or treats. injuries to children has also risen sharply. • Explain that backing dogs into a corner or other area where they have no way to escape can make the animal feel trapped and INJURIES BY THE NUMBERS defensive. • 470,000: The approximate number of children bitten by dogs each • Help kids learn to recognize signs that a dog is agitated or year. Boys are twice as likely as girls to be bitten. uncomfortable: • 5-9: The ages of children who are at the highest risk of being • Ears pinned back on a breed with ears that normally stand up bitten, according to the American Veterinary Association. • Raised hackles (the fur on the dog’s back stands up) • 77%: The percentage of bites that are from a dog belonging to the • Growling or bared teeth child’s family, friends or neighbors. • Tail tucked under or arched way over the dog’s back

The consequences of dog bites for kids can be serious. Babies and It’s important to remember that it is not a dog’s breed that toddlers are most likely to be bitten on the face and neck, while older determines whether it will bite, but rather the dog’s individual history children are often bitten on the extremities, such as the hands. The and behavior, as well as the circumstances and above risk factors. nature of a bite is often a disfiguring injury combination of laceration Children under age 5 may not reliably recognize when a dog is about and crushing and may leave a severe scar. Broken bones, serious eye to bite, so never leave a young child near a dog without continuous injuries, and muscle and nerve damage can all occur, and they account adult supervision. For more information about dogs and kids, go to for a significant number of emergency room visits. EugenePeds.com. ✦