Dog Bites
My-Dog.info > Dog Care
by Spc. Sheila Hamlett Veterinary Services, Fort Knox, Ky.
Does he bite?
This is a question almost every dog owner has heard at least
once. The answer every dog owner should give is, "yes."
Any animal with a mouth has the potential to bite someone.
Will it bite? Probably not. But even the friendliest dog in
the world can bite if it is injured or frightened.
Every year in the United States, dogs bite approximately 4.7
million people, mostly children. Only about 1 million of those
require medical treatment. However, approximately 10 to 20 people
die annually from dog bites.
Animal bites are a serious issue on military posts, too. Every
person who is bitten by an animal and treated at a military
clinic or hospital fills out a bite report. The report is then
sent to the post veterinary treatment facility, where the animal
is tracked down and put into quarantine. The health of the animal
is the main concern after the bite victim has been treated. It is
important to make sure the animal does not have rabies, which is
100 percent fatal.
Most bites are not from an aggressive animal. Many are caused
by small children pulling hair, ears and tails. Some dogs will
tolerate it for a while, but if a parent is not around to tell
the child to stop, the dog will bite. Never leave a child
unsupervised with any pet, for the child's safety and the
animal's.
It is important to teach children to always ask permission
from an animal's owner before petting it. They should also learn
to never disturb an animal while it is eating, sleeping or caring
for its offspring. By educating your child at a young age, you
will decrease the child's chance of being bitten.
Many times people bring an animal into the clinic because it
suddenly started to act aggressive and was snapping at family
members. Many times behavioral changes indicate a medical
problem. Because the animal does not feel well, it wants to be
left alone. In most cases the animals are back to normal once
they feel better.
Never get between two animals that are fighting. You are
almost guaranteed to be bitten. In the heat of the moment, the
animals are not paying attention to what they are actually
biting.
Are some dogs more likely to bite than others? Not
necessarily. As stated earlier, any animal can bite. Some dog
breeds, however, do have the potential to do more damage when
they bite.
According to a study done by the Humane Society of the United
States, one third of deaths caused by dogs were attributed to pit
bulls, Rottweilers, German shepherds, Siberian huskies and
Alaskan malamutes. The rest of the deaths were attributed to
other breeds and mixes.
Some of these are breeds that most people would not consider
aggressive. Labrador retrievers, Great Danes, Saint Bernards,
cocker spaniels, and even the little Yorkshire terrier have each
chalked up at least one fatality.
The important thing to remember is to be careful around all
animals. Always watch your children and teach them to treat
animals with respect. If any animal, especially a stray or wild
animal, bites you, go to the emergency room to fill out a bite
report and be treated. Your health is too important to risk.
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