Tips for Preventing and Treating Dog Bites
Dogs can be our protectors, our exercise buddies, and our first childhood best friends. We hope that all your canine experiences are pawsitively wonderful, but unfortunately, dog bites are a common source of injuries. When dogs are scared, stressed, or sick, they may act aggressively and children can be especially vulnerable. While the experienced surgeons at Dr.STITCH are available 24/7/365 to treat dog bite wounds, we hope that these dog safety tips can prevent dog bite injuries for your family.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on how we interact with our furry friends. In current times, more people are working from home than ever. For some lucky dogs, this translates to extra walks, and as people take advantage of time at home, there are also many new dog owners. It is more important than ever that pup parents take heed of good dog training methods and parents of small children take extra precaution around dog encounters. Rest assured that if you do require treatment for a dog bite, the surgeons at Dr.STITCH will make every effort to meet you in a private office setting.
Dog Bite Facts
- Over 4.5 million dog bite injuries occur yearly in the U.S.1
- 1 in every 5 dog bite injuries require professional medical attention
- 77% of all dog bite injuries involve a dog owned by or known to the victim2
- Children are the most frequent victims of attacks by dogs
Important Dog Safety Lessons to Teach Children
Interactions between children and dogs should always be supervised by an adult. If your child is playing at a friend’s house, be sure to ask how their dog is around kids. Here are some dog safety rules every child should know:
- Always ask permission to pet – Make sure that any little ones in your care know that they need to ask permission from you and from the dog owner before approaching any dog.
- Dogs need different types of affection than people – Dogs generally do not like to be hugged or kissed on the face the way that humans do. Teach kids to pet gently – “One hand, collar to tail” is a good guideline for pup petting.
- Learn appropriate playtimes – Just like people, dogs do not like being interrupted when eating or sleeping. Teach children to respect a pup’s schedule and give them space during meal and nap times.
Kasey was sleeping over a friend’s house when she received a dog bite laceration on her eyebrow. We’re glad that this STITCH Story ended with a smile:
Safety Tips for Dog Owners
If you have your own canine family member, there are several steps you can take that will keep your pup happy and healthy while also contributing to a safe environment for the whole family:
- Provide proper training – Take time to research positive reinforcement training techniques or consider hiring a certified dog trainer to teach family members how to set healthy boundaries and reinforce good dog behavior.
- Socialize your dog – Dogs need lots of human interaction and structured play time with other dogs to feel comfortable and confident in different situations.
- Provide exercise – Have an understanding of how much energy different breeds and ages need and make sure your pup gets plenty of walking, running, or playing with you. Dogs that are under-exercised can become frustrated and stressed.
- Spay or neuter your dog – Dogs that are “intact” are more likely to display aggressive behavior. More than 70% of dogs who bite people are unneutered.3
When 7-year-old Katie received a dog bite that lacerated her upper lip, her mom was relieved that Dr.STITCH was able to help:
Seeking Medical Attention for a Dog Bite
If you or a loved one experience a dog bite that breaks the skin, you should seek advice or care from a medical professional immediately. Contact your doctor even if the wound seems mild because dog bites are highly susceptible to infection. If possible, get the vaccination records of the dog that bit you.
Dr.STITCH for Dog Bites
We wish lots of cuddles and treats for you, your family, and any dogs in your life. If you do experience a dog bite, the plastic surgeons of Long Island Plastic Surgical Group are here to help. Dr.STITCH provides on-call service for immediate and urgent treatment of lacerations, complex wounds, facial trauma, and hand injuries. Download our Contact Card.
1 American Veterinary Medical Association
2 Pediatrics. July 1991, VOLUME 88 / ISSUE 1 Dog Bites in Urban Children
3 https://www.avma.org/public/Health/Documents/dogbite.pdf