Dog Bite Injuries – Children Most at Risk

If you have spent much time here at my blog, you know I love my dogs.  I have sewn up many wounds / lacerations due to dog bites, so I have no illusions that dogs won’t bite.  They do and children are the ones most at risk of those injuries. 

That fact has been reinforced in a recently published study in the March issue of the journal Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.  The study also indicates that most of these injuries occur in warmer weather, so it is time to become more watchful.

Of the 84 children with dog-bite injuries who were treated by the researchers in the study, the average age was 6 years (ranged from 10 months to 19 years).  Approximately half of the injured children were 4 years old or younger.

The family pet was to blame in 27% of the cases. The most common areas injuries were to the cheek (34%) and the lips (21%). Dog bites are considered contaminated wound injuries, but the study found that wound healing was excellent in most of the cases. Infections were infrequent.

It is important for parents to teach their children how to treat dogs. It is important for us dog owners to teach our dogs obedience.  It is reported that neutered dogs are less likely to bite.

Each year, nearly 1 million Americans seek medical attention for dog bites; half of these are children.  Dog bites are a largely preventable public health problem, and adults and children can learn to reduce their chances of being bitten.

 

Basic safety around dogs

• Do not approach an unfamiliar dog.

• Do not run from a dog and scream.

• Remain motionless (“be still like a tree”) when approached by an unfamiliar dog.

• If knocked over by a dog, roll into a ball and lie still (“be still like a log”).

• A child should not play with a dog unless supervised by an adult.

• A child should immediately report stray dogs or dogs displaying unusual behavior to an adult.

• Avoid direct eye contact with a dog.

• Do not disturb a dog who is sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies.

• Do not a pet a dog without asking permission from its owner first.

• Do not pet a dog without allowing it to see and sniff you first.

 

Things to consider before adding a dog to your household

• Learn about suitable breeds of dogs for your household.

• Dogs with histories of aggression are inappropriate in households with children.

• If your child is fearful or apprehensive around dogs, then don’t get one. it will not make the child less fearful.

• Spend time with a dog before buying or adopting it. Use caution when bringing a dog into the home of an infant or toddler.

• Spay/neuter virtually all dogs (this frequently reduces aggressive tendencies).

• Never leave infants or young children alone with any dog.

• Do not play aggressive games with your dog (e.g. wrestling).

• Properly socialize and train any dog entering the household. Teach the dog submissive behaviors (e.g. rolling over to expose abdomen and relinquishing food without growling.

• Immediately seek professional advice (e.g. from veterinarians or animal trainers) if the dog develops aggressive or undesirable behaviors.

 

REFERENCE

Head and neck dog bites in children; Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Volume 140, Issue 3, Pages 354-357 (March 2009); Angelo Monroy, MDac, Philomena Behar, MDac, Mark Nagy, MDab, Christopher Poje, MDac, Michael Pizzuto, MDac, Linda Brodsky, MDabc

Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Dog Bite Prevention; Suture for a Living, June 7, 2009

American Kennel Club

 

 

Dog Bite California: Dealing with a Dog Bite Injuries

California Dog Bite Law Consultants

A dog bite is a serious case that requires immediate medical attention because some cases are catastrophic and life threatening. In some cases, it is also considered a dog related injury if you tripped and broke your bone after being chased by a dog. You can get emotional trauma too. You can develop phobia after experiencing such traumatizing events.

Dog Bite Laws
Most states have dog bite laws and follow the common law which places dog owners liable for the attack, provided that there is no existing statute. This is known as the common law and most states follow this ruling. In this law, dog owners are accountable for any injury caused by their dog as long as it resulted from their negligence. Nevada for example follows the common law. As such dog owners are liable and victims are allowed for recovery. The victim can also put the owner under strict liability if he or she can prove that the owner has knowledge of the dog’s violent nature.

On the other hand, dog bite laws in California are much stricter because it repudiates the concept of the requirement of “scienter” present in common law. Thus, a victim can put the owner under strict liability where he or she can ask for damages without having to prove the latter’s fault. However, the dog owner can be free from any liability if victim knew the risk beforehand.

Injuries Caused by Dogs
A victim can apply for compensation if he or she was injured due to a dog attack. You can ask for compensation if the dog caused your injury as long as it was not your fault. Example, without provocation the dog chased you and you tripped over, any injury should be compensated. Similarly, if the dog caused you to lose your balance and this resulted to a broken bone, you are entitled to compensation.

Assuming that there are statutes that cover these injuries, you will need legal assistance from a dog bite attorney or a dog bite expert witness to be able to ask for compensation. Dog owners can also ask assistance from these professionals. This is to avoid liability or lessen the damages.
http://www.dogexpert.com/

Dogs are wonderful companions because they have characters that benefit our physical, emotional, and social aspects. They make us active because they demand physical activities too. They must be fed, groomed, walked, and played. In return, they promote physical and emotional health because these actions eliminate boredom, stress, and anxiety. Moreover, they promote interaction too. Having dogs around allow us to interact and socialize with fellow dog lovers.

Although it is an advantage to have dogs around, ownership of such animal still requires responsibility. Although most dogs have calm character, there are dogs which have fierce quality. Dogs are highly territorial and because of this feature, so many people have fallen victims to dog bites. In dog attacks, we can either be the injured party or the perpetrator if you are the dog owner. Such situation often result to lawsuits and when these happen, you will require professionals working in dog attack cases.

What to do if a Dog Bites You
If you were bitten by a dog, you must seek medical attention right away to prevent complicating the issue. It is because dogs have mouths and saliva which contain harmful bacteria and viruses. If the dog has these radicals, infection is a big concern. The viral disease known as rabies can be transferred by an infected animal to humans through bites and this leaves a fatal effect if left untreated. To combat rabies, rabies shots must be administered. This is the reason why we need medical help right away.

Legalities of a Dog Bite California
Dog laws vary from state to state. However, most states put dog owners accountable and victims are granted recovery. California for instance has its own statute regarding dog attacks and it places dog owners under strict civil liability. On the other hand, dog owners are provided with defenses too. The can avoid liability if the action was a result of the victim’s negligence.

Conclusion
Whether a defendant or a plaintiff, you will need legal assistance from experts such as an attorney or a dog bite expert witness. This is one way to solve a dog bite issue because these professionals can help you with their skills. Likewise defendants can also use the skills of a dog bite expert witness to avoid or reduce liability.

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Preventing Injuries from Dog Bites: What Every Dog Owner Should Do

Dogs, despite their loyalty and gentleness still have the ability to inflict hurt on any individual, including their owners. As it is, domesticated dogs can become aggressive; in fact, there are a lot of contributory factors when it comes to bites and attacks towards humans. For example, trying to remove any food item or water from the dog’s place may cause it to become agitated, which would then lead to an attack or bite.

The same may happen if a dog is sick or in pain. Approaching the dog in such a situation may result in an attack. Even staring directly at a dog may be perceived by the latter as a sign of threat, causing it to bite an individual.

However, it is possible to prevent dogs from biting someone, as long as the owners put their effort in keeping their pets well-maintained and disciplined, especially when it comes to dealing with other people. As such, here are some valuable ways on how dog owners can prevent their dogs from injuring other people:

Training is important. As it is, almost all domesticated dogs are capable of getting trained, not only through tricks, but also in socializing with other people. The latter is more important, as dogs that are highly-trained to be engage with other people are less likely to be aggressive towards them.

Dog owners must know that letting their dogs loose out in the open may cause them to injure other people through attacks on innocent bystanders. That is unless they are trained.

Adult dog owners must also keep an eye on their pets, especially when there are children present. A large percentage of dog bite victims are children age 12 year or below.

Responsible dog owners know that their pet canines are receiving vaccinations, especially against the dreaded rabies virus. As it is, a dog bite can turn out to be deadly, especially if left untreated.

While some dog breeds are gentle, some are known for their aggressiveness that they are often kept as guard dogs. Owners must be able to let passers-by know to be “Beware of the Dog” within the premises.

Meanwhile, dog bites often result in personal injury claims. As it is, a dog owner may be held liable for the dog’s actions if a case of dog bite happens. In this situation, a dog bite victim may seek a Los Angeles injury attorney who can establish a claim against the owner.