Kids and Dogs: Preventing Bites

They’re cute and cuddly, and chances are your child will want to touch them. Kids don’t think a cute and fluffy dog would ever hurt them. But any breed of dog will bite under the right circumstances. Each year about 4.7 million dog bites happen in the U.S. and more than half of those bitten are under the age of 14.

Fact: Any breed of dog may bite. And just because a dog is small or seems friendly doesn’t mean it can’t — or won’t — do some damage. Even the nicest, most well-trained family dog may snap if it’s startled, scared, threatened, agitated, angry or hungry.

Teaching children a few basics in dog manners will let them — and dogs — enjoy safe encounters. To reduce the risk of bites, teach your child these safety guidelines:

  • Always ask the owner if it’s okay to pet the dog.
  • Let the dog see and sniff you before petting it.
  • If an unfamiliar dog approaches you, stay calm. Don’t look it directly in the eye, and stand still or back up slowly.
  • If a dog tries to bite you, put anything you can between you and the dog. If knocked to the ground, roll into a ball, cover your face, and lie still.
  • Never squeeze dogs too tight, drop them, fall on them or jump on them.
  • Don’t tease dogs or pull their tails or ears.
  • Never bother dogs while they’re eating, sleeping or taking care of their puppies.
  • Never take a toy or bone away from a dog or play tug of war with a dog.
  • Never feed a dog a treat with your fingers. Put the treat in your palm with your fingers and thumb held close together.

Unfortunately, even with these measures a dog bite can occur. If your child is bitten by a dog and the bite breaks the skin, contact your provider, particularly if the dog is not yours. While rare, rabies and other kinds of infections can occur. Having the following information available can help the provider determine the risk of infection and what kind of treatment, if any, your child needs:

  • The name and location of the dog’s owners
  • If the dog is up-to-date on its vaccinations
  • Whether the attack was provoked or unprovoked

- Source: Kidshealth.org

Copyright ©2007 Star Marketing and Administration, Inc. Information in this newsletter may not be reproduced in whole or in part without permission from Starmark. The articles contained within this newsletter are not a promise of coverage and are not meant to replace professional medical advice or service. Personal health issues should be discussed with your physician. Refer to your Certificate of Insurance for benefit information.