Did you know that every year in the U.S., dogs bite about 4.5 million people? That number might even be too low, since not all bites are recorded. Luckily, a lot of these bites aren’t serious, but up to 800,000 of them require medical attention, and every year there are at least a few major cases. A number of dog attacks prove fatal. Others can hurt you badly or change the way you look. There is a campaign by the U.S. Postal Service to raise knowledge about dog bites in June, which is different from National Dog Bite Awareness Week in April. Here’s what a neighborhood Hutchinson Island, FL vet has to say about dog bites.

Stray Dogs May Bite

About one in five bites reported are from stray dogs. However, it’s not that strays are bad by nature. The dogs are usually in bad scenarios that aren’t their fault. Actually, many of our favorite patients were once strays and are now cherished pets! Along those lines, we strongly think that no dog should be left to fend for itself, and we are happy to help rescue efforts. It’s just necessary to be aware of a few things.

Many things make strays more likely to bite. A lot of them weren’t raised properly, so they might be wary of people right away. It’s hard for strays to stay alive, and they can be very protective of food and pups. Another problem is that strays don’t get the care they need from vets, so they are more likely to get sick or hurt. They will be even more wary after that, of course.

It’s Important To Know What Not To Do

To some extent, the best way to avoid getting bitten by a dog is to avoid believing false things about them.

Many people think that dogs attack without warning, which is not true. In many cases, the dog gave plenty of warning: it’s just that many may not be able to read them. You should also not assume that Fido won’t bite just because he is small and/or cute. The Chihuahua is a great example of a small but sassy dog. And even the most adorable dog can lash out if they feel threatened. 

Here is some advice:

Never run or hurry past a dog. Also, don’t try to pet or interact with a dog when it is sleeping, eating, or feeding puppies. Many dogs will immediately become defensive in response.

Next? Avoid petting a strange dog. If a strange dog comes up to you, Stay still . Don’t look it in the eye: this is a challenge, in doggy language.

Many Dog Bites Involve Children

Sadly, too many dog bite attacks happen to children. Several things play a part in this. Children’s short height is one factor. A lot of kids have loud voices, which can scare and bother Fido. There’s also the fact that kids tend to move quickly and slip up sometimes. For tiny people, this is all pretty normal. But Fido doesn’t always see it that way.

It’s important to teach your kids the safety rules we just talked about. Always watch your kid when they’re with a strange dog. Make sure kids know they should never bother or chase dogs or try to touch their food or toys. We can’t stress enough how important it is to be careful around Man’s Best Friend when kids are around.

Dogs Can Bite For Many Reasons

There are many reasons a dog might bite. Most of the time, though, Fido is responding to something. That could be fear, pain, feeling threatened, defensiveness, territorialism, or even just rowdiness. Sometimes, something sets a dog’s prey drive off. 

There are also things like breed, background, and socialization that play a role.

Pet Ownership Includes Bite Prevention

Firstly, we want to say that in our book, no dogs are bad by nature. On the other hand, there are many bad dog owners and bad situations that can make dogs act badly.

This is something all dog owners should take seriously. You could get in a lot of trouble with the law if your dog bit someone. In addition, you might have to pay for medical care. Your dog could also be taken away or, in some situations, put down. Fortunately, there are things that can be done to avoid this problem.

• Socialization: Learning how to make friends and how to behave in new situations as a puppy is a big part of Fido’s attitude and behavior as an adult. Get advice from your vet on this.
• Fix Fido: getting your canine buddy spayed or neutered can help a lot. Most of the attacks are from males that have not been neutered.
• Training: Ensure Fido understands and follows basic orders like “Sit,” “Stay,” and “Come.”
• Veterinary Care: Like people, dogs get cranky when they are sick or hurt. Check to see if your dog has had recent checkups, shots, and parasite control.
• Safety: Never let your dog play free!
• Adopt With Care: Picking the right dog is crucial. Are there small children in the family? You’ll want a calm and gentle puppy, not one with a strong prey drive.

Consider behavioral training if you know or think your dog might be scared or mean.

Of course, we also can’t overstate the importance of just taking good care of your pup. Responsible dog ownership covers many things, from diet and exercise, training, socialization, and safety. Ask your vet for specific advice.

Dogs Give Warning Signs Before Biting

Dogs’ body language can be hard to understand for people who aren’t trained to read it. We all know that growling is often a sign that a pooch is about to attack. However, many of Fido’s other hints are easy to miss. For instance, dogs are often thought to be happy when their tails are wagging. Actually, that only applies to fast tail wags. Many times, a slow wag means that A dog is feeling uncertain or uneasy.

Here are some things to look for:

• Raised hackles
• Licking lips
• Tucked tail
• Slow Tail Wags
• Growls
• Showing the whites of the eyes
• Bared teeth
• Stiffness
• Yawns
• Barking than retreating
• Aggressive body language/stance
• Ears flattened
• Staring

Avoid making eye contact and slowly move away if you see any of these.

To end on a bright note, there is some good news. In general, the number of dog bites has gone down over the past few years. This might be because of stricter leash laws, the success of programs to raise awareness about spay and neutering, and more people knowing how to take good care of their dogs. The fact that there are fewer wild dogs is also comforting. Although there is still a long way to go, this one seems to be moving in the right direction.

Arrange A Time To See Our Pet Hospital

Does your furry friend need to come in? Contact us today! As your Hutchinson Island, FL pet hospital, we’re here to help!