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Even Cute and Friendly Looking Dogs Can Bite Man’s best friend, and woman’s best friend, too, bites more than 4.7 million people a year, according to the Center’s for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As many as 800,000 people, more than half of them children, require medical attention for dog bites each year, and about a dozen people die each year from dog bite injuries. The good news is that dog bites are largely a preventable public health problem, but do not rely on the dog. Preventing dog bites requires vigilance on the part of dog owners, dog admirers and just passersby. The Medical Society of the State of New York offers the following advice on how to prevent, treat and report dog bites. These tips were adapted from a list compiled by the CDC, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Veterinary Medicine Association. What Dog Owners Can Do • Before selecting a dog, seek a veterinarian’s advice about which dog is right for your family and lifestyle. • Make sure your dog becomes socialized and feels at ease around people and other animals. • Do not put your dog in situations where the dog may feel threatened or teased. • Follow leash laws. Do not let your dog roam free. • Train your dog to obey basic commands such as "stay," "sit" and "come." • Keep your dog healthy with regular check-ups and a vaccination program tailored to your dog’s needs. • See a veterinarian promptly if your dog is sick or injured. Illness and pain can make a dog more likely to bite. • Do not play aggressive games with your dog. • If you do not plan on mating your dog, consider spay/neutering your dog to reduce aggressive behavior. • Confine your dog in a fenced yard or dog run when the dog is not in the house. • Never tether or chain your dog because this can contribute to aggressive behavior. Safety Tips for Adults and Children • Neither adults nor children should ever approach an unfamiliar dog. • Children should be taught to never approach any dog unless supervised by an adult. • Adults should never leave an infant or young child alone with any dog, not even the family pet. • Children should be taught to tell an adult if they see a stray dog or a dog acting strangely. • If an unfamiliar dog approaches, stand still like a tree. • Never run from a dog and never scream around a dog. • If you believe a dog is about to attack, try to place something between yourself and the dog, such as a backpack or a bicycle. • If a dog knocks you over, roll into a ball, cover your face and stay still. • Do not look a dog right in the eye. • Do not disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating or caring for puppies. • Do not play with a dog without allowing it to see and sniff you first. What To Do If Bitten by a Dog • Seek medical attention immediately. Control bleeding and wash the area of the bite with soap and water. • Try to find out if the dog has been vaccinated for rabies. If the dog has not been –or you are not sure – be prepared to get a rabies shot. • Report the bite to your local public health department, animal control agency or police. • Provide authorities with an accurate description of the dog, the circumstances surrounding the bite and the dog owner’s identity, if known. • Serious bites can cause scarring. If the bite occurs in an area where scarring is a concern, like your face, your physician may refer you to a board-certified plastic surgeon to treat the injury. What About Rabies? Wild animals, such as raccoons and skunks, are more likely to carry rabies, but any warm-blooded animals, including dogs, can pass rabies to people. Dogs are usually vaccinated against rabies, but it is necessary for humans to get a rabies shot if not sure if a dog that has bitten them has been vaccinated. To avoid infection, also wash any bite thoroughly and check with your physician. It is important to consult your physician right away because once a person infected with rabies starts showing symptoms, it is usually too late to save the person’s life. Symptoms can take several weeks or even a few years to develop but usually start one to three months after infection with the rabies virus. The early symptoms of rabies include fever or headache, but this changes quickly to nervous system problems, such as confusion, sleepiness or agitation. This information is provided by the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY). For more health-related information and referrals to physicians in your community, contact your local county medical society.
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