Volume 195 - Issue 11
Dog bites in Australian children
Authors: Roy M Kimble, Natalie Dallow, Richard Franklin and Belinda Wallis
Med J Aust 2011; 195 (11): 635-636. || doi: 10.5694/mja11.11319
Published online: 12 December 2011
Published online: 12 December 2011
Teaching children how to behave around dogs can reduce the incidence
Dogs have been companions of humans for over 12 000 years and have become an inseparable part of rural and urban life. Many breeds continue to do valuable work — managing livestock on farms, guiding the visually impaired, sniffing out contraband, and as guard dogs. Most of the 3.4 million dogs in Australia are family pets, with 36% of households owning a dog.1 Unfortunately, as a result of this close relationship, dog bites are common.
Statistics on dog bites often seem alarming, but most bite injuries are relatively minor, not requiring hospital admission.2 In 2008 and 2009, 928 children aged 0–14 years attended accident and emergency departments in Queensland with dog bites, equating to nine bites per week (Access Information Service, Queensland Health). The Queensland Trauma Registry (QTR) contains data on 186 children (aged 0–14 years; mean age, 5.5 years) who were admitted to Queensland hospitals for more than 24 hours in 2003–2009, equating to one such hospitalisation for a dog bite injury every 2 weeks (own unpublished data). No children died from dog bites in this period. Of the dog bite injuries recorded in the QTR, 88% occurred in the home environment, and almost all (98%) required at least one operation under general anaesthetic. In 2003, the Royal Children’s Hospital conducted a telephone survey on 45 consecutive children who were admitted with serious dog bites during 1997–2002. This survey showed that the child had physically interacted with the dog immediately before the attack in 63% of cases. Most attacks (92%) occurred in a setting familiar to the child, usually the family house or garden, or that of a relative or friend. Most bites were to the head and neck region (72%) and most children (93%) were left with permanent cosmetic scarring (own unpublished data). These results are consistent with those of other Australian studies.2,3
While most dog bite reports attempt to identify the breed, this information is commonly not documented in the patient record and, when stated, relies on correct identification by the family. No one breed stands out, but breeds commonly mentioned in Australian articles include Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Cattle Dogs and the Bull Terrier group.2,3 Data on an array of other breeds and cross-breeds provide evidence that any dog is capable of biting. An American study examined 238 dog-bite-related deaths over 20 years to 1998, and identified at least 25 different breeds.4 Breed identification may not be accurate. For example, the general public might have difficulty differentiating between several breeds in the Bull Terrier group. Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers and American Pit Bull Terriers all appear very similar. To add further confusion, a recent Queensland Supreme Court ruling stated that there was no distinction between the American Staffordshire Terrier and the American Pit Bull Terrier.
Dogs are highly regulated in Australia with mandatory registration laws. It is now prohibited to import certain breeds, including American Pit Bull Terriers, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino and Fila Brasiliero. State laws on the ownership of such breeds vary, but generally require desexing (unless registered for breeding), microchipping, the use of a leash and muzzle in public places and a locked enclosure at home with a warning sign. The laws are based not so much on evidence that these breeds are inherently dangerous, but rather that they are breeds which have been traditionally used for dog fighting. Much debate continues whether this is good and fair legislation, as studies have failed to show improvement in the incidence of bites after the legislation was passed.5 Breed-specific legislation fails to take into account that any breed of dog can be dangerous in the hands of an irresponsible owner who fails to provide good and early training. Further, these restrictions may create the risk of higher numbers of unregistered animals or irresponsible owners simply turning to other breeds. It is clear that all breeds bite, and that the severity and commonality is related to the size of the dog and how many of a particular breed exist.6 In the Netherlands, where good data on breeds and bites exist, breed-specific legislation was repealed because they found no one breed more dangerous than any other. They recommended there be a focus on owners of dogs in cases where the people bitten did not interact with the dog that bit them.6
Training for dogs and education for dog owners and children can reduce the incidence of dog bites. A recent United States study reported that knowledge about dog bite prevention among young, school-aged children is poor.7 However, education programs in the primary school setting have been shown to alter a child’s interaction with dogs.8 In general, children should be taught:
to ask permission from the owner before slowly approaching an unfamiliar dog;
never to run from a dog or scream;
to stand still if approached by a strange dog and, if knocked over, roll into a ball and lie still;
to avoid eye contact with the dog by looking at their own feet;
not to disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies; and
not to pat a dog without supervision or without allowing it to see and sniff them first.9
Furthermore, dog owners should take their dogs to obedience classes, and dogs should be taught to obey commands from all family members. Dogs used for hunting or as guard dogs should not be allowed to mix with children.9
Competing interests
No relevant disclosures.
References
- Australia Companion Animal Council. Contribution of the pet care industry to the Australian economy. 7th ed. Mornington, Vic: ACACt, 2010. http://www.acac.org.au/ACAC_Report_2010.html (accessed Nov 2011).
- Podberscek AL, Blackshaw JK, Nixon JW. The incidence of dog attacks on children, treated at a city hospital. Aust Vet J 1990; 67: 79-80. 0_i1139866
- Ozanne-Smith J, Ashby K, Stathakis VZ. Dog bite and injury prevention analysis, critical review and research agenda. Inj Prev 2001; 7: 321-326. 0_i1139868
- Sacks JJ, Sinclair L, Gilchrist J, et al. Breeds of dogs involved in fatal human attacks in the United States between 1979 and 1998. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2000; 217: 836-840. 0_i1139870
- Klaassen B, Buckley JR, Esmail A. Does the dangerous dogs act protect against animal attacks: a prospective study of mammalian bites in the accident and emergency department. Injury 1996; 27: 89-91. 0_i1139872
- Cornelissen J, Hopster H. Dog bites in The Netherlands: a study of victims, injuries, circumstances and aggressors to support evaluation of breed specific legislation. Vet J 2010; 186: 292-298. 0_CACBGGHA
- Dixon CA, Mahabee-Gittens EM, Hart KW, Lindsell CJ. Dog bite prevention: an assessment of child knowledge. J Pediatr 2011; Aug 30. [Epub ahead of print.] 0_i1139877
- Chapman S, Cornwall J, Righetti J, et al. Preventing dog bites in children: randomised controlled trial of an educational intervention. BMJ 2000; 320: 1512-1513. 0_i1139881
- Dogs ‘n’ kids: a resource kit for health professionals promoting dog bite prevention and socially responsible dog ownership. 3rd ed. Melbourne: The Safety Centre, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, 2009. http://www.rch.org.au/emplibrary/safetycentre/DogsAndKidsV3.pdf (accessed Sep 2011).
Provenance: Commissioned; externally peer reviewed.