Human and animal health: strengthening the links: Preventing dog bites

doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7527.1269-a

BMJ 2005;331:1269 (26 November), doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7527.1269-a

Letter

Human and animal health: strengthening the links

Preventing dog bites

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR—Dog bites are a serious health issue. For example,in Belgium each year 1% of the general population needs medicalattention after a dog bite.¹ Epidemiological data indicate that50% of bites are not reported to medical or legal authorities.²Children seem to be more at risk of being bitten by a dog thanany other age group.³ In children under 16 years of age, theincidence is estimated at 2.2% each year.² Injuries in childrenare often to the face and neck and may be life threatening.⁴

Credit: PHOTOS.COM

Most dog bites happen at home and involve the family pet.⁵ Atthe same time, dogs remain very popular as pets, and evidencefor the physical, psychological, and social benefits of dogownership is growing.^{w1 w2} Data from pet food companies indicatethat about one third of families in Europe, and more than 5million families in the United . . . [Full text of this article]

Tiny C B M De Keuster, veterinarian

Oostveldkouter 222, 9920 Lovendegem, Belgium
tiny.dekeuster@telenet.be