Dear Dr. Forsythe: I know you care a lot about the issue of safety and pets, but I’ve never read much about the hazards of dogs and cats tripping or hurting their owners. Could you please address this? Thanks, I’m sure many of us will appreciate the info.
Lorna, Sonoma
Dear Lorna: What a great topic, and I do appreciate your question! According to Mike Stobbe of the AP, the number of injuries to people who trip and fall over their pet is 86,000 a year. That is a lot of people taking a face plant on behalf of Fluffy or Fido! I take care of the pet injuries – but there are also significant human injuries, sprains, strains, bruises and contusions that people suffer, as well. Seniors are the most vulnerable, so I advise people to improve lighting, remove pet toys and use obedience training.
Cats mainly cause injury by tripping people, a phenomenon well understood by cat owners whose loving pets rub up against their ankles during the morning walk to the coffee pot.
Dogs are blamed in most pet-caused injuries. They’ve tripped people, startled them and pushed or pulled them off balance during walks. They’ve also darted off and owners toppled over trying to chase them down. Their dog toys also caused tumbles. Women were twice as likely to be injured as men and those over 75 years of age have the highest rate of injury.
I still think that having a pet is far and away the best comfort and joy possible, but knowing about these risks can make choosing the right pet more important than ever. Obedience training could prevent so many injuries: a pet that is trained to sit/stay/heel is much less likely to cause your old aunt Agatha to careen onto the kitchen tile – and this makes everyone sleep better at night. Thanks for a great question!
Dr. F
Dear Dr. Forsythe: I got a Bernese mountain dog because I heard that they do not have problems with hip dysplasia, arthritis or their hearts. I wanted to get a healthy dog. Are there any things I DO have to worry about?
New owner,
Sonoma
Dear New owner: Yes, believing the individual who told you Bernese Mountain dogs don’t have any of those hip problems!! In my opinion, the person who told you that this breed of dog “doesn’t have any of those problems” was a snake oil salesman. It is well known that there is a high incidence of epilepsy in the breed (a seizure disorder). In addition, bloat as well as hip dysplasia can occur in this breed due to the large size. I hate to burst your bubble, but there really is no breed of dog that is free of any problems – except the old reliable stuffed animal. So please remember that when someone tells you something that sounds too good to be true, it usually is! However, with all this bad news there is a silver lining. You happened to choose a beautiful and wonderful breed of dog that make great family pets and often are in great health depending on the breed line. You will no doubt have a cherished family pet and many years of joy with this lovely family addition. Good luck and congratulations.
Dr. F
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