2. Bite statistics and common reasons why dogs and cats bite.

Topic Progress:

According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 4.5 million dog bites occur each year in the United States.[1] As discussed in other modules, for example, the costs resulted from dog bites in 2015 was an estimate $570 million.[2] Much of that $570 million costs resulted from the various damages caused by dog bites including medical care costs and pain and suffering claims. In fact, the American Veterinary Medical Association reports that the 2015 average insurance pay out for a dog bite claim was $37,329.[3]

Let’s first look at the common reasons why dogs bite:

The American Veterinary Medical Association states “that dogs bite in reaction to something:”[4]

The dog feels threatened, becomes scared, or is startled.
The dog is protecting something it holds valuable such as its territory or home. It may also protect things such as its food, toys, or puppies.
Dogs bite to defend, protect, or guard its owner and family members.
The dog may also be sick, injured, or suffering from a chronic, painful condition.
It may also be that the dog prefers that people keep their distance, or just wants to be left alone.

Additionally, a dog may also “bite” or nip when playing. While such a “bite” or nip is not viewed as an aggressive or hostile act, it may still injure a person.[5] Injury often occurs because the person instinctively, or with panic, pulls back against the nip or “bite” thereby causing greater injury.[6]

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that more than half of the reported dog bite injuries happened at home with the household dog.[7] And, as you might suspect, as the number of dogs increase in the home so do the chances of getting bit.[8]

Men are generally more likely to get bit by dogs than women.[9]

However, children are most common dog bite victims and more likely to suffer the greatest injuries.[10]

In fact, the 66% of the injuries to children ages 4 years and younger were to the head and neck.[11]

The American Veterinary Medical Association reports many of the child injuries occurred during regular daily activities while interacting with the family dog.[12]

The American Veterinary Medical Association further reports that senior citizens are the second most common dog bite victims.[13]

However, aggression in cats can be a complex and a disturbing problem for pet owners to solve. An aggressive cat can be very dangerous, especially toward children who may not be able to recognize the physical signs of aggression.[14]

Your cat may show more than one type of aggressive behavior, and the problems may be more or less serious than those described below. Nevertheless, some general principles apply to all types and levels of aggression:[15]

A cat’s defensive postures include:[xvi]

Crouching;
Tucked head;
Tail curved around the body and tucked in;
Eyes wide open with pupils partially or fully dilated;
Ears flattened sideways or backward on the head;
Hackles up;
In an anxious cat, whiskers might be retracted. In a fearful cat, whiskers might pan out and forward to assess distance between himself and the danger;
Turning sideways to the opponent, not straight on;
Open-mouthed hissing or spitting, and
Might deliver quick strikes with front paws, claws out.

← Previous Topic