Barking dogs do bite: animal-related injuries in children

Background: Animal bites in children are the cause of many emergency room visits and can lead to significant physical and psychological morbidity. While the cause and pattern of trauma vary, we hypothesized that age and size of the child plays a role in the injuries. The purpose of this study was to describe the injuries, animals, modifiable events, and outcomes. Methods: Following IRB approval, a retrospective, single-center cohort analysis of all patients presenting with animal-related injuries over 10 years was performed. Data regarding the clinical presentation, demographics, and outcomes were collected and analyzed. The cohort was stratified for age, gender, and type of injury and comparative statistics performed. Results: A total of 173 injuries were noted, with 96.5% canine. Most children were male (60.7%), less than 5 years (52.6%), white (79.2%), and with public insurance (74.6%). The bites frequently occurred at home (59.0%) and with dogs that were known (81.5%). Children less than 6 years of age had a significantly higher proportion of home attacks and head and neck wounds. Older children had a higher incidence of learning disabilities (29.3%) and extremity wounds. Conclusions: Dog bites are the most common animal injuries. The dogs tended to be pets and known to the child, with younger patients sustaining wounds above the clavicle compared to older kids. Advocating for pet owners and parental education could play a large role in reducing injuries, and further research into long-term issues is needed. Level of evidence: IV.