What are the most dangerous dogs for children

According to the United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC), nearly 5 million people are bitten by a dog every year in this country and children are more exposed than adults.

Dog bites can cause significant physical and psychological injury.

Bites in the face often require reconstructive surgery to heal wounds ranging from nerve damage to tissue loss.

Some breeds are known to be more aggressive and bite more frequently or cause more serious damage, but a new study found that in almost 60% of cases, the biting dog breed was unknown.

Researchers at the Wexner Medical Center at the University of Ohio say their research can be a guide for parents when it comes to buying a dog for their children.

Which dogs are most likely to bite?

The study, published in the International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, explores the risk of dog bites for children's faces and the severity of injuries depending on the breed, size and structure of the head of the animal.

The researchers found that pit bulls and mixed breed dogs have the greatest risk of bites and additional damage.

The same ones they found with dogs that have a broad, flatter head that weigh between 30 and 45 kilograms.

"The purpose of this study was to evaluate dog bites in children and we specifically looked at the relationship between breed and their frequency and severity," said Dr. Garth Essig, otolaryngologist and lead author of the Wexner Medical Center research center.

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"Since mixed breeds are the protagonists of a significant proportion of dog bites and we often do not know the type of dog involved in these incidents, we have badyzed other factors that may help us predict the trend. to bite when the breed is unknown., like the weight and shape of the head ".

For their badysis, they examined 15 years of facial trauma involving dogs from the National Children's Hospital and the University of Virginia Health System, and combined them with extensive research on the reports of dog bites that have reported a race. over 45 years old.

Tips to avoid dog bites to children

• Assign a resting place to the dog, away from where the kids run and play. Most bites in the home environment occur when the dog is resting.

• Teach children not to invade the dog's space when he is resting.

• Children should not approach or touch the dog when eating.

• Never let a child try to pick up a toy or food that the dog has removed. Have the child ask for help from an adult.

• The adult must pay attention to the interaction between the child and the animal. If you can not do it, it is recommended to create a barrier between the two, like a gate on the door or a drawer for the dog.

Source: Meghan Herron, School of Veterinary Medicine of the State of Ohio

The researchers point out that it is an important public health problem.

According to the CDC, 20% of dog bite victims require treatment for their injuries and are mostly children aged 5 to 9 years.

Young children are particularly vulnerable because they may not notice the subtle signs that a dog might bite, experts say.

The circumstances that motivate a dog to bite can vary and are influenced by the particular behavior of a breed and by that of the victims, parents and owners of the animals.

"Children imitate their parents," said Professor Meghan Herron of the Ohio State School of Veterinary Medicine.

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Herron advises parents to be an exemplary role model for their children and avoid belligerent or risky interactions.

"That includes loud reprimands, slaps, a violent push of a piece of furniture or a forced seizure of something."

If the child imitates this behavior with a dog, it could trigger a reaction of fear or aggression in the animal, which would have consequences, he warned.