In November, 10 kids were treated for dog bites, and as of December 5, two more cases were reported, according to Sharon Evans, Cook Children’s trauma injury prevention manager. The victims range in age from one to 15 years old with many of the injuries being to the face, neck, and upper body.

“We really don’t know what the increase is due to,” Evans said. “However, for the 12 bites we’ve had, we know that four were “friends’” dogs, four were family dogs, three were relative dogs and one was unknown.”

Last year, eight bites were reported in November and six in December. Evans speculates that the holiday season might be a contributing factor.

“The kids are home more and there may be more chaos in the house which causes the dogs to be on edge,” Evans said.

According to our trauma injury prevention manager, three of the 12 dog bites were from Pit bulls and three from German Shepherds. The remainder were from various breeds.

Data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention shows dog bite-related deaths have risen from 2016 to 2021. On average, 43 deaths are reported annually. In 2016, 31 deaths were reported, while 2021 saw a total of 81.

Tips to prevent a dog bite:

·         Never disturb or pet a dog when they are sleeping, eating, or playing with a toy.

·         Try not to make sudden abrupt moves or run around dogs (they like to chase). 

If someone is bitten, Evans recommends calling 911 if the bite is severe. If it is a moderate or mild bite, contact your primary care physician or visit an Urgent Care Center.

The dog, a pitbull, was impounded. Later in the day and less than a mile away, The Dallas Morning News reports a 5-year-old boy was attacked by a neighbor's pit bull.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, bites occur more often from animals that children are familiar with than wild animals.

Of the 800,000 ED visits annually, 44 percent involve children under the age of 14. The injury rate is highest for children 5 to 9 years of age and the injury rates decrease the older the child.

Last year, Cook Children' Trauma registry reported 57 dog bites. The most occurred during July with 12. 

In May 2017, 4 children were seen for dog bites and another two were treated for cat bites by Infectious Diseases at Cook Children's. This month, 7 kids have been treated for dog bites and one for a cat bite. All of those children followed Cook Children's rabies protocol.

"If the child gets bitten by a dog, or any other animal, parents should take their child to the Cook Children's Emergency Department or the emergency room in their area," said Kate Polentas, clinical coordinator for Infectious Diseases at Cook Children's. "At Cook Children's, we will evaluate the child and treat the wound with antibiotics. The child will also receive the first dose of the rabies vaccine."

At that point, Cook Children's contacts animal control about the dog bite. Stray animals will then be quarantined and evaluated for rabies.

“It's really important for families to know that if it's a family dog, they need to speak up," Polentas said. "Families are afraid if they report the family dog bit their child, the dog will be put to sleep. The dog would actually be placed in quarantine for 10 days to monitor it’s health status. If the dog remains healthy throughout it’s quarantine, then the child can avoid receiving the remaining vaccine series. It's important to know the status and history of the dog.”

Daniel Guzman, M.D., a doctor in the Emergency Department at Cook Children's, says most dogs never bite people, but under the right circumstances any dog is capable of inflicting harm. In a presentation he does on dog bites, Dr. Guzman lists the following breeds as examples of less aggressive or family dogs:

• Boxer
• Dalmation
• Labrador Retriever
• English Setter
• Golden Retriever
• Irish Setter
• Spaniels
• English Springer

Dr. Guzman gives these tips on dog bite prevention:

• Don't disturb a dog who is sleeping, eating or caring for puppies.
• Don't pet a dog without allowing it to sniff you first.
• Avoid humanizing dog (sleep on furniture, beg for food).
• Both little and dogs and big dogs can be great pets. But regardless of the size, they can also bite your child and do harm.
• Avoid treating dog as a child. 
• Do not play aggressive games with your pet.
• Properly socialize and train dog entering household.
• Immediately seek professional help if dog shows aggressive behavior.
• Consult with a professional on dog breeds.
• Avoid dogs with history of aggression.
• Be sensitive to cues given by children (fear).
• Never leave infants/children alone with any dog.
• Spay/neuter all dogs (frequently reduces aggression and pet population).
• Do not hug and kiss dogs. Be careful about getting face to face with pet.

While children need to put these rules into practice, adult supervision around all animals is also a key component to protecting your kids from animal bites.

Kat Davitt, a Child Life specialist at Cook Children’s and the handler for Chanel, one of the professionally trained therapy dogs in Cook Children’s Sit … Stay … PLAY program, says having a pet can be rewarding, but families should take the necesary precuations before owning one.

“There’s so much to think about before you bring a pet home,” Davitt said. “You know your family’s lifestyle and you know your children. Think about the temperament of your family and your pet. If you have really active lifestyle, you may want a dog that enjoys the outdoors or can run with you. If you have a busy lifestyle or away from home a lot, you may want a dog or a cat that may not want as much attention .”

Click here for advice from Clear the Shelters on finding the right dog for your lifestyle.

"Owning a pet teaches children responsibility and that first pet is a special friend, a child will never forget," Davitt said. "But, we also have to take precautions to teach children not only love for their animals, but how to respect them and care for them properly.”

Click the following information from Clear the Shelters to learn so much more:

• Cleartheshelters.org
• Finding a participating shelter near you
• Clear the Shelters: How to Prep Your Home, Family for a New Pet
• Why you should consider adopting an older pet
• Should you adopt a dog? This flowchart will help you decide
• Tips for training your new pet

Here's why:

There has been an outbreak of severe flu among dogs in the Midwest. Cases of the H3N2 strain have now been seen in dogs in Texas.

Most dogs have cough, runny nose and fever, but it has been severe and resulted in death in some.

So you may be wondering, “Is my child at risk if our dog has this flu?”

The answer, according to the CDC:

“To date, there is no evidence of transmission of canine influenza viruses from dogs to people and there has not been a single reported case of human infection with a canine influenza virus.”

That’s fortunate, but what are some health dangers associated with pets?

Bites

I’ve seen too many severe dog bites in my training to not mention bites first. The most common statement I hear about the dogs who bite is, “We just never thought he/she would do that.”

Dogs can be a great addition to a family but use caution:

• Be careful of rough play. Even a playful snip can be dangerous if it happens near the eye or a fingertip.

• Stay away from dogs when they are likely to be defensive: when they are eating, sleeping or taking care of puppies.

• Stay away from unfamiliar dogs or dogs that seems scared or anxious.

Here are some more tips from the ASPCA on how to avoid dog bites.

Allergies/Asthma

This is actually one of the most common questions I get regarding animals. It’s very intuitive. People can be allergic to dogs and cats, so wouldn’t owning one increase my child’s risk for allergies?

I have seen several studies that suggest the exact opposite. Often by having animals in the house early, kids may have slightly decreased risk of developing allergies. That said, if your child has frequent allergy and asthma symptoms, it may be reasonable to attempt to isolate the animal from the child for a bit to see if symptoms improve.

Infections

Infectious diseases are transmitted through animals frequently; think about the number of diseases that tics and mosquitoes can carry. Although it can happen, they are less frequently transmitted from pets.

Here is a list of pets and some of the diseases they can transmit:

Cats

Cat-scratch fever:

This disease is caused by bacterial infection (Bartonella) of an open wound or a bite that results in the breaking of skin. It is more commonly transmitted by kittens than older cats. Symptoms of the infection in humans are fever, headache and fatigue. There is often a large and tender lymph node near the site of the bite.

Toxoplasma:

Toxoplasma is usually a foodborne illness, but can be transmitted from cat feces. In people with normal immune systems, there are often no symptoms of toxoplasmosis. Pregnant women (and fetuses) are especially susceptible and, for that reason, should not handle cat litter boxes.

Dogs

Hookworms:

Dogs infected with hookworms can have bloody stools; which in severe cases can lead to anemia. Humans are infected by walking barefoot on contaminated soil and develop an interesting rash which consists of red, squiggly lines where the larvae have migrated under the skin.

Reptiles

Salmonella:

Salmonella is one of the most common pet-associated infections. It is estimated that 70,000 people will contract salmonella from pet reptiles. Salmonella generally causes bloody stools but in children and in people with weakened immune systems can be serious. The CDC recommends that houses with children less than 5 and with any household members with weakened immune systems not own reptiles as pets.

Many Animals

Campylobacter:

Ingesting food contaminated with the bacteria transmits most infections of campylobacter, but cases can occur from the handling of dog or cat feces. The main symptom of campylobacter infections is diarrhea (which can be bloody) and usually lasts about one week.

Ringworm:

The fungus that causes can be transmitted from many different animals but most commonly occurs from puppies and kittens. The appearance of the rash on human skin is a circular rash with a raised edge. It can be difficult to distinguish from eczema which sometimes causes circular patches as well.

Pets can be great additions to your family and, in most cases, will not cause any harm to your children. Be aware of the specific risks associated with certain types of pets and take caution to protect your children when appropriate.