Frequency of dog bites in practice

RE: Frequency of dog bites in practice

Anthony Todd — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 16:59:13 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]Anyone know where it was?[/quote]

It was some years ago, done at the Radcliffe, Oxford, Vaguely and probably wrong: 1700 records, Border Collies tops, Skye terriers near top.

Prominence gained to support the rush of really lethal alsatians that were fashionable for a while.

In BMJ or Lancet, I think.

PS Can't find it on Google though. But "dog bite statistics uk by breed" has lots of links.

RE: Frequency of dog bites in practice

George Cooper — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 15:47:26 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]

[quote user="George Cooper"] When I ran a practice the staff were told not to come running for sympathy if they were bitten, as there are sure ways of dealing with things![/quote]I hope you had a comprehensive health and safety assessment for this in case they sued you!

Bit of an unnecessary comment, that, really, but I will elaborate. If any member of staff felt in any way threatened by any particular dawg, or puss, or owner, the protocol/instruction/H&S stuff/rule was to seek assistance from another member, preferably more experienced, ultimately stopping that particular buck with me. There were recognised ways of ensuring staff safety, unpunctured, and getting whatever job needed doing, done in reasonable time. If things were completely unmanageable - which was rare - then the Elf won. Ultimately if anyone got bit then they were naff all use to anyone else that day and a few more, so it was a complete waste of resources.

One particular episode will be recounted to help you sleep. A ninny of a well padded gorm owned two man-eating sh**es of rotts one of which was, given the opportunity to be so, a serial killer of humanity, and yet, before consigning him to the ultimate cop-out of the sack system and foisting him on the neighbours, we between us retained the services of the local safari park sharpshooter who unfailingly turned up, full of bonhomie and irreverence, and darted the ruddy dawg into somnolence, allowing something to be done. Each time, after we'd done, there was a general scurry bog-wise in order to get cleaned up, such was the effect physiologically upon those involved. Not a great experience.

In conclusion - only a single bite in many dinosaurian years, and that was my fault. I got bitten through the stiff bit of my left ear lobe. Don't ask.

[/quote]

RE: Frequency of dog bites in practice

Stephen Courtney — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 18:39:30 GMT

when I've been bitten by a dog it has always been my fault - misread the situation or got tunnel vision, or just plain slow. It's only happened 2-3 times, and these days i'm a lot more careful - eg always keep a hand on the dog's collar while ausculting/ busy looking at something, and i no longer trust clients not to let go if the animal lunges!

If I want a muzzle on the dog and the owner won't put it on, they are leaving. If they can't get the muzzle on, they can pay for a sedation or they can take the animal away and muzzle train it first, or they can leave and never come back. Most clients will muzzle train if asked nicely. Assholes with nasty dogs can go elsewhere

RE: Frequency of dog bites in practice

Rob Loxley — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 17:00:49 GMT

[quote user="Richard Carter"]house visit yesterday, not concentrating on second dog, little nip - suddenly realised what the postmen are complaining about!!! No blood, no fuss, in its territory.[/quote]

Do you excuse the owner as well as the dog?

RE: Frequency of dog bites in practice

Gerry Henry — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 11:59:46 GMT

The practice rule is nobody gets hurt, ever. Dodgy dogs are muzzled by the owner, if they can't or won't then cheerio. If cats are really nasty then we gas them for bloods or cysto. Touch wood nothing other than a few light scratches. I once had a real pr*ck of a client tell me in advance of the consult, 'he'll bite you but that's part of your job innit', I did the old 'come outside I've got something to show you' routine and directed him to the opposition, he went quietly.

RE: Frequency of dog bites in practice

Richard Carter — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 09:14:57 GMT

Cannot really see the discussion point on known aggressive dogs - owners to muzzle if problems, we will supply a muzzle if they don't have, they have to put it on. Having said that we do try do the low confrontation/ minimal restraint approach when at all possible and the last time I had to use a pole noose to get something out of the kennels that had turned into a snarling monster must be years ago.

About being bitten - house visit yesterday, not concentrating on second dog, little nip - suddenly realised what the postmen are complaining about!!! No blood, no fuss, in its territory.

RE: Frequency of dog bites in practice

grumpyoldman — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 23:52:47 GMT

Dogs launching at you is not uncommon , getting you ,breaking skin and drawing blood though is a rare event, Once a great dane gave no warnings or indications of doing anything untoward during a clinical exam then put its lower canine through my left radius and ulna when I took its lead from the owner. He got angry because I bled and had to stop to stem it clean up and suture it. I charged him for treating my arm. Suture wound A , swabs, dressings, lignocaine, 3-0 monosoft, Aquaspray Told him to muzzle it in future. He refused,said it was frightened, Post Spay he registered it elsewhere, I was expecting it to have eaten a child at some point. Quite pleased he buggered off with it really .

RE: Frequency of dog bites in practice

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 19:04:42 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]Do any practices get permission from owners to muzzle if they are not present?[/quote] No and they would be sacked if they complained.

[quote user="Robin Grimmer"]I can only recall one case where I had to phone an owner - a very aggressive basset hound that we couldn't get near. He had to come down and muzzle it so we could give a premed / ga.[/quote]Back in the day we had one very large aggressive Pit Bull that had come in to be castrated, chipped. tattooed etc for the scheme that got its muzzle off and was attacking the bars of the kennel. We called the owner to come and take it away and watched at a distance it was that or the police to shoot it!! Next time we made him buy a secure muzzle and sedated it while he held it before going back in the kennel.

RE: Frequency of dog bites in practice

Robin Grimmer — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 18:07:00 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]

Do any practices get permission from owners to muzzle if they are not present? This seems to be the gist of the daft arguments although I admit I have not seen the discussion. I avoid Facebook wherever possible but others here are adicted.

[/quote]

This is when it gets a bit ridiculous imo. As a vet we need to take steps to avoid getting bitten. A muzzle is completely harmless to the dog. It usually only has to be on briefly to allow us to take bloods, give a premed or ga. There are some dogs that don't like having a muzzle and try and resist and claw at it. But they are the ones most likely to bite! I do not ask an owner to ask for permission to muzzle. I would have thought that was covered on the general consent form.

I can only recall one case where I had to phone an owner - a very aggressive basset hound that we couldn't get near. He had to come down and muzzle it so we could give a premed / ga.

RE: Frequency of dog bites in practice

Bob Russell — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 17:46:57 GMT

Lack of experience is not a fault but an increased risk factor!

I wish I could find the figures but the number of injuries recorded were considerable! I accept cat scratches as an occasional occupational hazard but dog bites generally carelessness. That said, I worked in kennels before going to vet school and have 30 years of experience not getting bitten!

Many vets out there don't!

There is a vociferous anti-muzzling brigade spouting drivel at the moment causing very unfair criticism IMO! Dogs get muzzled here if anyone considers them a risk!

RE: Frequency of dog bites in practice

George Cooper — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 16:30:52 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]

Unless the dog is savage then I do believe it is the vets fault 99% of the time for getting bitten. Safe working practices and watching the patient and I've never had more than a little nip.

[/quote]agreed! When I ran a practice the staff were told not to come running for sympathy if they were bitten, as there are sure ways of dealing with things!

RE: Frequency of dog bites in practice

Michael Woodhouse — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 16:22:28 GMT

Unless the dog is savage then I do believe it is the vets fault 99% of the time for getting bitten. Safe working practices and watching the patient and I've never had more than a little nip.

RE: Frequency of dog bites in practice

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 16:21:24 GMT

I could count on one hand the number of times I've been injured by a dog bite (OK there a few times when I've been lucky or just quicker then they are). They were when I ignored my own rules of: never examine a dog unless I am 100% confident it is under control or muzzled. Cats are a different matter - probably one a month, but it is more difficult to apply those rules.

RE: Frequency of dog bites in practice

Robin Grimmer — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 16:15:16 GMT

Can't help you with the article, but a good deal of clients with dogs prone to biting are in complete denial and think it is an acceptable occupational hazard! All I can say is (touch wood) I get bitten less these days as I think I'm a/ better at reading dogs body language and b/ have developed pretty quick reflexes!

RE: Frequency of dog bites in practice

Clive Ansell — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 16:13:14 GMT

Don't want to tempt fate, but I've never been bitten by a dog at work and I'm in my 20th year now.

[quote user="Bob Russell"]Might not do it this month as a practice is having issues with a client/patient involving muzzling [/quote]

Shouldn't be an issue at all. If someone refuses to a reasonable request to place a muzzle I decline the consultation and they have to go elsewhere. The overriding priority has to be safety.