Beyond Bites: Other Common Dog-Related Injuries

People love their pets which can make it hard for them to accept that those pets can potentially injure other people. But accepting this fact is an important step in pet ownership because responsible pet owners will try to do everything possible to prevent those injuries from ever happening.

If you mention dog-related injuries, the first thing many people think of are dog bites. While these are an extremely common type of dog-related injury, they’re not the only type of injury dogs can potentially cause.

Dog-Related Falls

Aside from bites, falls are another very common type of injury dogs can potentially cause. According to the CDC, an average of 76,223 people each year between 2001 and 2006 were hospitalized for injuries related to accidental falls caused by dogs.

Just as dogs can bite for many different reasons, dogs jump on people for many different reasons. Often, they’re simply excited to see someone, but sometimes, they do it out of aggression. In some cases, people who were riding their bikes have gotten knocked over because of a dog that started chasing them. If a big dog jumps on someone and they fall over, it could result in some very serious injuries, particularly if the person who falls is an older adult.

Some of the injuries associated with dog-related falls include bone fractures, contusions, muscle sprains, lacerations, and internal injuries. According to the CDC, fractures were the most common type of injury in dog-related falls that resulted in hospitalization, accounting for an average of 30.8% of injuries each year between 2001 and 2006.

Scratches

Scratches are a type of injury most people associate with cats, but dogs are fully capable of scratching people as well. Often, dog scratches are superficial and don’t break the skin, but in more severe cases, there is a potential for infections to develop. A dog’s paw may be carrying bacteria or dirt on its paw that could transfer to a person through an open wound. If a scratch is deep enough, a person might need to see a doctor to have it treated with stitches, to get tetanus or rabies vaccine boosters, or to get prescription antibiotics.

Help from a Michigan Dog Bite Lawyer

Dog owners have a responsibility to take steps to make sure their pets don’t harm anyone else. The fact that dogs don’t necessarily mean any harm when they do something when they jump on someone doesn’t make the injuries they can cause any less serious. If you’ve been injured by a dog, don’t hesitate to contact a dog bite lawyer to learn about your rights. At Goodwin & Scieszka, we have experience helping many people who have been injured by dogs in the state of Michigan and are ready to help you, too. Contact us for help with your case.

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