Pet and Other Animal Bites: Prevention
- Choose a pet who is friendly and tolerates children. Pit bull
terriers and Rottweilers are especially dangerous and do not
make good pets for young children. Do not take the risk.
- Teach your dog the commands of "down" and "sit." Teach your
child how to give these commands.
- Teach your children not to touch strange animals, break up
dogfights, go near a dog who is eating, or touch a sleeping
dog.
- Children less than 4 years old should always be supervised
around dogs and cats. Never allow them to tease animals.
- Infants less than 1 year old should never be left alone in a
room with a pet. Some infants have been attacked by pets,
perhaps because the pets were jealous.
- Protect your pet against rabies with yearly rabies shots. The
first shot is normally given when your pet is 3 to 4 months
old.
- Teach your child not to run from a strange dog. Rapid movement
can trigger a dog's predatory instinct and cause it to start
chasing and possible attacking.
- Never keep wild animals as pets. For example, ferrets have
disfigured the faces of young children with their bites.
Written by B.D. Schmitt, MD, author of "Your Child's Health," Bantam Books.
Published by
RelayHealth.
Last modified: 2007-08-28
Last reviewed: 2008-06-09
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The
information is intended to inform and educate and is not a
replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.
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