Doggie health notes!!!
Be careful standing up with Fido near!!!
Now those words above might imply that I am going to talk about health issues of dogs, but in reality, there is some new information out there regarding dogs and our health. Let me explain!!
The State University of New York at Buffalo conducted research that led to the conclusion that there is an increase in dog head and neck bites to children in the warmer weather. Like most of us, when there is oppressive heat and humidity, dogs can become irritable. Unfortunately, most young children have not developed an acute sense of danger and because of that and their size, they may be more at risk of dog bites. It is important for parents to watch their children around unfamiliar dogs and even their own family pet. Insure that your dog is comfortable and that the child is not adding to any irritation that the dog might be experiencing because of the hot weather. Training the dog is important, but it is also important to teach children to respect dogs. They should not pull on ears, tails or try to ride the dog like a horse.
The CDC (Center for Disease Control) has issued a warning, particularly to older persons to be careful and aware of the pets in your home. This warning is being issued because of the determination that almost 86,000 falls last year were a result of people tripping over their animals, particularly dogs. While dog ownership is beneficial for a person’s health, especially a senior citizen, it is very important that the dog not get “underfoot”. The elderly are more apt to fall due to their decreased balance and perhaps weak limbs. They should always be aware of where their dog is and never get up quickly from sitting without determining where the dog is and insuring that it is safe for both the owner and the dog to walk freely without fall or injury!!
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