Dog Bite Prevention

I had a great opportunity to talk to the kids at KinderCare this morning about pets during  pet week.  I decided to take the chance and talk about dog bite prevention while I was there. Yes, it was a chance to talk about how exciting it is to be a veterinarian, but I also wanted to give them some lasting information that we can all remember.  Dogs and Cats can't talk to us with words, but they use their body language all the time to express themselves.  Some signs that may indicate a pet is uncomfortable and might feel the need to bite include:  tensed body, stiff tail, pulled back head, ears are down, whites of the eyes are visible, yawning, flicking tongue, intense stare, backing away.  I also discussed the number one rule when confronted with an aggressive dog, stay calm, no screaming, and don't run away.  You should stand still like a tree, look at your feet, and slowly back away.  If you have the unfortunate experience of being bitten, don't forget to seek medical attention.