This is a huge case of dog seizures.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University found that the number of dog-walking-related injuries among American adults and children has increased by a whopping 342% over the past two decades.
According to lead researcher Ridge Maxson, fractures, sprains and head injuries were the most prevalent injuries for dog owners from 2001 to 2020, with the estimated number of adult visits to emergency rooms increasing from 7,300 to 32,300.
The visit rate was highest among women, at 75%, and among adults aged 40 to 64, the visit rate was 45%.
Maxson said the study was based only on emergency room visits, but dog owners can also seek help from their doctors or clinics.
Nearly half of American households have at least one dog, with the highest percentage of households having a dog being the 10th percentile. Dog ownership increased due to the pandemic,
So how can owners avoid a mischievous person while out walking? A professional tip: don't multitask.
Putting your mobile phone away and concentrating on walking is a good way to minimise injury, especially in bad weather.
Owners with balance or mobility challenges may also benefit from asking someone for help walking the dog in dangerous weather.
Suzanna Johnston, a 64-year-old yoga instructor from Croton-on-Hudson, New York, was injured a few years ago when her 50-pound Labrador retriever unexpectedly chased a squirrel, fracturing her finger.
“That was the worst because it got twisted and stretched and I had to have surgery and rehab and everything,” said Johnson, who has suffered two other injuries in the past few years.
Noel Holston, a 76-year-old dog walker in Athens, Georgia, urges dog owners to be cautious when walking a powerful canine — something he learned when a goose startled his 65-pound pitbull. The pup dragged him off the sidewalk and down an embankment, where Holston nearly fainted from pain when he broke his ankle.
The researchers also urged runners to use caution when running on pavement with a dog tethered.
Additionally, dog owners in rural areas that do not have sidewalks should wear reflectors and light black clothing to avoid being hit by vehicles.
“This is definitely the most deadly injury when people are walking their dogs. It's something we see all too often,” said Dr. Steven Haywood of Mississippi's emergency department.
Experts say that wearing appropriate footwear such as spikes or studs during the winter season can also help dog lovers avoid injuries.
Maxson also suggests using a non-retractable leash that's 6 to 8 feet long when walking, as longer leashes are “more likely to tangle around your legs and cause a fall.”
These can make your pup harder to control, and can also cause irritation, dog trainer Shoshi Parkson said.
He recommends a no-pull harness, which ties the leash across the dog's chest, because this allows more control of its paws and puts less pressure on the dog.
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