Not just bites – how dogs injure people
Thousands of people seek medical care each year after being injured by dogs. Bite-related injuries are most common among younger patients and men, while fall-related injuries predominate among older people and women. This is shown by a review of nearly 6 000 medical visits over a 16-year period conducted by researchers at Linnaeus University and the University of Skövde.
Dogs enhance quality of life for many people. At the same time, thousands of people are injured each year as a result of dog bites or other dog-related accidents. In order to prevent such injuries, a better understanding of how they occur is needed – something that a new study contributes to.
“All dogs can bite, but they just as often cause injuries by bumping into people, knocking them over or pulling them to the ground”, says Andreas Svensson, associate professor of evolutionary ecology at Linnaeus University.
The researchers have analysed highly detailed injury statistics from 5 900 patients who were injured by dogs in the Skaraborg region between 2001 and 2016. Most injuries occur during leisure and recreational activities, in or near the home, with a slight increase at weekends and during the summer months.
High proportion of bite injuries
In most cases, people were treated and sent home the same day, but 6 per cent needed to be admitted to hospital. Half of the injuries were caused by dog bites, while the remainder were primarily due to falls, the study shows.
“Fall-related injuries occur when people lose their balance because a dog jumps up at them or suddenly pulls hard on the lead. In some cases, people also trip over the dog at home”, says Sirkku Sarenbo, associate professor of environmental science at Linnaeus University.
Infants injured by dogs were almost always indoors, suggesting that it is not enough for adults to be nearby – they must provide active supervision.
“The high proportion of bite injuries, especially among children and younger people, is worrying and suggests that owners often place too much trust in their dog”, says Andreas Svensson.
Proposes several measures
The study shows clear differences in injury patterns between population groups. Bite-related injuries are more common among younger people and men, while fall-related injuries predominate among older people and women. This has lead the researchers to the conclusion that different types of preventive measures are needed for different risk groups.
“For example, the youngest children can be protected if adults take responsibility for supervision and do not leave them alone with dogs, while older people can benefit from various technical solutions, such as shoes with anti-slip studs and shorter leads for better control of the dog, to help prevent trips, slips and falls”, says Andreas Svensson.
Link to the study:
Svensson, P. A., Sarenbo, S., Stark Ekman, D., and Ekman, R. 2026. Dog-related injuries requiring medical attention in Skaraborg district, Sweden. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. https://doi.org/10.1177/14034948251403075