WHICH DOGS BITE - A CASE-CONTROL STUDY OF RISK-FACTORS

Objective. Dog bites cause an estimated 585 000 injuries resulting in the need for medical attention yearly and children are the most freque nt victims. This study sought to determine dog-specific factors indepe ndently associated with a dog biting a nonhousehold member. Methods. A matched case-control design comprising 178 pairs of dogs was used. Ca ses were selected from dogs reported to Denver Animal Control in 1991 for a first-bite episode of a nonhousehold member in which the victim received medical treatment. Controls were neighborhood-matched dogs wi th no history of biting a nonhousehold member, selected by modified ra ndom-digit dialing based on the first five digits of the case dog owne r's phone number. Case and control dog owners were interviewed by tele phone. Results. Children aged 12 years and younger were the victims in 51% of cases. Compared with controls, biting dogs were more likely to be German Shepherd (adjusted odds ratio (ORa) = 16.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.8 to 71.4) or Chow Chow (OR(a) = 4.0, 95% CI 1.2 to 13 .7) predominant breeds, male (OR(a) = 6.2, 95% CI 2.5 to 15.1), unneut ered (OR(a) = 2.6, 95% CI 1.1 to 6.3), residing in a house with greate r than or equal to 1 children (OR(a) = 3.5, 95% CI 1.6 to 7.5), and ch ained while in the yard (OR(a) = 2.8, 95% CI 1.0 to 8.1). Conclusions. Pediatricians should advise parents that failure to neuter a dog and selection of male dogs and certain breeds such as German Shepherd and Chow Chow may increase the risk of their dog biting a nonhousehold mem ber, who often may be a child. The potential preventability of this fr equent public health problem deserves further attention.