DOG AND CAT BITES - EPIDEMIOLOGIC ANALYSES SUGGEST DIFFERENT PREVENTION STRATEGIES

Objective. To examine the characteristics of reported dog and cat bite incidents in EI Paso, Texas, and their implications for local bite pr evention programs, Methods. The authors reviewed a random sample of re ported dog bites and ail reported cat bites in Ei Paso, Texas, in 1995 using existing animal control surveillance data, Results. The majorit y of cat bites (89.4%) were provoked, with females (57.5%) and adults (68.3%) more likely to be victims than males or children. in contrast, just under half of dog bites (44.6%) were provoked, with males (65.6% ) and children (63%) more likely to be victims than females or adults, Dogs that had not been vaccinated for rabies were involved in 65% of dog bites and cats that had not been vaccinated for rabies were involv ed in 92% of cat bites. Conclusion. Effective bite prevention programs should address the finding that bath restrained and unrestrained dogs may bite even when unprovoked and that unrestrained cats usually bite when provoked.