As a chiropractor I have treated a good many patients who've been injured by tripping and/or falling over their pets. Although dogs and cats make wonderful companions and are known to have therapeutic health benefits for their caretakers, they come with "risk hazards" that are important for you to be aware of. A resent study found that an estimated 80,000 "pet trips" a year occur while people are chasing their pets or stepping over them, and when it comes to dogs, injuries have occurred while humans were attempting to break up a doggy scuffle.
The study found that dogs caused more injuries than cats. So, even though Fluffy may follow at your heels, or even right beneath your feet, it is Fido who is 7.5 times more likely to inadvertently cause an injury to you, especially if you are a woman or a child. Why? Some dogs are big and strong, and women and children are more likely to get pushed or pulled. In fact, women were more than twice as likely as men to have pet-related fall injuries, but children and middle-aged individuals of both sexes were more likely to end up in an ER.
So, pet owners, listen up. Even though pet-related falls and injuries are bound to happen from time-to-time, and you can always count on your chiropractor to help "straighten you out" if they do, it is important for you to be aware that your pet is a "certified fall hazard." Knowledge is a wonderful thing, and often just our being aware of certain facts can help us avoid accidents and injuries.
The findings are detailed in the current issue of the Journal of Safety Research