Reconstructing safety
Plastic surgeon warns patients about severity of dog bites

Plastic surgeon warns patients about severity of dog bitesWichita Falls plastic surgeon Dr. Eid Mustafa deals first-hand with the devastating effects of dog bites. Although a few of these bites are accidental, Mustafa believes that most could have been prevented if the dog owners had used a little common sense when dealing with their four legged friends.
Mustafa recalls the story of one patient who decided to play an unusual game of tug-of-war with his dog. The owner placed a large piece of meat between his teeth and allowed his dog to grab the other end. The war was on, but the owner lost! As a result of his foolishness, the embarrassed pet owner entered a local hospital emergency room with his nose in his pocket.
Mustafa explains that dealing with children who are victim of dog bites is always a sad experience. One incident that came to the doctor's mind was a child who did not have a dog of his own, but was visiting relatives who did own a dog. When the boy persistently taunted the dog, his parents failed to intervene to stop the teasing. Eventually the dog was provoked into an attack. The aftermath included four hours of surgery to reconstruct the boy's face and strained family relations.
According to Mustafa, plastic surgeons repair thousands of severe and potentially disfiguring wounds from dog attacks each year, the majority of which they believe could have been prevented. "That is why the American Society of Plastic Surgeons has long been a vocal advocate for dog-bite prevention," Mustafa said. Through its "Beware the Bite!" campaigns, the ASPS has helped direct attention to this critical health-care issue. To download "Beware the Bite!" programs including a children's activity sheet, visit the ASPS Web site at www.placticsurgery.org.
National Dog Bite Prevention Week begins today. The American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention have teamed up to educate Americans about dog bite prevention. These organizations believe that incidents of dog bites have reached epidemic levels in this country. The statistics on the number of dog bites are staggering!
This year more than 4.7 million people will be victims of dog bites, and more than 800,000 of these victims will require medical attention to treat their wounds. The truly alarming aspect of these statistics is that children make up more than 60 percent of all dog bite victims, and an average of a dozen people will die from the wounds of a dog attack.
The AVMA, ASPS, and CDC offer these helpful hints for everyone, but especially for parents to teach their children:

• Remember: Not every dog that wags its tail is friendly.
• Always approach dogs slowly and carefully.
• When meeting a new dog, let it come to you and smell you first.
• Stay away from stray dogs.
• If a dog approaches you, remain calm. Don't scream. Stand still.
• Know where the dogs in your neighborhood live.

These organizations believe that children should also be made aware of things they should not do around dogs. These warnings include:

• * Don't make loud noises around dogs.
• Don't bother a dog while it is sleeping or eating.
• Never tease a dog.
• Never reach through a fence to pet a dog.
• Never put your face close to a dog.
• Never leave a baby alone with a dog.
• Never try to help a hurt dog. Get an adult to help.

A comprehensive report, "A Community Approach to Dog Bite Prevention," is available on the American Veterinary Medical Association Web site, www.avma.org. The AVMA supports this report with educational materials including a brochure entitled "Don't Worry, They Won't Bite" which is also available on the AVMA's site.
What should a dog owner do if his dog bites a person? Here are some suggestions from the AVMA:

• Confine the dog immediately. Separate it from the scene of the attack.
• Check on the victim's condition. Wash the wounds with soap and water.
• Professional medical advice should be sought to evaluate the risk of rabies or other infection. Call 911 if paramedic response is required.
• Provide important information. Your name, address and information about your dog's most recent rabies vaccination are essential. If your dog does not have a current rabies vaccination, it may be necessary to quarantine it or even to euthanize it for rabies testing. The person bitten may need to undergo rabies treatment.
• Report the bite to your insurance company.
• Comply with local ordinances regarding the reporting of dog bites.
• Consult your veterinarian or professional dog trainer for advice about modifying your dog's behavior to help prevent similar problems in the future.

By being aware that every dog, of any breed, has the capability of inflicting injury, and by taking the proper steps to lower the risk of being bitten, we can help insure that our interaction with man's best friend will be a happy one.
FYI: Dogs taken from an alleged puppy mill in Duncan, Okla., will soon be on their way to "forever homes." The dogs will be placed up for adoption at 10 a.m. May 28 at the Stephens County Animal Shelter. Those interested in adopting the dogs must meet strict requirements. For more information call the Duncan Humane Society at (580) 252-7387. Remember that all dogs adopted from humane societies receive free obedience training through The Dog Man Training Co. and Petco. For more information concerning this free training, please call 940-689-9483.
Eamon P. Riley is a professional dog trainer and canine behavioral counselor. For comments or suggestions, he can be reached at (940) 636-5777, (940) 689-WAGS, or by e-mail at dogmnusmc@aol.com.