PEDIATRICS Vol. 93 No. 6 June 1994, pp. 913-917
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Which Dogs Bite? A Case-Control Study of Risk Factors

Kenneth A. Gershman MD, MPH1, Jeffrey J. Sacks MD, MPH2, and John C. Wright PhD3

1 Division of Field Epidemiology, Epidemiology Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
2 National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
3 Department of Psychology, Mercer University, 1400 Coleman Ave, Macon, GA 31207

Objective. Dog bites cause an estimated 585 000 injuries resulting in the need formedical attention yearly and children are the most frequent victims. This study sought to determine dog-specific factors independently associated with a dog biting a nonhousehold member.

Methods. A matched case-control design comprising 178 pairs of dogs was used. Cases 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 with no history of biting a nonhousehold member, selected by modified random-digit dialing based on the first five digits of the case dog owner's phone number. Case and control dog owners were interviewed by telephone.

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 (ORa = 4.0, 95% CI 1.2 to 13.7) predominant breeds, male (ORa 6.2, 95% CI 2.5 to 15.1), unneutered (ORa = 2.6, 95% CI 1.1 to 6.3), residing in a house with ge1 children (ORa 3.5, 95% CI 1.6 to 7.5), and chained while in the yard (ORa = 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 member, who often may be a child. The potential preventability of this frequent public health problem deserves further attention.

Submitted on August 26, 1993
Accepted on November 10, 1993


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