Dogs Bring Loads of Joy but Also Perils on a Leash

Susannah Johnston, of Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y., walks her dog Ellie on Sept. 8, 2024 in Norfolk, Conn. Johnston, a fit yoga instructor and strength trainer, has been injured three times in incidents involving walking her dog. (Vincent Cohan via AP)

NEW YORK (AP) — The cuddles. The loyalty. The worshipful eyes. There's a lot of joy in having a dog, not the least of which is heading out for a brisk walk. And therein lies a peril some dog people should pay more attention to.

Over the past 20 years, injuries related to dog walking have been on the rise among adults and children in the U.S., according to Johns Hopkins University researchers. Fractures, sprains and head trauma are among the most common.

From 2001 to 2020, the estimated number of adults seen at emergency departments for dog-walking injuries increased significantly, from 7,300 to 32,300 a year, lead researcher Ridge Maxson told The Associated Press. Most patients were women (75%). Adults overall between ages 40 and 64 amounted to 47%.

And that's just emergency room visits. “We know that a significant number of people might seek treatment at primary care, specialty or urgent care clinics for their injuries,” Maxson said.

Dog ownership has become increasingly common, he noted, with about half of U.S. households having at least one dog. The pandemic contributed to the spike.

How to protect yourself....

See more at usnews.com