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Pets cause falls and injuries at home
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Photo/Nancy Eason
If you're worried about falls, pause before bringing Fluffy or Fido into your home. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has a new report that proves that dogs and cats are contributors to nonfatal fall-related injuries. The March 27, 2009, MMWR Weekly relates: "An estimated average of 89,629 fall injuries each year were associated with cats and dogs..."
Pet toys underfoot, pets darting up and down stairs, owners tripping over leashes, and dogs jumping up on people are among causes of falls. All age groups are prone to falls, but it's the older adults who are most at risk of injury from the fall. "Dog and cat ownership is increasing in the United States in concert with a rising population of older persons, in whom injuries might have the greatest health consequences," notes the CDC.
Clearly a prevention plan needs to be in place in homes with pets. Allison Nozemac, behavior and training manager for the Maryland SPCA located in Baltimore, provided a few tips to avert falls triggered by cats and dogs.
1. Teach dogs a "place cue" so they can be out of the way. Dogs need to learn how to sit and wait. The MSPCA has many behavior training tips and classes.
2. Create a safe zone for dogs such as placing them on a bed or in a crate -- especially when very young or older visitors come to your home.
3. Lessen stalking behavior in cats by scheduling set times for play/exercise with appropriate toys (i.e., ping pong balls, feather wands). Also redirect or startle a cat when they are in a stalking mode.
My two cats have added to near-falls a lot. They've started running into or out of a room just when I'm on the move. Then, there are the wild dashes down the stairs in which they appear out of nowhere in front of my legs as I'm midway down the stairs. I'm grateful for stair railings.
It's time to put into practice ways to avoid falls from dogs and cats at home. I'll be playing with my cats a lot more!
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