Published in Scientific Papers. Series D. Animal Science, Vol. LXVII, Issue 1
Written by Daniel ZABORSKI, Katarzyna M. KAVETSKA, Katarzyna SABATOWICZ
The aim of this study was to analyse dog bites (n = 213) in the area supervised by the County Veterinary Inspectorate in Stargard between 2018 and 2020. The proportion of dog bites was significantly higher in 2018 (44%; p < 0.05) and in the summer (36%; p < 0.05). Adults (84%) were bitten significantly more often (p < 0.05) than children (16%). Most frequently (56%; p < 0.05) the bite took place in the home or on the owner’s property. The highest percentage of bites (39%) was characteristic of 0 to 4-year-old dogs (p < 0.05). The proportion of biting males (70%) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of females (30%). Mixed-breed dogs (77%) predominated (p < 0.05). The highest percentage of bites (16%) was caused by the smallest dogs (below 10 kg of body weight; p < 0.05). The proportion of bites caused by vaccinated dogs (81%) was significantly higher than that for unvaccinated animals (p < 0.05). The problem of dog bites requires further investigation, since the large proportion of cases is not reported.
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