Dogs, cats send 86,000 Americans flying annually (CNN)

[eppur_se_muova]

By Madison Park
CNN

(CNN) -- Dogs and cats soothe the soul and provide companionship, but a report released this week suggests they sometimes cause broken bones and sprains, too.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that every year, more than 86,000 fall injuries are caused by pets. Dogs are the biggest culprits, causing 88 percent of the injuries. Cats cause 11.7 percent of the falls, according to the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

CDC researchers formulated the national estimates based on data from 66 emergency rooms.

"Many of them occurred while people were walking their dog or chasing either their dog or cat," said Judy Stevens, an epidemiologist with the CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. "Over half the injuries with dogs were either falls or tripping over the pet or they were pushed or pulled by the pet."

Pets can suddenly rush to the door or scurry around the owners' feet, causing these accidents, experts said.
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more: http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/03/27/fall.dogs.cats/index.html





Well, we all knew this was true! Gotta go tape this up over the water dish.

[The Straight Story]

1. Your pets are increasing my health care costs, ban pets!

:rofl:

[tridim]

5. Every hospital visit is caused by something or other.

So obviously we should BAN EVERYTHING! :rofl:

That's the American way.

[Hello_Kitty]

2. I've damn near tripped over my dog many times.

The herding breeds are the worst for that. She's like velcro on me and quiet too so sometimes I don't realize she's right by my feet.

[xchrom]

3. no one would admit to being tripped by their cat.

bad things would happen when they got home.

[SoCalDem]

7. My cat sent us BOTH to the ER..every day for a week..for shots

We both have the scars to prove what a bad idea it is to pick up a scared, cornered cat.. even if it's your own..

Uncle Willie, got out and sees poorly..and had never been oputside before.. We freaked out, and tried to pick him up..

After we dressed our wounds, my husband sat outside in a lawnchair and lured him onto his lap, and then back inside....and then we went to the ER..:(

[aquamarina]

9. Oh, I can SO relate.

[xchrom]

10. shhh -- don't let him know you told anybody.

i feel sorry for you both that looks painful.

[Donnachaidh]

12. bottlefeeding a week old kitten can turn your hands into chopped meat, literally

I didn't take pictures but your gave me a flashback LOL!

We had a feral kitten with his eyes just barely opened, and I had to use a bottle to feed him several times a day. When he knew the bottle was near he'd go apeshit and start clawing at my hands. And once he had the bottle he'd cart. Those tiny nails were like thousands of papercuts all over the tops of my hands.

Thank goodness we got through that mess! He's two years old now. Next time it's gloves!

[SoCalDem]

13. Don't I know it.. I bottlefed two litters

5 the first time, and 4 the next :)..babies gotta knead while they feed:)

[Donnachaidh]

14. ow ow ow owwwww

OMG!

I don't think my skin would have handled that amount! It's worth it, but boy howdy, it's something to deal with. My son's guidance counselor actually pulled me aside and started to talk to me about *cutting* - the latest fad she's seeing with kids. I had to laugh, because she thought *I* was doing that in front of my kid. I explained what happened, and even she had to laugh. I told her, if you see my son with these marks, he's only trying to feed our kitten.

[LisaM]

4. I tripped over one of my dogs at Thanksgiving

She likes to be near me, and she had walked up and curled up very close to my feet, but not quite touching. I turned to walk down the hall and went flying! Everyone was okay, but it was quite a surprise.

[provis99]

6. CNN: Masters of worthless news tripe.

They could be spending their time carrying out investigative reports, but they think it's more important to report on this insignificant shit. Fuck you, CNN. I get more investigative journalism from the National Enquirer.

[FreeState]

8. I have stepped on my dog twice - he now moves before I get a chance :) n/t

[Solly Mack]

11. My cat used to hide and then jump on my husband's feet as he walked by

always startling him... and he fell a few times.

She did this deliberately. It was very amusing. She was my baby and never did it to me. She's dead now. I sure do miss that cat.

Ah...memories.