President’s Column: Educating clients about dog bite prevention

When I was working as a companion animal practitioner, I saw firsthand the sad effects of dog bites. I’ve worked with owners who had to make difficult decisions about their pets when their dog had bitten someone, and I’ve had staff members being bitten and seriously injured.

As the owner of two 100-pound dogs—Rigi, a 4-year-old Great Pyrenees, and Tobe, a 5-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog—my family knows the importance of training. One of our dogs can be protective, and we have worked hard to make sure he is OK with strangers in our home. We continue that training today, because we feel it is key to their continued socialization.

I share this with you because April 13-19 is National Dog Bite Prevention Week®, and I invite you to take advantage of some great AVMA resources that can help veterinary teams talk about how to prevent dog bites. The AVMA’s member-exclusive toolkit helps you bring tips about preventing bites into your social media and other client communications. It is our hope that these conversations can help both pets and people.

Join the social media conversation by using the hashtag #PreventDogBites.

The AVMA’s social media channels will feature a series of videos for dog owners throughout the week, offering practical tips for training and socialization, warning signs that a dog may bite, and more. Other social media highlights will include infographics and helpful hints for dog bite prevention. Nothing could be easier than sharing these posts with your community, so be sure to follow along. Join the social media conversation by using the hashtag #PreventDogBites on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. 

What’s in the AVMA’s member-only dog bite prevention toolkit? Here’s just a sampling:

• Downloadable client brochures—AVMA’s dog bite prevention brochure and rabies brochure are available in both English or Spanish for you to download and provide to clients. 
• Puppy socialization handout—Another free download for AVMA members, you can use it year-round to share proven socialization information with puppy owners.
• Social media images and posts—Quick and easy to share, they’ll help you show your veterinary expertise on this important behavioral issue.

If you’re an AVMA member, be sure to take advantage of this practical member benefit. Visit avma.org/DogBitePrevention for more dog bite facts and strategies to share with clients.

Together, we can all help prevent dog bites.