Characteristics and Outcomes of Dog Attacks to Dogs and Cats in Melbourne, Australia

Abstract

Dog-dog and dog-cat attacks can result in severe medical, financial, and emotional injury to pets and owners. The characteristics of dog-dog and dog-cat victims, the circumstances surrounding these attacks and the financial burden from veterinary visits is not reported in Australia. Medical records from 459 animals who presented to 4 veterinary emergency centres in Melbourne, Australia in 2018 following a dog attack were assessed via univariate and multivariate methodologies with a retrospective case-control study design. Animals who had been attacked by a dog comprised 2.4% of the overall caseload at these four centres. The final model showed dogs that were cross-bred, neutered and less than 6 months of age were more likely to present to a veterinary emergency centre in Melbourne following a dog-dog attack. Dogs from houses with a lower Socio-economic Indices for Areas score (SIEFA) were more likely to be attacked at home by a known attacker, compared to those from houses with a higher SIEFA score who were more likely to be attacked in public by a dog unknown to them. Cat victims of a dog attack had a survival rate of 46.3% compared to 91.8% for dog-dog attack victims. Final cost of treatment for dogs and cats was similar (median AU $380 vs AU $360, respectively). Further research is needed to evaluate the population of dogs and cats attacked by dogs, to inform and direct public education campaigns aimed at reducing their incidence and overall burdens.

Keywords: dog attack, dog bite, bite wounds, veterinary emergency