Did you know that simply taking your dog for a walk could result in a potentially serious hand injury?
A couple of years ago, occupational therapist Antoinette Krakovsky and physiotherapist Lynda O’Callaghan began noticing a troubling trend. A number of patients were arriving at their outpatient rehabilitation clinic at St. Joseph’s Health Centre with serious hand injuries — the result of run-ins with dog leashes.
The pair, who have worked together for 33 years, are now presenting their findings to hand surgeons and hand therapists at a conference for the International Federation of Societies for Hand Therapy (IFSHT) on March 25 in Washington, DC.
“The one thing that people aren’t aware of is how severe the injury can be,” said Krakovsky. “And that they could be coming to therapy for quite a few weeks, months, and in at least one case even a year.”
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St. Joseph’s Health Centre is a leader in community hospital care and serves more than 500,000 people in Toronto’s west end. The hospital offers comprehensive care for all general surgical problems, as well as thoracic surgery, orthopaedic surgery, plastic and reconstructive surgery, urology, ophthalmology and otolaryngology.
Rehabilitation specialists Krakovsky and O’Callaghan, who help get patients back on their feet after major injury or surgery, conducted a series of informal patient interviews and questionnaires of their patients, including nine dog owners – two men and seven women – who had been injured by leashes while out walking their dogs. The ages of those surveyed ranged from 27 to 66 years.
Their injuries ranged from broken bones to ligament damage and even permanent disfigurement. Five required surgery.
Survey findings showed that most dog owners were unaware of the potential for severe injuries and the effect those injuries could have on their hand function, not to mention the impact on the healthcare system.
While most of the injuries were caused by a dog pulling or lunging, one person was hurt while breaking up a fight between dogs.
“I think people think that as long as their dog is well behaved,” said O’Callaghan. “But it’s not just their dog… because other dogs’ behaviour can affect your dog’s behaviour.”
Surprisingly, the size of the dogs also varied widely from larger breeds, weighing around 50kg, to much smaller breeds at barely 15kg.
So how can dog owners stay safe while taking their four-legged friend for a walk? Krakovsky and O’Callaghan have identified several injury prevention strategies that dog owners should keep in mind:
- Avoid wrapping the leash around your hand
- Be aware of local leash bylaws
- Consider having your dog professionally trained
- Pay close attention to your dog’s behaviour and body language
- Avoid distractions and stay off your cell phone
- Always pay attention to your surroundings and be aware of other animals in the area
By simply staying off your phone and being aware of the potential dangers, the pair say many of these serious injuries can be avoided.
“People have busy lives so you see people out there on their cell phones walking their dogs,” says O’Callaghan. “But if your dog sees a squirrel, there you go!”
By: Kevin Van Paassen
Photo: Kevin Van Paassen
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