They suggested that a traditional, shorter lead is safer after a study found a link between traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and walking a dog.
Brain injuries were the second most common form of injury to occur when walking a leashed dog, with broken fingers the only injury that was more likely.
A US study looked at hospital records of 422,000 people who obtained an injury walking a dog between 2001 and 2020. They found that injuries increased four-fold over that time period, while three in four of those hurt while dog walking were women. Half of all patients were 40 to 64-years-old and the average age was 53.
“The three most common injuries were finger fracture, TBI and shoulder sprain/strain,” wrote the study’s authors, from Johns Hopkins University.
Finger breaks twice as likely over 65
Almost 7 per cent of hospital visits for dog walking injuries were for finger fractures, which often occur when the lead wraps around the fingers or the hand gets trapped.
Traumatic brain injuries, often caused by falling or slipping over when the dog bolts or pulls, accounted for 5.6 per cent of injuries.
Shoulder sprains or strains made up 5.1 per cent of injuries in the study.
Finger breaks were twice as likely in over-65s, data show, and 50 per cent more likely in women. The risk of a TBI was also 60 per cent higher in over-65s.
“Dog walking is associated with a considerable and rising injury burden,” stated the report, published in the Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise journal.
“Dog owners should be informed of this injury potential and advised on risk-reduction strategies.”
Risk-reduction advice
Dr Dana Varble, chief veterinary officer at the North American Veterinary Community, told The Telegraph that walking dogs is good exercise for both human and animal but does come with some hazards.
“Leads (leashes) can be tripping hazards for both people and pets. Generally for most pets, shorter leads, no more than two metres in length, are recommended,” Dr Vable said.
“Longer leads and retractable leads can get wrapped around street signs, feet, and legs of both people and animals.”
Retractable leads have caused injuries not only to dog owners, but also to the dogs themselves, she added.
“For that reason, they are never recommended,” Dr Varble said. “Shorter leads allow you to read your dog and react to their body language to prevent bolts and starts that can lead to injuries.”
— Read on www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/04/29/retractable-dog-leads-traumatic-brain-injuries/
