Scoping decades of dog evidence: a scoping review of dog bite-related sequelae

Abstract

Objectives There has been considerable literature published focusing on various sequelae to dog bites over the last three decades. Much of the literature has focused on rabies, particularly canine rabies variant, which accounts for the majority of rabies deaths worldwide. This paper describes the complications, the pathogens, and other sequelae resulting from dog bites documented in the literature. Methods This paper used evidence found through a scoping review which charted the published peer-reviewed and non-peerreviewed gray literature and online information relating to dog bite incidents. Each complication or sequela was additionally assessed from the viewpoint of Canadian Indigenous, rural, and geographically remote communities, which experience a high number of dog bite incidents annually. Synthesis Peer-reviewed literature (N = 693; case report, original research, and review articles) provided detailed information on specific pathogens, infections, and diseases of interest, especially rabies. However, in addition to these, the sequelae from dog bites may include moderate to severe injuries that further result in anxiety around dogs or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Conclusions While a lot of focus in the literature is on rabies as a sequela to dog bites, the impacts of anxiety and PTSD are not as well articulated. Treatment of dog bite injuries may be standardized; however, improved collaborations between diverse health professionals (physicians, veterinarians, counseling services, animal behaviourists, and others) could be of considerable benefit in decreasing the effects of dog bites.

A One Health Perspective on the Human–Companion Animal Relationship with Emphasis on Zoonotic Aspects

“…Between 3% and 30% of dog bites become infected and complications become more severe when infection occurs. More than 100 species of bacteria have been isolated from bacterial infections of dog bites, suggesting that most oral flora of dogs have the potential to be pathogenic [168]. The top 3 pathogens found are Pasteurella, Staphylococcus, and Streptococcus.…”

Porphyromonas spp. have an extensive host range in ill and healthy individuals and an unexpected environmental distribution: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…P. canoris in human skin (Table S1), P. circumdentaria in healthy liver biopsies [122] and in fecal and genital microbiomes [121,123]. P. macacae have been reported in breast cancer [124] and infected wound bites [27,125,126], which was expected as this species is frequently identified in pet oral microbiota (Table S1).…”

A prospective cross-sectional survey of UK-based dog owners to explore canine handling intolerances and owner willingness to disclose these to veterinary professionals

“…Even when physically healthy and pain free, dogs may have aversions to being handled in particular ways (Oxley et al, 2018) and to certain individuals (Csoltova et al, 2017), (word 'and' removed) this aversion may manifest itself in fearful or aggressive behaviour (Oxley et al, 2018). Canine handling intolerances can make handling dogs within a veterinary practice environment more problematic and pose a risk for veterinary staff and owner health and safety (Dhillon et al, 2019). In particular, being bitten can cause life-changing physical and psychological injury (Dhillon et al, 2019).…”

“…Canine handling intolerances can make handling dogs within a veterinary practice environment more problematic and pose a risk for veterinary staff and owner health and safety (Dhillon et al, 2019). In particular, being bitten can cause life-changing physical and psychological injury (Dhillon et al, 2019). However, canines that are problematic to handle may also reduce job satisfaction in veterinary professionals (Roshier and McBride, 2012), or be a source of embarrassment to owners (Roshier and McBride, 2013), with the canine stress associated with it resulting in reduced owner willingness to visit the veterinary practice (Lloyd, 2017).…”