Dog desexing reduces risk of dog bites, new SA study shows

DESEXING your pet pooch reduces the rising risk of dog bites, a South Australian study has found.

WUFF, WUFF ME DO: Calli Vodic, 38, of Mile End, gets a kiss from her caboodle, Charlie — who was desexed at six months. Picture: Sam Wundke

DESEXING your pet pooch significantly reduces the risk of dog bites, a South Australian study has found.

Latest research led by Dr Katina D’Onise, director of epidemiology at SA Health, shows that desexing dogs reduces the risk of dog bites by up to nine times. It is hoped the study could lead to the State Government making it mandatory for pet owners to desex their dogs and cats.

“In South Australia, we know that around 2 per cent of people are attacked by a dog each year ... and the important point is that numbers are rising,” Dr D’Onise said.

In 2014-15, there were 299 people admitted to SA hospitals because of dog bites, up from 193 five years ago.

Dr D’Onise said the study, which reviewed more than 3000 research papers on the subject, gave a “consistent message that desexing dogs reduces the risk of dog bites”.

“What it means is there has been no other intervention that we know that can reduce dog-bite risk anywhere near (desexing),” she said. “Dog bites can lead to physical injury that leads to people seeking medical attention ... (and) there are psychological impacts in the long term.”

Dr D’Onise said desexing family pets had numerous benefits.

“Desexing is known to change hormone-driven behaviour of dogs and reduces aggression, which in turn reduces the risk of dog attacks,” she said.

She added there was a draft Bill in Parliament that could lead to mandatory desexing of dogs and cats in the state in the future.

Dog owner Calli Vodic, 38, of Mile End, said she desexed Charlie, a caboodle, at six months of age.

“I did it because of the long-term health impacts (and) I did some research and discovered it was the right thing to do for the dog and for the community,” she said.

Originally published as Dog desexing reduces risk of dog bites, new SA study shows