Do you dog-walk? If so, here’s some bad news!
Older people get themselves a dog for companionship and often do dog-walking. However, the pets are sending their owners to the ER, according to a study.
According to researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, in recent years, the number of elderly seeking medical treatment for injuries, especially hip fractures, caused by dog-walking has increased. The numbers increased from approximately 1,700 in 2014 to 4,400 in 2017.
The study report was published Wednesday by JAMA surgery.
The researchers found that the active lifestyle of seniors have been an issue of concern. They say that hip fractures are the common injuries caused by dog-walking in the elderly, especially women who have lower bone density or osteoporosis.
69-year-old Susan Bush said she had multiple injuries that were caused while walking her dogs. She once broke her leg while preventing her dog from chasing a bear near her Pennsylvania cottage. Despite surgical intervention and rehabilitation, she has refused to give up her pets.
She said, “Old people need our dogs. We need our soul mates.”
Dr. Jaimo Ahn, an orthopedic surgeon in Philadelphia and a lead author of the study, said, “Some seniors may be underestimating the physical risks involved in walking a dog every day.” He says that some older people might not be well prepared to handle a pet. He stated, “Some of them are really well-trained, but others are really poorly trained.”
