Dog walking sends record number of elderly to the ER
The study says bone fractures from dog walking have doubled over a 13-year-period.
A new study in the surgery edition of the Journal of the American Medical association suggests the number of people injuring themselves while walking their dogs is skyrocketing.
Bone fractures related to dog walking has more than doubled over a thirteen-year period. In 2004, about 1,700 people aged 65 or older visited U.S. ER rooms with fractures sustained while walking a dog. By 2017, 4,400 people had visited the ER for the same thing.
Doctors say women need to be especially careful because they are at higher risk of bone disease.
Environmental factors, like snow, ice, and rain, can make the ground slippery and further contribute to falls.
While dog-walking is a great source of exercise, doctors say pet owners should take special care to train their dogs or choose smaller breeds.