New data published by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality suggests that dog bites are on the rise. The number of people admitted to emergency rooms has increased by 86 percent over a 15 year period. Approximately 5,100 dog bites were recorded in 1993. That number increased to 9,500 in 2008.
According to 2008 data, an average of 866 people go to the emergency room daily of which 26 are admitted to the hospital for more serious dog bites. The age groups most likely to be seriously attacked by dogs are the elderly and young children.
Approximately 58 percent of those injured required some surgical procedure to treat the wounds. The average cost for a dog-bite hospitalization is $18,200.