On September 3, 2011, the lives of a Houston, Texas couple changed in the blink of an eye when the family pet, a Labrador mix, mauled their 2-week-old infant while sitting in his baby carrier. According to a news report the dog approached the baby, sniffed him, and then attacked the infant before the parents could react. The baby later died of its injuries on September 4, 2011, at Memorial Hermann Hospital. The dog was removed from the home, and placed in quarantine.
Sadly, the incidence of the family dog attacking a member of the family is not an infrequent occurrence. Recent survey results show that dog attacks on children under 4-years-old hovers around the 50 percent mark, and a whopping 90 percent the time the attacker was the family dog. But these startling figures can be dramatically reduced with conscientious planning to make the family environment a safe place for children, and the family dog.
Preparations to make for a happy co-existence between the newborn baby and the family dog.
With the new addition to the family come changes. But to make those changes less traumatic for Fido, organize a daily exercise, feeding, bathing, and interaction time with the four-legged family member. Be sure to address any bad doggy social behavior problems; growling, baring teeth, nipping, or jumping on humans, before bringing baby home. Make sure vaccinations are up to date. Dog feces can contain roundworms and hookworms, which can infect humans. Introduce scents into the home associated with the baby; baby oil, baby powder, and baby lotion, before bringing the baby home. Invite friends and family into the home with babies and little children, so that the family dog can become accustomed their sounds, and presence. Bring baby equipment into the home; stroller, baby carrier, baby swing, safety gate, to familiarize and set boundaries between the baby and dog. Send home a blanket or piece of clothing with the newborn’s scent, to give the dog an opportunity to examine before the baby arrives. Never place the baby on the floor when the dog is in the same room. And most importantly, do not under any circumstances leave the baby alone with the dog.
Eliminating stress on the family dog and creating a safe environment in the home for the newborn baby can be achieved for both, with proactive planning, and organization.
Sources
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/09/04/newborn-fatally-mauled-by-family-dog-near-houston/?icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-main-nb%7Cdl7%7Csec3_lnk1%7C92913
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/pets_babies.html
http://dogbitelaw.com/dog-bite-statistics/children-are-the-most-frequent-targets.html
http://www.doggonesafe.com/baby_safety_around_dogs