Bite safety: Decoding the interaction

Pets and children can be the best of friends, but what seems like fun playtime can have dire consequences if veterinary clients don't monitor their interactions closely. Does Fluffy pull his ears back or stare wide-eyed when the child gets close? These are small signals that he's uncomfortable with the situation he's in. Help your clients understand these subtleties by going through the diagrammed photos below. Descriptions provided by Stephen Appelbaum, ABCDT, president and CEO of Animal Behavior College.

Scenario one:

Click to the next page for scenario two.

Scenario two: