Dog Bites Are Sending More Californians to Emergency Rooms

Dog bites led to about 48,600 California emergency room visits in 2022, the highest in at least 18 years. There were about 125 ER visits for dog bites per 100,000 California residents in 2022, about 70% higher than 2005.

ER visits for dog bites per 100,000 California residents:

Note: Data for 2005 to early 2015 based on ICD-9 external injury code 906.0. Data for late 2015 to 2022 based on ICD-10 external injury code W54.0XXA.
Source: California Department of Health Care Access and Information
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