Virtual Reality Dogs Can Prevent Dog Bites
Researchers at the University of Liverpool have developed a virtual reality dog to help prevent dog bites. In 2013 alone, over 6,740 people were admitted for dog bites in the UK and those are only the people who actually went to hospital.
Dog bites can become infected if not checked and treated quickly. The NHS recommends that anyone bitten by a dog should seek medical advice as dogs have a lot of bacteria in their mouth which can cause infection if the bite breaks the skin. Whilst these infections are rarely serious, they can occasionally spread to the blood or other parts of the body. Rabies and tetanus are very rare in the UK, but treatment is still recommended.
Symptoms that a bite wound is infected will include -
- a fever of 38 degrees celcius or above
- sweats and chills
- redness or swelling around the wound
- pus leaking from the wound
- the wound is painful
- the wound feels warm
- red streaks extending along the skin from the wound
- swollen glands in the neck, armpits, groin or under the chin.
It is important to seek medical advice if any of these occur.
The virtual dog created by the University of Liverpool can be used as an educational tool to prevent bites. The Dogs Trust wanted to develop a digital tool to help people to identify stress and threat behaviours from dogs. The Virtual Engineering Centre at the University has worked with animal behaviour scientists to help to train people to approach and interact aggressive dogs in a safe, controlled way. It can help adults and children to recognise the signs that a dog might attack.
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