According to the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pet dogs and cats cause thousands of nonfatal falls every year with people tripping over them.

An annual count of average 86,629 people injured annually in dog and cat related falls from 2001 to 2006, according to U. S. health officials which works out to 240 people a day who show up in hospital emergency rooms. The CDC estimates in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report that 88 % of these were caused by dogs.

The estimates were extrapolated by using U. S. Census Bureau data on the total population and 7,456 actual pet incidents recorded by emergency departments from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance Systems All Injury Program said the CDC.

The numbers could be lower than the actual falls as often many people don't go in for treatment after an accident involving their pet.

Judy Stevens, a senior epidemiologist at the CDC and first author of the report said, "I get asked a lot if pets are a fall hazard. We found that of the 8 million falls from all causes; about 1 percent were related to cats and dogs."

The study conducted by Stevens and her colleagues was based on data collected on falls from 66 emergency departments across the country from 2001 to 2006. The researchers reported that dogs accounted for 88% of the injuries from falls while cats made up the rest.

31 % of the people tripped over the dog, 21% fell as a result of being pushed or pulled by a dog while in the cats 66% of the injuries were as a result of tripping or falling over the pet.

The researchers also noted that women were twice as likely to be injured as men and men were either under 14 years or between 35 to 54 years of age who were injured due to a pet. The highest rate of fractures was in the age group of 75 to 85 years and 80% of the people who required hospitalization for a pet related injury were for a broken bone.

62% of falls involving dogs occurred at home, 16% in a street or park and 9% of the falls were at home due to pet paraphernalia. In the instance of cats 86% of the falls occurred at home and 17% while chasing a cat.

Stevens said undoubtedly pets had plus points too but added that the CDC wanted to make people aware that they could be a danger in tripping or falling over them and they need to be careful. Pets have been shown to help in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reducing feelings of loneliness, depression and anxiety and increasing opportunities for socializing.

Enrolling the dog in obedience training was one step that people could take to safeguard themselves from such mishaps as the training would help stop, or at least lessen, the animal's pushing, pulling and jumping.

"You can also prevent falls by removing tripping hazards like pet items," she said.

Colin Milner, chief executive of the International Council on Active Aging, said people need to keep their homes clean and uncluttered, and while selecting a pet, Milner suggested trying to match the pet to your personality and choosing a calm pet.

Age makes people uncoordinated and that too results in falls said Milner. "Many of these fall could be preventable if you had better balance," he said. "The number of falls could be reduced with a very simple balance and strength-training program."