Your Pets Are Conspiring Against You

Tens of thousands of people wind up in the emergency room every year after running afoul of a surprisingly common household hazard: pets. Cats are underfoot almost as much, but dogs are more than seven times more likely to cause a "pet fall" because "dogs are bigger and stronger, and we do see children and women are most likely to be involved in a fall with a dog," a CDC expert tells LiveScience.

Accidents suffered while running with—and from—pets show the greatest disparity: Dogs are far more dangerous as jogging companions. Other dog related mishaps include "walking dog and fell up steps" and "tripped while crossing the street with their dog." But don't overreact, cautions the CDC researcher: "Certainly pets are wonderful and have many benefits, so we're not saying anything about not having pets." (More pets stories.)