Two children treated for injuries after dog attacks

A five-year-old German shepherd that has lived with a family since birth suddenly attacked their young daughter when she tried to pet him.

By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH
A five-year-old German shepherd that has lived with a family since birth suddenly attacked their young daughter when she tried to pet him. The dog bit two-and-a-half-year-old Michal in the face and forehead. She was treated at Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot, where surgeon Dr. Michael Glaser said she had suffered light to moderate injuries. As the dog was large and has a big set of jaws, the bite was significant. The child was given antibiotics after the torn skin was sewn under local anesthetic. The Health Ministry was informed, but the dog had been vaccinated against rabies and was healthy. The mother, a pet lover, said the family was reluctant to give the dog away but could not keep him because she worried about her child's safety. Named "Devil" in Hebrew, the dog apparently had been confused and unsettled after the family moved to another apartment. The family say they intend to get a smaller dog instead. Glaser said that in the event of a dog bite, even a mild one, go to the nearest hospital, as dog teeth have bacteria that can cause a variety of infections. The health authorities also have to determine whether the dog was rabid. Meanwhile, Hadera's Hillel Yaffe Medical Center reported on Monday that a six-year-old girl from Caesarea underwent an urgent operation after being bitten by a mixed pinscher dog owned by friends - proving that small dogs can be dangerous as well. Dr. Yitzhak Braverman, head of the Ear, Nose, and Throat Department, and plastic surgery expert Dr. Morris Topaz treated the girl, who suffered from lacerations in the lower part of her face up to the edge of her mouth. The girl's father said he could not understand the little dog's sudden attack on the child, as she had often played with him. The victim is hospitalized in pediatric surgery and feeling well.