As any parent will attest to, having a baby is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have, but it’s also a heavy responsibility that comes with a lot of pressure.
This new creature you birthed is naive to the dangers around them and will be completely dependent on you for quite some time.
This means that taking your eyes off your kid, even for a split second, could allow some serious harm to befall them.
Usually, this means a little scrape on their knee or mild bump on their head, something which can easily be treated.
But this wasn’t the case for one unfortunate set of parents in Melaka, when their young daughter suffered a horrific injury after a terrifying encounter with their pet.
Baby’s Right Arm Bitten Off By Family Dog As It Thought She Was Food
An infant in Malaysia had her right arm bitten off by her family’s dog after the hound mistook it for food.
The girl is only one week old.
According to 8 Days, the incident occurred in Melaka on 8 September.
A relative had placed the baby girl outside in the sunlight because she appeared to be jaundiced.
To their horror, when the family went to check on her later, they discovered that the baby was crying and bleeding profusely.
They realised that the family dog had mistaken the baby’s arm for food and bitten it off up to her shoulder.
The dog is believed to be a hunting dog of some sort, like the one pictured here:
Arm Could Not Be Reattached
The injured newborn was rushed to a hospital in Kuala Lumpur where she underwent a 10-hour procedure.
Surgeons tried to reattach her severed arm but were unable to do so due to her age and tiny blood vessels.
The girl is currently under observation in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit.
Dog was Unlicensed
After a police report was lodged, law enforcement officers discovered that the family dog was unlicensed.
A veterinarian who examined the dog also found it to be emotionally unstable. It was taken to a veterinary clinic where it will be isolated for two weeks and checked for rabies.
Once diagnosed, the dog will be euthanised.
The authorities added that they will investigate the dog owner as well.
Never Leave Your Child With Your Dog Unattended
Taking care of a kid can be exhausting, and sometimes you just need a break. But you should never leave your child alone with a dog unattended, even if it’s a family dog, as one simple hug can be taken as an act of aggression.
As DogTime says: “It’s best to always keep your kids within arms reach, even if there’s not a dog around.”
Here are some other safety tips to follow if you have a child and dog in your house:
- Don’t place the baby on the floor if your dog is on the floor
- Don’t allow your child to approach your dog while it is sleeping
- Do not allow them to hug your dog without your permission
- Teach them not to take anything out of your dog’s mouth
We might think our dogs would never hurt a child because they’re so loving and we’ve trained them well, but it’s always better to be cautious.
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