A lady was assaulted by a Cane Corso dog and suffered severe damage to her voice box. Following the attack, she was quickly taken to Beaumont Hospital in northern Dublin, where surgeons performed a procedure that involved creating an airway in her neck due to a complete collapse of her air passage.
In Ireland, the Cane Corso breed is not subject to restrictions, and it is legally permissible to possess one in the UK. The dog involved in this incident was familiar to the woman it attacked but was not owned by her.
The woman sustained two puncture wounds on the front of her neck from the forceful bite, leading to fragmentation of her throat cartilage, a type of injury usually associated with high-speed car accidents as reported by Dublin Live.
Additionally, the woman experienced surgical emphysema, a distressing condition where air escapes from the windpipe and gets trapped under the skin.
The unprovoked attack prompted the euthanization of the animal shortly after the incident. Details of the case were documented in the April 2026 edition of the Irish Medical Journal.
Medical professionals characterized laryngeal trauma resulting from a dog bite as a rare yet potentially life-threatening occurrence. They highlighted that such injuries are more commonly observed in children. Due to the woman’s noisy, labored breathing and surgical emphysema, emergency measures, including a tracheostomy, were necessary at Beaumont Hospital before proceeding with intricate reconstructive procedures.
She underwent placement of a laryngeal stent to maintain an open airway for two weeks and several subsequent interventions. The medical team reported an optimal recovery outcome.
After the successful removal of the tracheostomy tube, enabling her to breathe independently, a follow-up evaluation confirmed normal movement of her vocal cords. This signified the retention of both the structural and neurological functions of her voice box, leading to specialized speech and language therapy aimed at restoring her ability to swallow and communicate.
The Cane Corso is a formidable Italian mastiff breed with a muscular build, historically utilized as a guardian, capable of reaching heights of up to 28 inches at the shoulder and weighing over 100 pounds.
