[Agonal dog bite injuries]

A 57-year-old woman, who was unconscious due to apoplectic cerebral haemorrhage, was injured on the right thigh by dog bites while still alive. In addition to a soft-tissue defect of 10 x 9 x 3 cm (gnawing effect) there were numerous small single lesions in the form of slit-shaped skin cuts. The area around the wounds was discoloured by haematomata. The bite wounds were caused by the mongrel dogs living in the same household (2 parent animals and 6 puppies). The pattern of the injuries corresponded well to the anatomy of a dog's set of teeth.