Jacques Chirac bitten by his dog

France's former president Jacques Chirac has been bitten by his lap dog Sumo, who is being treated for depression, in a dramatic incident that rattled his wife Bernadette.

Wife of former French president Jacques Chirac with her pet dog Sumo

France's former president Jacques Chirac has been bitten by his lap dog Sumo, who is being treated for depression, in a dramatic incident that rattled his wife Bernadette.

"If you only knew! I had a dramatic day yesterday," she said. "Sumo bit my husband!"

Sumo is a Maltese, a miniature lap dog with a silky white coat. He has been agitated for some time despite receiving treatment with anti-depressants, the article said.

A member of the right wing former president's entourage confirmed that 76-year-old Chirac had been bitten, but insisted that the attack had not been serious and had not left a permanent scar.

Chirac, who is a fan of Sumo wrestling, left office in 2007 after Nicolas Sarkozy was elected to the presidency.