A woman has been rushed to hospital after her arm was severed in a vicious dog attack in north Queensland.

Emergency services were called to reports of a dog mauling at a Lonerganne Street property in Garbutt, a suburb of Townsville, just after 7am on Friday.

A woman in her 30s sustained significant injuries to her arm, which is believed to have been severed during the attack.

She was rushed to Townsville University Hospital, where she was reportedly in a stable condition later on Friday.

The Courier-Mail reports the woman lost her lower arm when she tried to tackle a “riled-up” dog outside her house.

“She put her arm out to bring him back, that’s when he got her arm,” a neighbour said said. “Her arm’s off from under the elbow.”

The severed arm was reportedly recovered from the scene, with surgeons attempting to reattach it.

Police tried to subdue the dog, which was apparently a Staffordshire bull terrier cross, but were unsuccessful. It was “euthanised” at the scene.

Officers said investigations into the attack continued.

It follows an earlier attack in a Melbourne backyard on Thursday. A woman was critically injured and the three dogs responsible shot dead by police.

The dogs in that incident are believed to have been Staffordshire bull terriers, American bulldogs or pit bulls.

Victoria Police continue to investigate.

-with AAP