Emmerdale‘s Paddy Kirk will be left in a state of panic as he struggles with his new fear.

In last Monday’s episode, Paddy noticed a sheep caught in a fence on Celia’s farm and stopped to help out. He successfully freed the animal and was heading off when a very aggressive dog run towards him.

In shocking scenes, Paddy was brutally attacked by the dog and was taken to hospital with serious injuries. He was rushed to surgery, having lost a lot of blood during the attack.

Upcoming episodes will see the lasting impact of the violent incident, as Paddy attempts to return to work. He reassures Mandy that he can manage the vets by himself.

Paddy begins the day in high spirits but things soon take a turn when a customer brings in a large dog.

Incapacitated with fear, Paddy struggles to treat the animal. He sends the customer away and frantically closes the surgery.

The next day, Paddy is still shaken by the encounter and calls in sick to work. When Mandy checks on him, he reveals his new fear of dogs.

“Paddy hasn’t been quite the same around dogs since being attacked by one on Celia’s land,” our Emmerdale source reminds us.

“When Paddy is forced to close the vets because he’s so scared, the tough reality of the situation becomes clear. This is Paddy’s livelihood, so there’s a lot at stake. If he doesn’t properly address the situation quickly, he could be forced to change careers.”

Later, Paddy faces another challenge when he bumps into Vinny’s dog Chip. Chip is friendly towards the vet but Paddy still feels nervous. He apologises to Vinny and explains his behaviour.

Will Paddy be able to get past his crippling fear?