However, officials believe Lou Bird, 79, was attacked by her dog a few days earlier on November 8.
Bird lived at 502 Moorehead Street with only her German Shepherd guard dog.
The Ida County Sheriff believes Bird was in the kitchen with the dog, when she was bit several times. She sustained severe wounds on her hands and the back of her legs.
According to investigators she then went to the bathroom, closed the door, and tried to clean herself up, and got into the bathtub. That's where sheriff's deputies found her on Monday.
"We were notified at about 10 o'clock by a family member they were concerned they weren't able to reach her in a few days so one of our officers went to do a welfare check, went into the residence and subsequently found her deceased in the bath tub," said Ida County Sheriff Wade Harriman.
According to Harriman, Bird was on a blood thinner and believed it contributed to her death, saying it would have been difficult for her blood to clot after being bitten.
Authorities also say Bird had a history of struggling to control her dog. Neighbors say the dog was a constant concern for them.
"I thought he might jump over the fence some day and get my kids so I wasn't happy about the dog," said neighbor Luann Nakazawa.
By family request and city ordinance, the dog has been put down.
Officials are calling the death an accident. Bird is survived by her son.
(KTIV - November 18, 2010)
