A puppy has been hailed for saving his owner’s life after biting his toe down to the bone while he was asleep.
Most dog owners know their pets love to chew on things, which can sometimes be troublesome—like when they gnaw on important items such as concert tickets. However, occasionally, this habit can prove useful.
David Lindsay shares a special bond with his bulldog, Harley. Despite his gentle appearance, Harley proved to be a lifesaver for David one day when he was napping.
While David was taking a nap on the sofa, Harley decided to target an unexpected spot.
“I was asleep on the couch when my wife walked in and shouted, ‘Dave, the puppy’s chewing your toe!” David recalled.
“My puppy had near enough chewed my big toe off! It chewed down to the bone and cracked it.”
Surprisingly, David didn’t wake up during the ordeal due to having no sensation in his foot.
“Because of all this, I discovered that my foot is completely numb, I can’t feel anything,” David explained.
After realizing what happened, the UK resident rushed to Addenbrooke’s Hospital. There, he received intravenous antibiotics to prevent the infection from spreading to the bone.
Further examination through CT scans revealed that David had two blocked arteries, which explained the numbness.
This discovery highlighted a potential danger; if untreated, it could have led to the loss of his entire leg due to impaired blood circulation.
Thanks to Harley’s actions, doctors could address the issue before it escalated.
Rather than being upset with Harley, David was thankful and even more affectionate towards him.
He credited his dog with doing him a favor and has no plans to part with his beloved pet because of the incident.
“I’m waiting to find out if they can put stents in. I’ll be keeping the dog,” he said.
“I’ll try to keep my toe too, but if not, I told the doctor to cut it off and I can take it home for him!”
After over a week in the hospital, David was finally reunited with Harley.