The owner of a cute seven-month-old bulldog puppy owes his life to his furry friend who unintentionally made a meal out of his big toe. Anyone who has ever had a puppy knows better than to leave anything within its grasp unless they’re willing to see it chewed to bits. This includes furniture, shoes, and in the case of Harley, the bulldog, his owner’s big toe. While his owner, David Lindsay, was dozing off on the couch, the mischievous pup decided to use his owner’s foot as a chew toy until David’s wife arrived and put an end to it.
“I was asleep on the couch when my wife walked in and shouted, ‘Dave, the puppy’s chewing your toe,'” the 64-year-old man from Cambridge said. “My puppy had near enough chewed my big toe off! It chewed down to the bone and cracked it. But because of all this, I discovered that my foot is completely numb, I can’t feel anything.”
After waking up to find his toe severely bitten, a father of five from Cambridge quickly made his way to Addenbrooke’s Hospital. The medical staff administered intravenous antibiotics to prevent any infection from the dog bite from spreading to the bone.
During his hospital stay, doctors also conducted a CT scan for his fractured toe and discovered something even more serious. They found that the patient had not one but two blocked arteries, which could have resulted in the entire leg needing amputation if the blood supply wasn’t restored. Fortunately, Harley’s nibbling brought attention to the problem, and the patient is now being evaluated for stents that could unblock the arteries, allowing blood flow to return to his leg.
Despite the incident that led to his hospitalization, David Lindsay has no intention of parting ways with his furry companion, Harley. In fact, he recognizes that the dog’s mischievous behavior may have saved his life. David is waiting to hear from his doctors about the possibility of getting stents, but he has made it clear that even if he has to lose his toe, he will still keep his beloved pet.
“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!”
David jokingly quipped. He has been in the hospital for over a week, but he is optimistic that he will be able to return home to his wife and his cheeky bulldog soon. While it’s best for Harley to stick to dog toys in the future, it’s undeniable that he’s still a good boy in David’s eyes.