This story is a little off the beaten path for us but I couldn’t help it. Here’s the deal -some guy passed out. Now, the news story says he just laid down for a nap but once you hear what happened I think you’ll agree with me that he probably had a little too much of the sauce and passed out. While the dude was “sleeping” his dog ate his toe. That’s right. His dog ATE HIS TOE!!!!!
But hold on. This is good news. How, you might ask. Here’s how:
Douthett had been self-treating a sore on his big toe for more than a month, without much success. The sore developed into an ulcer and the skin around the area kept dying. After celebrating with his wife, Rosee, becoming a citizen, Douthett retired for a nap. Taking advantage of his master’s nap, Kiko then took over the toe treatment. He settled in and helped himself to the buffet.
After Douthett and his wife discovered that the top of his big toe was gone all the way to the bone, they made the trip to Spectrum Health Hospital in Grand Rapids. Douthett was in advance stages of type 2 diabetes, and his blood sugar was over 500; normal is typically between 80 – 100. With uncontrolled diabetes people often develop vascular disease in their feet that may cause nerve damage to the point where they do not feel anything. It was necessary for doctors to amputate the remainder of the man’s toe.
Dogs have a heightened sense of smell and can be trained to detect cancer, brain aneurysms, and even diabetic shock. It appears Kiko just may have saved his master’s life by forcing him to get to the hospital for professional medical care.
So hooray for the dog but BAD DOG!
Let’s not treat the dog like a hero. If ever a dog deserved a scolding this one would be it. No more eating appendages. I’m serious. I don’t care if you think it’s for the best. Bad!
Now I don’t know if dogs are like bears and once they get a taste for human blood they’re considered maneaters and need to be hunted down or anything but I’d be sleeping with my shoes on for a while. And pants, just because.
My advice to this dog owner – One of two things has to happen, either get rid of the dog or maybe…just maybe…don’t drown yourself in wine coolers to the point of actually sleeping through an animal eating your toe.
This is just my advice. Take it or leave it.
August 4, 2010 at 5:06 am
Actually, my advice to the owner is to get his diabetes under control and to see routine podiatric care!!!
If you're a diabetic and you're not checking your feet on a daily basis, you're asking for serious trouble. It's nothing to mess with. And yes, if left uncontrolled, you can lose your protective sensorium (i.e. when you can't feel anything). This is not uncommon.
I'd normally laugh at something like this, but after having worked for a podiatrist for the past five years, it's a sad 'reality check.' We cannot take our health for granted, especially if you have a history of diabetes in your family.
August 4, 2010 at 9:41 am
I applaud the dog! J. Henri Fabre once praised the wisdom and ignorance of instinct, and this dog was certainly guided by both. The wisdom was in removing a lethal appendage from his master, the ignorance….well he was at the same time munching on his master.
Dogs are keen on sensing things wrong with us, both emotional and physical. We would do better to pay attention. God did wish for us to consort with animals, as well as to be their stewards, and the dog and the cat have always represented the two faces of Nature turned towards mankind.
If you weren't a Jack Russell terrier, Kiko, I would love to have you as a pet!
August 4, 2010 at 12:53 pm
Some 25 years ago when I was a medical resident, I had a patient with a similar experience. A woman had two new puppies. She was also diabetic with significant diabetic neuropathy. When she took a nap, the puppies chewed off three of her toes. When she came to the hospital, we had to take her to surgery to complete the amputations. The woman held no ill feelings towards the puppies and had every intention of keeping them. I, on the other hand, always thought of the crocodile in Peter Pan. Once he had a taste of Captain Hook, he was hoping for more. I would have always looked at those puppies with suspicion.
August 4, 2010 at 5:37 pm
Man, I HATE when that happens.
August 4, 2010 at 5:41 pm
Matthew, I'll actually believe the guy's story on this one. Diabetes is rampant in my family history. My uncle, a diabetic who insisted on not taking care of his health, stepped on a nail; he didn't feel anything and didn't know about it for two days. He ended up losing his leg below the knee (and finally the other one as well).
And since we're reminiscing stories about dogs eating other creatures, my favorite part in Superman Returns is when Lex Luthor and Miss Teschmacher return to the old lady's mansion. Her little dog is surrounded by fur and bones on the floor and Miss Teschmacher says, "Weren't there two of those?"