Luke the survivor: Starved great dane ate his leg to stay alive

A six-year-old great dane named Luke chewed off his foot to survive after being starved by his owners in South Carolina in the US.

Animal Shelter Noah's Arks Rescue posted pictures of the dog on its website and has detailed Luke's recovery.

"We are not saving Luke. Our gentle giant is saving himself. All we are doing is supplying necessary medical care and treatment to give him the ability to save himself," the shelter wrote on its website.

Associated Press reported that its owners were charged with ill treatment of animals after neighbours reported the starving dog.

The shelter said Luke was under constant care to monitor possible infection that usually arises with this type of wound.

There is a specialist team taking care of him, with the shelter saying there were numerous health concerns for Luke.

"The biggest obstacle is that there are so many components of Luke's condition that could kill him. There is a domino effect that could happen at any point in his care that even Luke's will to live could not overcome."

Follow Luke's journey on the website's blog here.