Bacteria are single-celled microscopic organisms that live in the environment or on the skin, respiratory tract, or digestive and urinary tracts of animals and people. Some are capable of causing disease and reaching the blood. Normally, they do so in small numbers and can be eliminated by the immune system, but when their expansion cannot be controlled, we will be facing a sepsis or septicemia, produced for the body's response.
In this article on our site we will talk about septicemia in dogs, the symptoms it produces and the most effective treatment. Keep reading if you suspect that your dog could suffer from this problem to go to the vet with all the possible information.
What is septicemia in dogs?
The definition of septicemia in dogs would be the persistence of microorganisms or the toxins they originate in the bloodstream Bacteria will reach the blood in different ways and can settle anywhere in the body by traveling through the blood. For example, if the bacteria reach the brain they can cause meningitis, if they affect the heart we will be facing pericarditis, osteomyelitis will be the infection of the bones or infectious arthritis of the joints. Sepsis is a very serious pathology and can lead the animal to septic shock and death.
Causes of septicemia in dogs
If the animal has any dental problem, when handling the teeth, the bacteria that live in the gums or around them may end up reaching to the blood An example of this is the bacterium Capnocytophaga canimorsus, which is part of the natural flora of the gums of dogs and can even be transmitted to humans. It is also relatively easy for intestinal bacteria to move into the blood, but in these cases bacteraemia, that is, the presence of bacteria in the bloodstream, usually be temporary because the body is able to control and eliminate them quickly.
In a smaller number of cases, sepsis can occur in dogs because the bacteria are not eliminated from the body. In these cases, septicemia is more likely to originate when the animal is already suffering from an infection in some part of the body, such as the urinary system, thus speaking of urinary sepsis
Another cause of sepsis is surgery in the area where there is an infection or in areas where a good number of bacteria usually live, such as the intestinal tract. An IV or drainage tube is also a factor that increases the risk of sepsis, and the risk will increase the longer the object remains in the body. On the other hand, septicemia will be more likely in animals with a weak immune system or with some other condition involving this system.
Septicemia: symptoms in dogs
A temporary bacteremia is usually well controlled by the body, so we will not observe symptoms. However, when we are dealing with a case of sepsis, in general, the symptoms of septicemia in dogs are the following:
- Tremors
- Fever, which may be high
- Weakness
- Confusion
- Anorexy
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
In addition, dogs with septicemia can develop septic shock which is characterized by a severe drop in blood pressure, an increase in heart rate and a failure in the functioning of different organs, especially kidneys and brain, due to an incorrect blood supply. The kidneys stop producing urine, the lungs do not get enough oxygen, edema and blood clots occur.
Dogs with chronic illnesses or weakened immune systems are more at risk. It is caused by substances generated by the body itself to fight infection and toxins from bacteria. Your initial symptoms are:
- Disorientation
- Shaking chills
- Fever, but hypothermia in advanced condition
- Skin heat
- Rapid pulse
- Fast breathing
How to cure septicemia in dogs: treatment
Given the possibility of bacteria reaching any part of the body through the blood, it is very important to start treatment as soon as possible. The diagnosis can be established by sending blood samples to the laboratory to make a culture, which allows the bacteria present in the animal to be reproduced, so that they are identified and a specific antibiotic can be prescribed against them. They don't always get cultured, especially if the dog is already taking antibiotics.
Before the results are received, begin antibiotics, due to the risk of death from septicemia. The one that, a priori, seems most effective against the bacteria that is suspected may be present based on where the infection began, will be chosen. In this sense, it is normal to combine several antibiotics. Once the results are in, you may have to change your medication. Starting treatment late can have fatal consequences. How long the treatment lasts will depend on the severity of the clinical picture and its cause.
Septic shock requires the intravenous administration of fluids, oxygen, and medication to restore balance to the body, in addition to antibiotics. Unfortunately, it is an extremely serious clinical condition and many dogs die.
Because of all of the above, it should be the veterinarian who determines the most appropriate antibiotic for septicemia in dogs, since administering the wrong medication can worsen the animal's condition.
Is sepsis in dogs contagious?
Septicemia is a process that is triggered individually, from factors that affect that particular animal. Therefore, a dog with septicemia cannot spread it to us or to other animals. What is contagious, sometimes, is the cause that started the sepsis For example, a dog with septicemia triggered by parvovirus can transmit this viral disease to other congeners. If they contract parvovirus, depending on the response of each one, they may or may not suffer from septicemia. Likewise, there are certain bacteria in dogs that can also be transmitted to other animals and humans, causing an infection that, in rare cases, can lead to sepsis.
