Sepsis in Dogs: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Sepsis is in dogs is similar to that in humans. Causes of sepsis, diagnostics, treatment, and prognosis closely parallel human medicine.

In fact, definitions and criteria to diagnose and treat animals’ sepsis vastly rely on human data and recommendations.

What is Sepsis in Dogs?

But what is sepsis in dogs? Sepsis is the emergence of a systemic sickness that sets off a chain reaction of medical issues all over the body. The immune system, which normally acts to protect the body, goes into overdrive, and inflammation abounds.

Sepsis can lead to rapidly worsening clinical signs and death unless it is identified and treated promptly. Understanding the warning signs and quickly acting when noted can help save lives.

Sepsis, Septic Shock, Septicemia vs. Bacteremia

Terminology and phrases commonly associated with sepsis may include various terms, from sepsis to septic shock. There are distinctions between these terms that can be confusing.

Sepsis

Sepsis, defined above, is a systemic inflammatory cascade that damages various organs and negatively affects the body’s ability to fight infection and heal.

Septic Shock

Septic shock is considered a subset of sepsis, as defined by the Sepsis 3 Taskforce. It occurs secondary to sepsis and is a disease state progression that carries a worse prognosis. It happens when the body can no longer maintain adequate blood pressure, and other heart-related and metabolic changes occur.

Ultimately, the body can no longer provide normal physiologic functions, and things get out of whack. Homeostasis is disrupted. The criteria to determine when this stage is reached is better defined in people. But one can think of it as a progression of worsening sepsis.

Septicemia

Septicemia refers to a blood infection or the spread of infection from a distant site. Most commonly, this occurs when bacteria and associated toxins enter the bloodstream. However, it can also happen with fungal, viral, or other organisms. You may also hear septicemia referred to as blood poisoning in dogs.

Bacteremia

Bacteremia indicates the presence of bacteria in the blood. This could be either transient causing no overt clinical signs, or the result of severe infection and something that leads to sepsis.

What Causes Sepsis in Dogs?

Sepsis can be caused by bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections. Generally, an infection in the lung, respiratory tract, skin, urinary tract, or teeth with severe dental disease, can lead to an overwhelming immune system response resulting in sepsis.

However, the infection can arise anywhere in the body. Causes may include

• Skin infections (pyoderma)
• Bite wounds
• Kidney infections (pyelonephritis)
• Bladder infections and urinary tract infections
• Gingivitis or stomatitis (mouth infections)
• Gastroenteritis and colitis (gastrointestinal tract diseases that may cause vomiting/diarrhea)
• Pneumonia and other lung diseases

Dogs that have a compromised immune system, such as those with cancer, pets taking steroids or other immunosuppressive drugs, the very young and the very old, may be at an increased risk for sepsis and septic shock.

However, despite a dog’s overall health, sepsis can occur even with common run-of-the-mill type infections and in healthy dogs.

Symptoms of Sepsis in Dogs

The signs of sepsis seen in animals closely mirror that of humans. The complicating factor is that many animals hide signs of pain.

As a result, owners may not appreciate infection until the animal shows significant signs of illness, such as decreased energy or appetite or, worse, collapse.

Signs of Sepsis in Dogs

Sometimes history is vague, and signs are not specific, so we look to clinical signs to help guide us. Canine sepsis symptoms may include:

• Weakness
• Decreased energy (lethargy)
• Decreased or absent appetite (hyporexia/anorexia)
• Elevated breathing rate +/- increased effort to breathe
• Painful belly
• Collapse
• Vomiting
  
• Diarrhea
  
• Fever (may feel warm when touched) or increased body temperature
• Limping (if wound on a leg)
• Swelling of joints or limbs
• Smelly wound
• Red skin
  

Advanced stages of sepsis progressing to septic shock occur when the body cannot maintain normal blood pressure and lactate values that are not responding to therapy. (Lactate measures how well blood gets to various organs [perfusion]).

Septicemia (Blood Infections) Signs

Blood poisoning in dogs may present in various ways. But generally, dog blood infection symptoms may include any symptoms seen with sepsis.

Sometimes mental confusion, loss of training, and accidents in the home may be secondary to septicemia or sepsis.

So, any change, especially when your pet has a known infection, could be significant and warrants veterinary evaluation.

Diagnosing Sepsis in Dogs

A variety of factors play a role in diagnosing sepsis in dogs.

We have a high index of suspicion when a patient with infection (generally, already identified) demonstrates system-wide signs of severe inflammation or failure of various organs, e.g., liver or kidneys.

However, we also suspect this condition when we see unexplainable signs of system-wide inflammation based on physical exam findings, history, and symptoms described above.

Diagnosis will be made based on a combination of:

• Clinical symptoms and signs
• Blood pressure
• Heart rate
• Breathing rates and oxygen % levels
• Bloodwork/blood cultures, including a complete blood count of red and white blood cells, electrolytes, liver and kidney values, and lactate
• Cultures of infected sites, including wounds, urine, blood
• Additional diagnostics will depend on the initial symptoms the dog may show – X-rays, ultrasound, and even MRI or CT may be needed
• More invasive diagnostics may also be performed in the critical care setting

That sounds like an easy diagnosis, right? The diagnosis of sepsis can be challenging, especially if a known site of bacterial infection isn’t identified.

However, once identified, treating sepsis includes supportive care, and rapid diagnosis (i.e., in less than 6 hours from the start of symptoms) is critical to a positive outcome.

Treatment for Sepsis in Dogs

Treatment for dogs with sepsis includes starting with broad-spectrum antibiotics pending cultures (of wounds, blood, urine, or related samples).

Once the results become available, we can refine the drug(s) used when treating sepsis.

Additionally, it is critical to:

• Get rid of the severe infections source ASAP. Identifying and removing/treating the initial underlying cause (e.g., proper wound management) is critical.
• Improve blood flow and hydration status with IV fluids and medications if needed to support blood pressure
• Many patients require oxygen supplementation
• Maintain normal blood sugars
• Provide nutrition 

Dogs with sepsis, especially those who progress to septic shock, must be hospitalized in a 24/7 facility, ideally with an ICU (intensive care unit) and a critical care veterinarian specialist on staff.

The pet’s needs may change from minute to minute. Stabilization and tweaks to the therapy must be done quickly based on evidence-based medical choices.

Early Action Saves Lives

Sepsis in dogs is no laughing matter. Treating a septic dog requires time, money, and patience since they have a life-threatening illness that calls for early diagnosis and prompt treatment. Still, with appropriate supportive care, dogs can survive sepsis and live to play another day.