What are Necrotizing Fasciitis?
Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare, grave, incapacitating disease that can result in systemic illness in your dog. It is difficult to diagnose as initial symptoms are similar to those of other less serious conditions. Due to its rapid progression and difficulty to diagnose, it can lead to death in infected dogs. Necrotizing fasciitis may also be referred to as “flesh eating bacteria” and it can destroy skin, fat, and muscles.
Necrotizing fasciitis is a rare, bacterial soft tissue infection that appears suddenly and progresses rapidly, leading to systemic illness and often death.
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Symptoms of Necrotizing Fasciitis in Dogs
Dogs that are suffering from necrotizing fasciitis will experience intense pain. The areas that are most likely to be impacted are hock joints, flanks and the skin of the abdomen. Other symptoms include:
- Painful, deep lesions of the skin along your dog’s limbs or trunk
- Infection may start with a small skin lesion and progress to a large area of necrosis and ulceration within a few hours
- Pain initially seems out of proportion with what can be seen on the skin
- Fever
- Within 24-48 hours skin often sheds
- Localized swelling
- Erythema
- Signs of shock
- Disseminated intravascular coagulation
- Significant pain that seems out of proportion to what is seen upon physical examination
Types
While necrotizing fasciitis is rare, it is serious. It can occur in humans as well as dogs. It is more likely to occur in young dogs or elderly dogs; healthy adult dogs are not as prone to infections.
Causes of Necrotizing Fasciitis in Dogs
Necrotizing fasciitis can be caused by an infection with Streptococcus canis, B-hemolytic streptococcus, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and E. Coli may also cause necrotizing fasciitis. The lungs and throat are the most likely places where your dog will contract the bacteria. Transmission may occur through sharing a water bowl, a run, or bedding with an infected dog. Your dog could also acquire the bacteria by licking the face of a person who is carrying the bacteria or from being in crowded conditions with other dogs (like in dog shows). Stress (from traveling long distances, for example) may also lead to a decreased resistance to the disease.
Diagnosis of Necrotizing Fasciitis in Dogs
It is important that your dog is diagnosed quickly in order to immediately undergo treatment. Unfortunately, it is difficult to diagnose necrotizing fasciitis as the early signs of the condition are no different than the signs of other, less serious problems (for example, cellulitis). A veterinarian will confirm the diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis through bacterial culture and histopathological examination, however to be most successful, treatment must begin prior to the results of these evaluations. It is recommended that treatment begin once the clinical diagnosis points to necrotizing fasciitis, as this will lead to the best chance of recovery for your dog.
It has been noted that in cases of necrotizing fasciitis, the severe pain that the patient is experiencing is out of proportion to what is seen during the physical exam. This is due to the extensive tissue damage under the skin that is caused by bacterial toxins and enzymes that damage tissue. All of this is occurring underneath the surface, with little change initially seen on the animal’s skin. Many of the dogs that have been diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis have also exhibited serious systemic disease (including hypotension and sepsis).
Treatment of Necrotizing Fasciitis in Dogs
Quick and aggressive treatment is imperative for a dog suffering from necrotizing fasciitis. Initially, intravenous antibiotics (either clindamycin or amoxicillin-clavulanate) will be administered. Once the veterinarian has sensitivity testing results, the antibiotic may be changed. Other treatment may include:
- Intravascular fluid therapy
- Plasma transfusions
- Nutritional support
- Surgically removing dead and infected tissue and draining wounds
- Amputation
It is noted that fluoroquinolone antibiotics should not be used. These may increase the toxicity of the streptococcus strains and should be avoided. Tests have shown that Streptococcus canis is usually sensitive to penicillin G and ampicillin. Homeopathic options such as Carbo Veg.IM and Arnica have been suggested by some but many vets refute their role in treatment.
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Recovery of Necrotizing Fasciitis in Dogs
It is likely your dog will require multiple follow-up appointments for additional long-term treatment. Recovery from and management of necrotizing fasciitis is intense and should be expected to be long. Initially, you will want to clean your dog’s wounds and frequently change his bandages. Antibiotics will need to be given for some time. Damaged areas will likely need to be repaired and reconstructed, and skin grafts may be necessary. These procedures will require surgery and an anesthetic. It is important to follow the instructions of your veterinarian to best help your dog recover.
Necrotizing Fasciitis Average Cost
From 348 quotes ranging from $500 - $1,800
Average Cost
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Necrotizing Fasciitis Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Airedale Terrier
Two Weeks
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Foot Fell Off
My neighbor has this puppy 2 weeks old, he had necrosis of the foot and his foot fell off now has bone sticking out of his knee, what can we do?
Aug. 7, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. There is not a lot that you can do at home for that, and that puppy should see a veterinarian. There is a chance for a deep bone infection, and there's probably a need for reconstructive surgery at some point. That isn't going to heal on its own. I hope that everything goes well with the puppy.
Aug. 8, 2020
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Rottweiler
One Year
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Just This Patch
This patch has formed over night we have not changed diet, the dog is well taking care of and we tried over the counter items
Aug. 3, 2020
Answered by Jessica N. DVM
0 Recommendations
Hello-
Thank you for your question. It’s hard to say exactly from the picture, but it looks like your pet has developed an area of acute moist dermatitis otherwise known as a hotspot. I would recommend taking her to your veterinarian so they can clip and clean it and then they will likely prescribe antibiotics. The most common underlying cause if this becomes a recurrent problem is allergies in dogs. I hope she heals quickly.
Aug. 3, 2020
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Mixed
Coco
12 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Swelling And Eye Muc
I have gotten blood work, X-ray and ultrasound on my 12 year old dog. Everything came out normal besides hip arthritis. She has swellings on all four legs and yellowish mucus coming from her eyes and when it gets really massive fluid starts leaking out of her legs. I was told by one vet that it is fasciitis. He prescribed ciproflaxin and prednisone. We found that ciproflaxin has made her weak and stopped walking so we took her off of it and kept her on prednisone. Prednisone has kept her swelling down but made her four limbs super hard as a rock. Is that normal? I have told the vet about this but he suggest to give her higher dosage of prednisone. I’ve spent a grand already trying to get answers and right medication for my dog. Is this fasciitis and is prednisone the best medication to keep her swelling down? What can help her walk again? She became fully handicap now and requires us lifting her and she’s 75 pounds so it’s becoming a problem for us.
July 19, 2018
0 Recommendations
It seems that Coco has severe lymphedema and a possible eye infection; there are various causes for lymphedema and I would recommend at this point to visit an Internal Medicine Specialist to get a second opinion as the treatment involves management of symptoms and treatment of any underlying condition. Without examining Coco I cannot give you any specific guidance or confirm if there is fasciitis or another condition. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 19, 2018
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Poodle
Biz
Two Years
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Redness
Our dog was bitten by another dog in the dog park yesterday on his neck. The wound is probably about 2 inches long. We took him to the vet and she washed out the wound and gave us cefpodoxime, which we started yesterday afternoon and she put 4 staples in the wound. This morning our dog seemed fine but now there is a bright red sharply demarcated area around the wound, which is hot and very tender; about 4x4 inches. There are no ulcers or shedding skin. Do I need to be worried about necrotizing fasciitis?
July 1, 2018
1 Recommendations
Without examining Biz, I cannot confirm necrotizing fasciitis however it does seem like there is a severe reaction or infection taking hold here; you should return to your Veterinarian for an examination to determine what the specific cause is and to adjust treatment as required. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
www.vetstream.com/treat/canis/diseases/skin-necrotizing-fasciitis
July 2, 2018
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Golden Retriever
Teddy and Molly
8 Years
2 found this helpful
2 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Swelling, Black Ulcerated Lessions
Swelling, Black Ulcerated Lesions
I have had 2 golden retrievers from the same litter get NR within 3 1\2 years of each other. Given the rareness of this condition, I find it very strange to have lost two dogs to it. Is there any chance there is a connection?
May 3, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
2 Recommendations
I agree, that is unusual that two of your dogs have been affected by this condition, and I am sorry for your loss of Teddy and Molly. The only connection that I might be able to see, given the time frame between the two cases, would be a genetic predisposition to skin disease in that litter, since they were related. If they had an underlying skin defect, they may have been more prone to introduction of the bacteria. Again, I am sorry for your loss.
May 4, 2018
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German Shepherd
cassie
5 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
None
dogs hair just falls off like its rotten and leaves oure raw flesh, she has no face, it grown back then it falls off you could wipe it off its like rotten flesh
Border Collie
Bonnie
3 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Not Herself
Not Herself Looked Like A Burn
We noticed our dog wasn’t herself and was limping and wouldn’t put her front paw to the ground. We visited the vet on Wednesday and were given antibiotics and the vet noted her paw padding was raw and lifting. We were washing in betadine and covering. Keeping her inside and quiet while busting her to recovery. On Saturday (4 days on medication) I noticed a scratch on her right shoulder the fur was missing and was raw. I thought maybe she had scratched it on the fence, I wasn’t too concerned as it was relatively small and she was already on antibiotics. So I cleaned it with Betadine and left it. By Sunday night it had worsened and spread to about 10cm. I shaved around the area cleaned it. On Monday I went to work and in the afternoon it had all bloodied up and was weaping and had gone all the way from her front shoulders all across her back to her hips. I thought what the heck is going on? I took her straight to the vets and was wondering if in fact the dog was doing it to herself scratching and biting it or if she was reacting to the medication. The vet diagnosed it as first and second degree burns. She was full wrapped in bandages and Manuka honey. I had no idea how she would of gotten burned as she had been inside most the time. (There was a short time of an hour or so Saturday morning that we went out and let her out where after being diagnosed I presumed she may have gotten burned going under a wire fence it was 38 deg that day) I took her home for two days and was due back at the vets Wednesday for more wrapping. When I seen the vet (a different vet from the one I seen previously) she said unfortunately Bonnie has a bacteria flesh infection and all the skin was now dead. The options were putting her to sleep or surgery. Omg how did it progress from a sore foot pad to being asked if our dog was worth keeping or put to sleep!? Because the bacteria was so aggressive antibiotics wouldn’t help. She needed surgery ASAP to remove all the dead tissue that was now black and it would take 8-12 weeks of bandages and recovery. She had the surgery the next day (Thurs) and it’s been 9 days since surgery. We are wrapping and cleaning every two days and will be on antibiotics until it’s healed. Never seen anything like it.
Necrotizing Fasciitis Average Cost
From 348 quotes ranging from $500 - $1,800
Average Cost
$850
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