The terms Septicemia and Bacteremia are sometimes used interchangeably but are actually more of a cause and effect. Bacteremia is the presence of a bacterial infection in the bloodstream. Septicemia is a secondary illness that occurs due to the body’s inflammatory response to that infection.

Bacteremia is not uncommon as even dental cleaning can cause bacteria to enter the bloodstream, but a healthy dog’s immune system will usually defeat the infection before the animal shows symptoms of illness. If the bacterial infection is not quickly dispatched due to a suppressed immune response, the amount of bacteria in the dog’s blood can increase to the point of septicemia, also called sepsis or blood poisoning. Septicemia is very serious, and you should seek veterinary assistance immediately if your dog is showing symptoms.

These symptoms may appear gradually or very quickly, depending on the location of the infection.

A temporary bout of bacteremia can be caused by bacteria entering the bloodstream during dental cleanings, or from bacteria that lives in the intestines being released into the body during surgery. In cases of otherwise healthy dogs, these pose little risk, and the dog’s immune system will make short work of the infection. However, if your dog has a compromised immune system or a separate chronic disease (such as diabetes), your veterinarian will likely prescribe an antibiotic after dental work to reduce the risk of bacteremia.

Septicemia is caused by a weakened immune system, when the bacterial load in the animal’s blood becomes too much to fight off without support. E.coli is the most common cause of septicemia, but parvovirus, bacterial pneumonia, chronic urinary issues, pancreatitis, and untreated wounds can also be life-threatening for immune-compromised dogs. Sepsis can also occur from unchecked fungal, parasitic, or viral infections although this is less common.

If your dog is showing symptoms of bacteremia or septicemia, you should take them to your veterinarian immediately. The veterinarian will do a thorough physical examination, take a full medical history, and draw blood and urine samples. A pathologist will examine the samples under a microscope to determine the exact cause of the infection that has lead to sepsis. They may take several blood and urine samples to look at other effects of the infection, such as low white blood cell count, decreased blood oxygen, and proteins in the urine that may point to renal failure. They can also take cultures from the sputum, spinal fluid, or pus from any wounds to be analyzed for bacterial load.

The veterinarian may also perform and EKG to look for heart irregularities, chest x-rays to determine if pneumonia is a factor, and an ultrasound of the belly to rule out any abscesses of the GI tract or internal sex organs.

Because septicemia can affect so many of the organ systems, all of these tests are important to pinpoint the infection and determine the most effective course of treatment.

While the pathology of the infection is being determined, it is best to start treatment immediately with a broad-spectrum antibiotic (or multiple antibiotics) tuned to fight the most common causes of septicemia. Once a cause is identified, your veterinarian will adjust the medicine to pinpoint fighting that specific pathogen. If it is determined that an internal abscess is the root cause of the septicemia, surgery may be needed to remove the source of the infection.

If your dog is in septic shock, a hospital stay will be necessary for proper monitoring and supportive care. They will be given intravenous antibiotics for the most aggressive infection treatment and Ringer’s solution to counteract dehydration from diarrhea and vomiting. They may be given vasopressors (drugs that constrict the blood vessels) to increase blood flow to the heart, lungs, brain and other organ systems. Because septicemia so often involves the GI tract, your veterinarian may need to insert a feeding tube to ensure your dog is getting proper nutrition while being treated for the infection.

Septicemia is very serious and has a 50% mortality rate in dogs. The most valuable action to ensure recovery is prompt veterinary treatment and supportive care. Once the veterinarian decides your dog is healthy enough to return home, they may be put on a short-term soft diet to give their digestive tract more healing time. A few weeks of rest and your dog will likely be back to their old self.