What is Septicemia and Bacteremia?
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.
Bacteremia is a term used to describe an infection in the bloodstream. Septicemia is the associated condition wherein the body mounts an inflammatory response to that bacterial infection. Act urgently, as septicemia has upwards of a 50% mortality rate in canine.Septicemia and Bacteremia Average Cost
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Symptoms of Septicemia and Bacteremia in Dogs
- Bacteremia symptoms can include:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Lack of appetite
- Lethargy and possible depression
- If it progresses to septicemia:
- Fever
- Shaking
- Chills
- Pale gums
- Rapid pulse
- Rapid panting or shallow breathing
- Low blood glucose
- Disorientation
These symptoms may appear gradually or very quickly, depending on the location of the infection.
Types
- Bacteremia can be temporary, causing little or no symptoms, or more aggressive, leading to a case of septicemia.
- Septicemia can affect several different organ systems. Inflammation may occur in the kidneys, brain, heart, lungs, bones, joints, urinary tract, pancreas, or intact sex organs.
- Septicemia is life-threatening, as it can quickly progress to septic shock, and lead to complete organ shutdown.
Causes of Septicemia and Bacteremia in Dogs
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.
Diagnosis of Septicemia and Bacteremia in Dogs
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.
Treatment of Septicemia and Bacteremia in Dogs
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.
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Recovery of Septicemia and Bacteremia in Dogs
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.
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Septicemia and Bacteremia Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Labador
Ruby
8 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Lethargi, Drooling , Smelly Breath
My dog is showing no signs of sepcis besides the brick red gums, she has been drooling and larthgic. Dr is running blood work as of now, did x-ray of belly and nothing , no pancreatitis, no obstruction. not sure if she has diarrhea, since she goes out the doggy door, no vomiting. last time she had pancreatitis, she didnt show a lot of symptoms, but had it pretty bad
Jan. 15, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
0 Recommendations
Thank you for your email. I am glad that you are at your veterinarian with Ruby - I am sure that you will know more once the blood work results come back, and I hope that she is okay!
Jan. 15, 2018
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Corgi
Rascals
10
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
Our dog received his yearly vaccines on Monday morning. He can be a bit moody after visiting the vet and refused to eat after that visit and seemed very tender on the side where he received a shot. When still not eating on Wednesday I called to report symptoms but they felt he would bounce back. On Thursday, he was still not eating but drinking a lot and began having seizures. Rushed him to ER and were told that he is septic but they cannot find the source of infection. Abdomen looks good. He had several teeth extracted 1 year ago but at the check on Monday we were told his teeth looked good. He had 2 fatty masses removed about 3 months ago and recovered fine from those. His white blood count was higher then either doctor had ever seen and his glucose was a 21. They said this was from not eating and is what caused the seizures. Any ideas on what can be causing this or what to look for?
Nov. 24, 2017
0 Recommendations
An infection can be introduced into the body at anytime and may lay dormant until it is triggered. I cannot think of a specific cause for sepsis for this case, but aggressive antibiotic therapy and fluid therapy (as required) would be need to get Rascals on the mend. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Nov. 24, 2017
Thank you. They just completed an abdominal ultra sound with no finding. His WBC was 86k last night and after almost 24 hrs fluid and antibiotics it is at 75000. No one can find source of infection. Are you saying he doesn't have to have a current infection for this to be the situation? Thank you.
Nov. 24, 2017
Rascals's Owner
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Golden Retriever
Denver
8 Years
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
Denver is our 8 yr old Golden, recently had his teeth cleaned in June, no extractions or infections, but at the same time had a large benign mass removed near abdomen, 5" incision, closed with stitches. Three months later, he is diagnosed with 104 degree temperature with blood infection. Coincidence? Are the meds listed below appropriate? Should they be taken with food all at once? Should another blood test be done after 10 days of meds are finished?
Sept. 18, 2017
1 Recommendations
Both Aventiclav (amoxicillin and clavulanic acid) and Simplicef (cephalosporin) are broad spectrum antibiotics; the famotidine is a stomach acid reducer used in dogs with stomach ulceration or some vomiting syndromes. Generally it is recommended to treat with broad spectrum antibiotics initially and to take a blood sample for culture and sensitivity testing and once the results come back to change to the antibiotics indicated in the test. There are other antibiotics which may be more suitable, but treatment is at a Veterinarian’s discretion based on their findings, the article below has a table which you can open which gives an overview of antibiotics commonly used in sepsis. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com/treatment-canine-sepsis-first-identify-eradicate-cause
Sept. 19, 2017
Thank you so very much Dr. Turner, for your reply to my questions and concerns. This online vet website is a valuable resource, for those of us in need of advice and/or a second opinion. We came close to losing Denver, his fever was 104 in addition to other symptoms, and I am thankful that you are in agreement to his treatment. Denver is recovering, clinical symptoms are lessening, he is on the mend, we have peace of mind, thank you for your input!
Sept. 19, 2017
Denver's Owner
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Stray
Salty
6 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Low Temperature
Recumbency
I admitted a stray dog to an NGO that has in-house vets. She was 5/6 yr old who had been partially recovered from paralysis & had an open wound. I had already treated her from a private veterinary before admitting her to this NGO & she was very healthy. After about a month, one day suddenly the NGO gave an update that the dog had low body temperature & recumbency. Today morning they reported her death citing acute septicemia. Despite me asking them repeatedly about the line of treatment she was getting, they didnt specify any details. Just said they were giving her focused treatment (God knows what that is) & were trying their best. Please let me know what all specific details I should be asking them regarding the death as I want to know the real cause. I am devastated at the dog's sudden & unexpected death. Every time they have avoided answering my questions & of the 3-4 cases I had previously admitted there, all of them had died.
July 26, 2017
0 Recommendations
If the NGO is being vague in their answers to you, it is doubtful that more direct questions will give any favourable answers; I would ask them for the dog so that you may take it to a private Veterinarian for a necropsy so that they can give you more in depth answers. You could try asking the NGO about the dog’s body temperature, heart rate, respiration since being admitted; also asking what if any tests were done and what are the results. The biggest problem is that (I don’t know which country you’re in or the laws there), but if Salty was classed as a stray the NGO probably has no legal reason to give you any answers apart from ‘she died’; I know that this isn’t comforting, but ownership is very important. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 26, 2017
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Septicemia and Bacteremia Average Cost
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Average Cost
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