What started as a normal act of showing her dog affection turned into a disaster for Manjit Sangha, 52, when a dog’s lick likely got germs into a tiny cut. Within hours, the infection became sepsis, which caused several heart attacks and – in the end – the removal of both hands and both legs just below the knees. Though she lived, which is amazing, it really shows a very important point for public health: sepsis comes on quickly, and fast action saves lives.
A weekend which changed her life
Manjit Sangha got home from work one July evening not feeling well, and went to lie down. By the next morning, she wasn’t responding to anyone. Her lips were purple. Her hands and feet were very cold. She was having trouble breathing – her breaths were short and weak.
She was taken to intensive care and found to have very bad sepsis and septic shock. In the following weeks, she had six heart attacks and a whole series of problems, like pneumonia, and blood issues like disseminated intravascular coagulation.
Doctors thought bacteria got in through a little cut or scratch that her dog had licked. The infection badly damaged the tissues in her arms and legs. To keep her alive, doctors cut off both legs below the knee, and both hands. Her spleen was also taken out while she was being treated.
After 32 weeks in the hospital, Manjit went home to start getting better. She’s said she is set on walking again, and going back to work. Her story, which family and friends put on a fundraising site, has made more people aware of sepsis, and how important quick treatment is.
What sepsis is, and why it’s so bad
Sepsis is the body having a very strong, and wrong, reaction to an infection. Instead of just fighting the germs causing the infection, the immune system sends out a lot of signals which make tissues swell, stop blood from flowing well, and damage organs.
When blood pressure goes down, and oxygen can’t get to important organs, sepsis goes into septic shock. At this point, the chance of dying goes up a lot. Even people who do survive can have long-term problems with their heart, lungs, kidneys, and brain.
Around the world, sepsis is still one of the biggest causes of death from infection. Numbers released in 2020 showed 48.9 million cases, and 11 million deaths – almost one in five of all deaths – in one year. Nearly half of the cases were in kids under five years old.
Sepsis isn’t one disease, and isn’t unusual. It is the final result of many infections – from pneumonia and urinary tract infections, to infections in the belly, in the blood, and in wounds.
Early signs to look out for, and when to get help
Sepsis often starts with vague symptoms. That’s why many people wait, hoping they’ll feel better, and why delays can be deadly. Get medical help right away if you see any of the following, particularly after an infection or injury you know about:
– A temperature, or feeling very cold, with shaking or chills
– Being confused, suddenly upset, or unusually sleepy
– A fast heartbeat, or fast, shallow breaths
– Skin which is pale, blotchy, or a different colour; sweaty and clammy
– Very bad pain, or a feeling that something is very, very wrong
As sepsis gets worse, people can get dizzy, have trouble staying awake, or be unable to stand up. They may pee less. Blood pressure can go down. In kids, fast breathing, skin with spots, being listless, and not wanting to eat are warning signs.
Don’t wait for all the symptoms to show. If sepsis is thought to be happening, time is key. Quick antibiotics, fluids, and care to help the body greatly increase the chance of living. When you’re not sure, get emergency care and say you’re worried about sepsis. ## Can a dog lick really cause sepsis? Understanding the risk
The quick answer is: yes, it’s able to happen, but it doesn’t happen very often. Dogs and cats have lots of different kinds of bacteria in their mouths. A lick isn’t likely to do anything if you have good, unbroken skin. However, the danger goes up if their saliva gets into a bite, scratch, or open sore – anything that lets the bacteria get into your body, or your blood.
One germ linked to really bad sickness after being near a dog is Capnocytophaga canimorsus. It’s in the mouths of a lot of dogs, and some cats. Rarely, it can get into the blood and start sepsis – a condition that can threaten your life – especially in people who have some health problems already.
Health departments’ numbers show that less than one in a million people get a C. canimorsus infection each year. Just a few of the types of this germ, and a very small number of times people are exposed to it, lead to really serious illness. The fact that it’s so unusual is important to remember, given how many people have pets.
Other germs – like Pasteurella multocida – can also cause bad infections from bites or dirty wounds. Again, losing a limb is extremely rare, but it can happen, particularly if you don’t get care quickly, or if your immune system isn’t very strong.
Who’s in the biggest danger?
Older people, babies, people who have diabetes, cancer, long-term kidney or lung problems; people on steroids or getting chemotherapy; and anyone with an immune system that isn’t working as it should. Not having a spleen is a big risk for getting a very bad infection.
Practical steps: wound care, pet safety, and prevention
People who love pets don’t have to be afraid, but they should have a plan. Being careful about being clean, and getting quick treatment, lowers the risk, and doesn’t ruin the good relationship between people and animals.
– Don’t allow pets to lick open cuts, scabs, or broken skin. Cover wounds when you’re playing with animals.
– If a pet does lick a wound, wash the area immediately with soap and water. Put a clean bandage on it.
– For bites, or deep scratches, wash them very well and get a doctor’s opinion the same day.
– Look out for redness, swelling, heat, pus, fever, or pain that gets worse. These could mean you have an infection.
– People with diabetes, a weak immune system, or no spleen should get medical help quickly for any animal bite, deep scratch, or wound that worries them.
– Make sure your tetanus shot is current. Ask a doctor about vaccines and antibiotics to prevent infection, if that’s right for you.
– Keep your pet healthy with regular vet visits. This doesn’t get rid of the bacteria, but a healthy pet is part of being a responsible owner.
These steps aren’t about being scared. They are about making sure you have the best chance possible. Cleaning quickly, watching closely, and getting help when you need it breaks the chain from a small injury to a serious infection.
Life after sepsis: recovery, resilience, and support
Being alive after sepsis is often the beginning of a long process. Many people get post-sepsis syndrome, with tiredness, memory problems, worry, depression, or pain that won’t go away. Getting physical therapy, mental health care, and regular check-ups are all very important.
For Manjit, getting better now means working on being able to move around, being independent, and getting artificial limbs. Also, having her spleen removed means she has to be careful for the rest of her life. People without a spleen generally need some vaccinations, might need antibiotics to prevent infection, and have to react quickly to any signs of infection.
Her family has raised money through an online page to pay for good artificial limbs and therapy. Their message is clear: take the possibility of sepsis seriously, don’t wait for worrying symptoms, and get help at once.
Learning about sepsis can change what happens. Knowing that symptoms can get much worse in just a few hours, that any infection can get out of control, and that dog licks on broken skin carry a small but real danger helps people make faster, safer choices.
This case is unusual, but the lesson is for everyone. Getting love from a pet is usually no problem. But when you have a cut, a scratch, or your immune system isn’t strong, a few simple things to do, and quick medical care, can be the difference between getting better, and something terrible happening.
