Can a dog attack lead to sepsis?

Even if you trust your own dog implicitly, you know how unpredictable and dangerous other animals can be. In fact, a seemingly friendly dog may turn vicious with little notice or no notice at all. If a dog attacks you, you are vulnerable to a variety of injuries, including deep lacerations, nerve damage and broken bones.

Regrettably, the risk to your physical well-being does not go away when the attack stops. After all, dogs have millions of germs in their saliva and under their claws that may cause you to develop an infection. While antibiotics may be effective, your infection may lead to sepsis.

What is sepsis?

According to the Mayo Clinic, sepsis can be life-threatening. The condition happens when your body’s immune system overreacts to an infection, causing it to attack your organs and tissues. If you have sepsis, you should treat the condition as a medical emergency and seek immediate treatment.

What are the symptoms of sepsis?

The easiest way to know whether you may have sepsis is to monitor your vital signs. If your blood pressure increases or decreases, you should go to the emergency room. This is especially true if your blood pressure changes come with a rapid heart rate or an altered mental state.

Who is at risk of developing sepsis?

Sepsis can happen to anyone who is fighting an infection. Nevertheless, if you have one or more of the following underlying conditions, you may have a heightened risk:

• Diabetes
• Cancer
• Heart disease
• Kidney stones

While diagnosing and treating sepsis can be expensive, you cannot put a price tag on your physical health. Ultimately, you may be able to pursue financial compensation from the dog’s owner to help you pay for the medical care you need.