Home Dog Conditions Septic Shock in Dogs

Septic Shock in Dogs

Written By Hannah Hollinger

Published: 01/26/2016 Updated: 10/08/2021

Veterinar y reviewed by Dr. Linda Simon,

MVB MRCVS

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What is Septic Shock?

There are two categorizations of bacterial blood

infection in dogs — bacteremia and sepsis.
Bacteremia is a temporary presence of bacteria in
the blood stream, while sepsis is when bacteria are
in the bloodstream for a longer period of time,
causing illness. When sepsis becomes severe,
septic shock can occur.

Symptoms are broken down into early and late

stages. Early stage symptoms may include
increased heart rate, shaking, fever, and rapid
breathing. Late stage symptoms may include low
body temperature, difficulty breathing and organ
failure. Treatment of sepsis typically requires IV
fluids, antibiotics, cardiovascular support, insertion
of feeding tubes, and others, up to and including
surgery. While recovery from sepsis depends on the
severity and underlying conditions, most cases in
which the pet has gone into septic shock have a
grave prognosis.

While there are thousands of different types of

bacteria in the world, only a few kinds tend to
cause disease to dogs. Bacteria enter the
bloodstream on a regular basis though this usually
occurs in small quantities. When there are more
bacteria than the white blood cells are able to
remove, an infection develops. There are varying
degrees of infection. For example, bacteremia is a
more temporary infection and rarely exhibits any
symptoms. It can occur e.g. during a dental
cleaning, when bacteria is dislodged from the
mouth. Sepsis, on the other hand, is when the
bacteria in the blood stream cause illnesses. Sepsis
is more severe and will exhibit symptoms. A septic
shock is a severe form of sepsis.

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Symptoms of Septic Shock in Dogs

Symptoms of sepsis will vary depending on the

severity and progression of the condition, as well as
the underlying causes of the septic condition.
Symptoms are typically broken down into two
stages of progression, early and late.

Early stages:

Shaking
Fever
Weakness
Confusion
Rapid heart rate
Bounding pulses
Rapid rise in temperature
Rapid breathing or panting
Decrease in urinary output
Glucose deficiency in bloodstream
Red mucous membranes

Late stages:

Pale mucous membranes

Inconsistencies in pulse
Cool extremities
A dazed condition
Low body temperature
Organ failure
Difficulty breathing
Fluid retention

Types

When there is bacteria within the bloodstream,

there are two categorizations used to identify the
severity of illness.

Bacteremia is a term used to describe a

presence of bacteria in the bloodstream.
Temporary bactermia may occur with dental
procedures, because the bacteria in and around
the gums are freed into the bloodstream. This
can also occur when bacteria from the intestine
passes into the bloodstream, but these are
removed when the blood then passes through
the liver. Cases of bacteremia are usually not
serious.
Sepsis, commonly referred to as septic shock, is
when illness results from bacteria and/or their
toxins remaining in the bloodstream for a period
of time. Sepsis is less common than bacteremia
and usually occurs when there’s an infection at
some other place in the body, such as the lungs,
stomach, or urinary tract. Sepsis can also occur
after a surgery. The risk of sepsis can be
increased by the presence of a foreign body.
Animals with immune system disorders are more
vulnerable to sepsis. Septic shock is an extreme
condition of sepsis.

Causes of Septic Shock in Dogs

Cytokines, which are substances the immune

system produces to fight infections, and toxins
produced by bacteria, are often the cause of sepsis.
These substances cause dilation of the blood
vessels, which leads to a drop in blood pressure.
The flow of blood is reduced, including blood flow
to important organs like the kidneys and brain. The
body tries to compensate for this by increasing
heart rate so that more blood is pumped. Over time
this weakens the heart and blood flow is even
further reduced. Sepsis most regularly originates
from the GI tract, respiratory tract, severe dental
problems, chronic UTIs, and infected wounds.

Conditions that may increase the likelihood of

sepsis:

Surgery, especially if the location of the surgery

is infected
Pre-existing infections
Immune system disorders
Pneumonia
Uterine infection
Urinary tract infection
Skin infection
Being young or old

Diagnosis of Septic Shock in Dogs

Diagnosis of septic shock may require a variety of

tests.

Physical exam
Blood tests that look at levels of white blood
cells, oxygen levels, platelet count, lactic acid
concentration and levels of metabolic waste
products.
Electrocardiogram, looking for heart
irregularities.
Blood cultures to identify the infectious bacteria.
Urinalysis
Urine culture
X-Rays of the chest and abdomen
Ultrasound of stomach and heart
If there is abnormal fluid found in the chest or
stomach, a fluid analysis should be completed.
Catscan or MRI

Because sepsis is an infection of the blood, your vet

will look for certain findings in the blood work that
is done. This can include the following:

Increased or decreased count of white blood

cells
Very high or very low blood sugar
Increased or decreased count of red blood cells,
from dehydration or anemia
An increase in liver enzymes
An increase in kidney values
Abnormal clotting times

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Treatment of Septic Shock in Dogs

Sepsis treatment is focused on removing the source

of the infection, with a secondary goal of treating
the symptoms and stabilising the unwell patient.
Possible treatments that achieve this include:

IV fluids to increase blood pressure

Antibiotic therapy
Colloid and vasopressor administration
Drugs to increase blood flow to vital organs
Nutritional management
Administration of oxygen
Placement of feeding tubes, due to a decreased
appetite and struggle eating
Surgery, typically used to drain abscesses or
remove dead tissue.
Persistent monitoring for any change in status,
particularly in clotting, hydration, and organ
functionality.

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Recovery of Septic Shock in Dogs

Close monitoring is an essential part of the

recovery process. Your vet may do follow-up tests,
such as blood work, and will focus on organ
function, hydration, and clotting ability. Treatment
and follow-up will likely be completed in the
hospital to monitor indicators of relapse. The vet
will monitor white blood cell count, blood sugar
level, red blood cell count, liver enzymes, kidney
values, and clotting. While recovery of sepsis
depends largely on the severity of the condition and
the underlying issues that led to sepsis, conditions
in which the pet goes into septic shock have a
guarded prognosis.

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Top

Septic Shock Questions and Advice

from Veterinary Professionals

Miniature Pinscher

Kiwi
7
11 Years

My pet has the following symptoms:

Not Eating. Vomiting

Hi, my dog was recently operated for pyometra.

She was in heat maybe 1 - 1 1/2 month ago and
afterward she was lethargic, vomiting, not eating,
bloated stomach. So we took her to the vet, they
did a CBC test and noticed that she had a very
high count of white blood cells. (46,000) They
gave us antibiotics. We returned the next day
because she still didn’t eat and the second visit
we mentioned she was recently in heat. The vet
then ordered an X-ray exam and noticed an
enlarged uterus and he said it was filled with pus.
They performed immediate surgery and removed
her uterus intac. They tell us she has to say with
them for a minimum of at least 3 days so they can
monitor her. We are told she is given IV FLUIDS
and two different types of antibiotics. We were
notified that my dog still doesn’t want to eat DAY
1 POST OP and they can’t release her if she
doesn’t eat. They say that she is in very great
spirits though. 3 days POST OP and still having
same problem, she won’t eat and she is vomiting
some. They performed another CBC test and she
still has a high blood cell count. They tell us it’s a
blood infection from pyometra. My question is...
what is the proganois? Will my dog survive?
What is the mortality rate? My dog is also 11
years old.

May 16, 2018

7 Recommendations

It is always good practice to ensure that a dog

is eating and drinking after surgery; severe

infections like pyometra can take a toll on a

patient and may take some time for recovery. I

don’t have any statistics, especially since there

are many variables, but with antibiotic and fluid

therapy the prognosis is more favourable;

however I cannot give a specific prognosis

without personally examining Kiwi. Regards Dr

Callum Turner DVM

May 16, 2018

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Labrador Retriever

Sugar
3
4 Days

Hello, I have a lab that became septic very quickly

and for no known reasons. She hadn’t had
surgery or been ill prior to going lethargic. She
spent 3 days in the hospital on fluids and came
home on antibiotic and special dietary food. I
believe we caught it early. After we finished the
antibiotic, she seemed great and was her old self
again for a week. She then quickly went lethargic
again and appeared to have relapsed or gotten it
again. I’m trying to figure out if this is normal or if
it is possible that there is something at my home
that caused it again as opposed to it being a
relapse. Could she be ingesting something in the
yard that is causing it? Any thoughts are
appreciated. She is a lab and does like to get into
things, but would the bacteria go septic that
quickly? Or is it more likely a relapse?

April 20, 2018

Answered by
Dr. Michele K. DVM
3 Recommendations

For Sugar to be having that problem

repeatedly, there is probably something that is

causing the ongoing problem, whether it is an

internal problem or something that she is

eating that is affecting her GI tract that

dramatically. Without knowing more about her,

it is hard for me to comment, but an ultrasound

might be in order to search for any masses or

abscesses, and if she is known to eat things

that she should't, paying close attention to her

and not letting that happen would be a good

idea until you determine what the problem is. I

hope that she is okay.

April 20, 2018

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Lab/Pit mix

Cali
1
4 Years

My pet has the following symptoms:

Vomiting, Diarrhea, Tachycardia,

Hello. Three weeks ago my dog started vomiting

in the early hours of the morning. About 2 very
small piles. Then at 11 am she vomited a large
pile of very mucousy undigested kibble. She
started to become lethargic so I brought her to the
vet. Blood told of high WBCs and globulins. They
gave her fluids and she perked up a bit. They told
her to bring her back the next morning if she was
any more lethargic and sure enough she was
VERY lethargic the next morning. Needless to say
took her to the emergency vet. Took them a few
hours to get her heart beat down..its was VERY
fast. They got it down, ran blood work again, low
sugar, and elevated liver enzymes. they kept her
over the weekend. Then on Monday brought her
to the cardiologist.Her beat was steady but xrays
showed enlarged heart, and VERY small pockets
of fluid in the abdomen which they checked and
didnt see any bacteria. The doc sent her home on
anti arrhythmics but her heart still beats very fast
to this day..but she runs around barks eats and
drinks water. She gets somewhat lethargic at
night. No one can tell me what caused this
arrhythmia and why it isnt going away. Any
thoughts? Was this septic shock that gave her a
lasting arrhythmia that requires meds for the rest
of her life?

April 13, 2018

Answered by
Dr. Michele K. DVM
1 Recommendations

I wish that I had an answer for you, but without

being able to look at her lab work, and test

results, as well as examine her, I don't have any

way to know what might be going on with her.

It would be a good idea to follow up with the

cardiologist, as they should be able to give you

an idea as to why this is happening and what

the expected recovery is. If they did not explain

it to you well, you have every right to ask.

Sometimes we get busy and we forget that we

need to slow down and explain things. I hope

that she does well.

April 13, 2018

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Pit bull

Trina
1
10 Years

My pet has the following symptoms:

Most popular symptom guides
Vomiting, Lethargy Vomiting
Calcium Oxalate Urolithiasis
Hello, my dog was viciously attacked by another
Canine Vacuolar
dog about a monthHepatopathy
ago. It took us a little bit to
find her since we weren't home when it
happened.
Breed WeChronic
Specific rushed her to the ER, and she has
Hepatitis
been in and out of the hospital since. She is on
EarBaytril shots for
Infections andinfection, something
Total Ear Canal else for
Ablation
inflammation (injectable also), and a liquid
medication to line her stomach. She keeps
Illicit Drug Exposure
vomiting brown stuff, and she has ruptured sores
everywhere. Our vet says that is a good sign, I am
Flank Sucking
just very frustrated that she isn't getting better.
Can you tell me if there is something else we
Copper Hepatopathy
could be doing?

Chondrosarcoma ( Tumors of the Lar ynx and

Trachea)

DemodicosisAnswered by
(Red Mange)
Dr. Michele K. DVM

Spanish Thyme Poisoning

Thank you for your email. I'm not sure the

Hepatic Neoplasia (Liver Tumors)
details of what is happening with Trina, what
Immune Deficiency
medications she isDiseases
on or for how long, or what

your veterinarian sees as a good sign? Dog bite

wounds can be very nasty, and resistant

bacteria are often a problem. If a bacterial

culture hasn't been done, that might be a good

idea to make sure the the antibiotics are

Learn more in the Wag! app
working. You can also ask your veterinarianINSTALL
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more questions and find out what might be

causing this extended recovery from the attack,

as I am sure that they have theories and might

Help Center
be able to answer more of your questions if

they are aware that you are concerned. I hope

that Trina continues to recover well.

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