Sepsis is an infection which overwhelms the body, resulting in severe inflammation.  Without treatment, it can escalate into Septic Shock, causing multi-organ failure (kidneys, lungs, liver).

This condition normally occurs when a severe infection is not treated adequately or timely.

Examples of situations that can evolve into sepsis, and then Septic Shock are:

• – Ruptured intestines (from intestinal cancer or a foreign body obstruction)
• – Kidney infection (e.g., pyelonephritis)
• – Uterine infection in intact females (pyometra)
• – Prostatic infection in male dogs (e.g., prostatic abscess)
• – Severely infected wound (e.g., abscess or bite wound)
• – Pneumonia
• – Bacterial infection in the vertebrae (e.g., diskospondylitis)
• – Joint infection
• – Bacterial infection on the heart valves (e.g., bacterial endocarditis)
• – Blood infection
• – Pancreatic infection (e.g., pancreatitis or pancreatic abscess)
• – Ruptured organs (e.g., a ruptured stomach secondary to gastric dilatation volvulus, a ruptured bladder secondary to bladder stones, or a ruptured gall bladder secondary to gall bladder stones)

If you suspect that your pet is experiencing sepsis or septic shock, get help immediately:

Examples of situations that can evolve into sepsis, and then Septic Shock are:

• – Ruptured intestines (from intestinal cancer or a foreign body obstruction)
• – Kidney infection (e.g., pyelonephritis)
• – Uterine infection in intact females (pyometra)
• – Prostatic infection in male dogs (e.g., prostatic abscess)
• – Severely infected wound (e.g., abscess or bite wound)
• – Pneumonia
• – Bacterial infection in the vertebrae (e.g., diskospondylitis)
• – Joint infection
• – Bacterial infection on the heart valves (e.g., bacterial endocarditis)
• – Blood infection
• – Pancreatic infection (e.g., pancreatitis or pancreatic abscess)
• – Ruptured organs (e.g., a ruptured stomach secondary to gastric dilatation volvulus, a ruptured bladder secondary to bladder stones, or a ruptured gall bladder secondary to gall bladder stones)

• – Not eating
• – Vomiting
• – Drooling
• – An elevated heart rate
• – Dark red gums
• – Pale, pink gums
• – Dehydration
• – Panting
• – Difficulty breathing
• – Weakness or lethargy
• – Abdominal pain
• – Diarrhea
• – Straining to urinate or defecate
• – Collapse
• – Excessive licking of the rear end
• – A foul odor from the rear end
• – Vaginal discharge
• – Fever
• – A distended abdomen
• – Death, even with treatment