Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Signs and survival of septic shock in dogs from 2008-2015
By Summers, April M et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care (San Antonio, Tex. : 2001)·2021·Cornell University Hospital for Animals, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Clinical features and outcome of septic shock in dogs: 37 Cases (2008-2015).
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 37 dogs with septic shock, a serious condition where the body responds poorly to infection, was studied to understand their symptoms and treatment outcomes. These dogs showed multiple organ dysfunctions, including issues with their heart, lungs, and kidneys. They were treated with intravenous fluids and antibiotics, and some received medications to help raise their blood pressure. Unfortunately, the overall survival rate was low, with many dogs not making it. However, those that survived tended to have gastrointestinal infections and received more treatment interventions early on.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To describe patient characteristics of dogs with septic shock, investigate markers of disease severity, and assess treatment impact on outcome. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Single center, university veterinary teaching intensive care unit. ANIMALS: Thirty-seven dogs with septic shock. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Mean number of organ dysfunction was 3.24 ± 1.0, and included cardiovascular (100%), respiratory (73%), hematologic (68%), renal (49%), and hepatic (32%) dysfunction. The gastrointestinal tract was the most common source of sepsis. Mean blood pressure prior to resuscitation was 50 ± 8 mm Hg. All dogs were given IV fluids before vasopressor therapy with a mean rate of 12.1 ± 11.0 mL/kg/h. All dogs were given antimicrobials, administered within a mean of 4.3 ± 5.7 hours after diagnosis. Dopamine or norepinephrine was administered IV, respectively in 51.3% and 37.8% of dogs, with a mean duration of hypotension of 2.6 ± 3.0 hours. Mortality rate was 81.1%. Survivors were more likely to have a feeding tube (P = 0.007) and to have gastrointestinal sepsis (P = 0.012), and less likely to have respiratory dysfunction (P < 0.001). APPLEscores (P = 0.014) and time to antimicrobial therapy (P = 0.047) were identified as predictors of mortality. Treatment bundles consisting of 7 interventions that may improve outcomes in people with septic shock were evaluated. Survivors received 4.1 ± 1.3 interventions, whereas nonsurvivors received 2.4 ± 1.4 (P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Septic shock in dogs confers a guarded prognosis. Early antimicrobial therapy and the utilization of treatment bundles may increase survivability in dogs with septic shock. More research is warranted to investigate the impact of specific interventions on survival.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33382202/