Unless you were born with a cold black stone instead of a heart, you probably like dogs. These furry balls of energy never fail to bring a smile to our faces. After a hard day at the office, there’s nothing like going back home and being welcomed by your dog’s affectionate licks.
But what if the thing you love the most ends up killing you?
63YO Man Dies From Multiple Organ Failure After Getting Licked By His Pet Dog
A 63-year-old man from the United Kingdom passed away recently after he was licked by his pet dog.
Now, before you start shunning your dog’s affectionate advances, I’m here to tell you that there’s more to this story.
Soon after getting licked by his pet dog, the man had a fever and experienced breathing difficulties, so he decided to get medical assistance.
According to the Daily Mail, he spent two weeks in the hospital with several ailments including pneumonia, gangrene, and a high fever.
All these ailments were caused by one culprit: a bacterial infection.
This infection, which came from the bacteria Capnocytophaga canimorsus, is usually transmitted by bites but can spread with a lick.
The man’s dog must have contracted the virus and passed it on to the 63-year-old Brit when he licked his face.
Condition deteriorated
His condition started to deteriorate in the hospital as he developed rashes on his face and had nerve pain in his legs.
And things continued to get worse for the poor man.
The first major issue was that he suffered from severe sepsis when he started his medical treatments. Then, his kidneys and liver started to shut down.
His blood also began to clot his vessels, which made his skin rot as you can see in the image below.
All this from a dog’s lick?
Unfortunately, his condition showed no signs of improvement. So, after 16 torturous days in the hospital, the doctors and his family decided to discontinue his life support, and the 63-year-old passed away.
Doctor warns public
The man’s doctor advised pet owners to seek medical attention when they experience flu-like symptoms “that exceed those of a viral infection”.
You shouldn’t worry about your dog licking your face, though. This bacterial infection rarely affects healthy people and is only dangerous for those with a compromised immune system.
So, keep hugging your pets and allow them show you some love the only way they know how. But if you do experience severe flu-like symptoms, it’d be a good idea to visit the doctor, just to be safe.
