Woman loses limbs after dog lick leads to sepsis: All you need to know about it

A Birmingham woman, 56-year-old Manjeet Sangha, lost both hands and both legs after her pet dog licked a small wound on her leg, leading to a life-threatening sepsis infection. Within days of the incident, Sangha was unable to speak and was rushed to hospital where doctors diagnosed sepsis, a condition where the body's response to infection spirals out of control. The infection was so aggressive that amputation of all four limbs was necessary to save her life. She also suffered six cardiac arrests during treatment but survived. Bacteria from dog saliva, normally harmless, can cause infection when entering the bloodstream through broken skin. In rare cases, this can escalate to sepsis. Medical experts emphasize that early recognition of sepsis symptoms including fever, chills, rapid heartbeat, confusion, and weakness is critical. The case highlights the importance of properly cleaning and covering wounds, monitoring for signs of infection such as redness and swelling, and seeking immediate medical attention when something feels wrong, as sepsis can progress within hours.