Bite Wounds in Dogs and Cats

Serial plasma glucose changes in dogs suffering from severe dog bite wounds

“…Sepsis has been defined as SIRS with an associated infection of the host by microorganisms. All bite wounds should be considered contaminated or dirty and infected and the local environment of the wound is ideal for bacterial replication and infection 10,20,35 , with subsequent bacteraemia and or endotoxaemia. A previous report states that these syndromes are frequently seen in dogs with bite wounds 20 , but no significant statistical differences in the median plasma glucose concentrations could be established between dogs with and without SIRS in our study.…”

“…The shearing and tensile forces involved in the crushing and shaking of especially smaller dogs can cause a large amount of damage to the underlying fascia, muscle, vasculature, nervous tissue, bone and parenchymatous organs 10,20,35,36 , which predisposes these wounds to swelling, ischaemia and necrosis. This type of tissue damage is a result of the penetration of the dog's teeth from an area with elastic tissue to an area with less elastic tissue 36 .…”

“…During the hypermetabolic state, a number of alterations in carbohydrate metabolism are induced, these include 1,23,34,42 : • Enhanced peripheral uptake and utilisation of glucose by the wound and other organs such as the liver and spleen, which are involved in the immune response; • Increased glucose production stimulated by the release of epinephrine, cortisol, glucagon and growth hormone; • Hyperlactataemia due to hypoperfusion; • Decreased glucose production due to the release of gram-negative bacterial endotoxin, interleukin-6, insulin-like factors and decreased hepatic export or increased utilisation; • Depressed glycogenesis due to the persistent high rate of glycogen breakdown under the influence of epinephrine and glucagon, decreased glycogen synthetase activity or the presence of tumour necrosis factor (TNF); • A rise in extra-cellular glucose concentrations due to defective suppression of gluconeogenesis, glucose intolerance and resistance to the peripheral action of insulin, also termed 'diabetes of injury'. Tissue trauma with or without infection can initiate the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), in which multiple inflammatory, immunological, coagulation and fibrinolytic cascades are activated and interact 18,20 . SIRS is characterised by hypermetabolism, a hyperdynamic cardiovascular state and clinical manifestations of fever or hypothermia, tachycardia, tachypnoea and leucocytosis or leucopaenia 4,18,44 .…”

“…SIRS is characterised by hypermetabolism, a hyperdynamic cardiovascular state and clinical manifestations of fever or hypothermia, tachycardia, tachypnoea and leucocytosis or leucopaenia 4,18,44 . Sepsis has been defined as SIRS with infection and severe sepsis as SIRS with infection and haemodynamic compromise 18,20 . Septic shock is defined as severe sepsis that requires both volume replenishment and inotropic support to restore tissue perfusion 18 .…”

“…Septic shock is defined as severe sepsis that requires both volume replenishment and inotropic support to restore tissue perfusion 18 . All these syndromes are commonly seen in dogs with bite wounds 20 .…”