The Lick Of Death

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Is someone getting scared of owning a pet already? Or planning to make the one they already own homeless because of this article? I would disagree with those thoughts running through your head because of the rarity of this infection. Just take a look at these cuties, who wouldn't want to own this full pack of joy? Don't get too scared because iIt’s basically a game of chance and luck with luck on the greater side, as contracting this infection from pets is not very common, especially if your health condition is good. Isn’t it quite interesting that most of the cases reported for this condition, the individuals infected contracted this bacteria through their pets licking them and
scary that your dog’s affection it shows through licking your face and other parts of your body may be equated to the lick of death? Your pet’s affection gets you killed; Nothing is sadder than this, in my opinion.

This infection, although rare can cause sepsis and can be so deadly causing death within 24 to 72 hours after the symptoms appear; according to centres for disease control and prevention, the infection is so dangerous with a record of the death of 30 per cent of people infected with it. This bacteria can cause other sorts of health complications like eyes, gum respiratory tract infection, inflammation of the lymph nodes, brain membranes, blood infection etc. This whole nightmare depends upon the way our body responds to the infection; the sad stories I read about people who got their arms and legs amputated was because their bodies reaction to the infection was to let the tissue surrounding the infected part of the body to become necrotic ( this is usually as a result of overly lowered blood pressure) and for the rest of the body to be saved, the dead or dying part is usually cut off. While some people’s body reacts like the former, some people’s do not react at all and do not even feel anything, I mean this bacteria doesn’t harm them or cause sepsis. As I said earlier, if you are planning on adopting a pet or saving a pet you should go ahead because there are ways you could try to prevent contracting this infection. Another good news is that this infection is said to be very susceptible to antibiotics which we can easily lay our hands on.

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Preventing yourself from this infection is quite easy; you have to keep your pets neat and your environment neat and also try as much as possible to avoid face licking and nipping from your pets. Before I proceed in ways in which you can prevent this infection, let me clearly enumerate the likely symptoms you may notice when you contract this infection. People tested and reported positive of capnocytophaga all portrayed similar symptoms that resemble the kind you notice when you have flu which includes; diarrhoea, fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, blisters, draining pus, swelling and pain around infected area and sometimes confusion. This symptom is likely to appear hours or few days after contracting the infection usually between one and fourteen days. Three out of ten people infected with capnocytophaga die, which is a percentage of thirty out of 100 if not treated immediately with intense care.

If you got bitten, nipped or licked by a dog or cat and you start having symptoms resembling what I mentioned above you should seek medical attention immediately to ensure safety for your body and health - losing a limb or several limbs is not fun you know and death is not exactly fun, a dead man can’t have fun; ghosting around isn’t fun lol. Back to measures of preventing this nightmare, like the elders would say, “Prevention is always better than Cure”. Just try not to get bitten, nipped or licked by a dog or a cat, as this is the best way to prevent ourselves from this infection but as easy as this may seem to people who do not love or have pets, it’s not the same for we pet lovers, it’s almost a mission impossible task for us to accomplish. Since the most of us pet lovers cannot avoid getting licked nipped or licked by our pets, what do we do when we get nipped or licked by our pets? The answer is quite obvious. We should always try to wash our hands after playing with our pets and also our faces when our faces get licked by our pets. If bitten by a dog or cat, try to wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water. If wounded (minor wound), also wash the wound with soap and water and also apply antibiotic ointment or cream to help fight against bacteria that may be contracted.

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Finally, having a pet is super fun and cute, in fact, owning a pet has several heartwarming benefits when compared to the dangers involved in having one. What do you think made this couple smile so wide in this picture, the drink in their cups? the comfy position they are in? the photographer? I'll stop there because we all know it's that cute little brown bundle of joy between them. The most popular benefit of owning a pet is, pets help reduce stress. Some people believe that owning a pet helps the owner keep fit, the big and fierce pets can also make the owner feel safe, they can improve your immune system and the really cute ones can help you make friends. Pets can also help kids in lowering their chance of developing allergies which is a good thing if you ask me. So, don’t let this article scare you, go ahead and adopt these fluffy angels, as the infection is rare, dangerous but can be treated and better still prevented. As a matter of fact, I also kinda own a cat, it’s barely three weeks old, and I am also taking these precaution measures I mention to own a pet and still stay safe.

Further Reading

^{Brenner DJ, Hollis DG, Fanning GR, Weaver RE. Capnocytophaga canimorsus sp. nov. formerly CDC group DF-2, a cause of septicemia following dog bite and C. cynodegmi sp. nov., a cause of localized wound infection following dog bite. J Clin Microbiol 1989; 27: 231–235.
Krol-van Straaten MJ, Landheer JE, de Maat CEM. Capnocytophaga canimorsus (formerly DF-2) infections: review of the literature. Neth J Med 1990; 36: 304–309.
Man's limbs amputated after his dog licked him
Woman died after she got nipped by her newly adopted dog}