Dog lick leads to sepsis, woman loses all four limbs

Manjit Sangha, 52, fell into a coma with blue lips and difficulty breathing after her pet dog licked a small scratch.

Manjit Sangha, a former pharmaceutical worker, underwent amputation of all four limbs due to sepsis, an infection believed to have originated from a dog lick, as reported by the Telegraph on 20/2. She spent 32 weeks in the hospital, enduring multiple cardiac arrests. Doctors concluded that the infection, which entered through a minor skin scratch, triggered an excessive immune response in her body.

Discharged on 18/2, Sangha is now adapting to life without her limbs. She is actively fundraising for prosthetic limbs and working to raise public awareness about the dangers of sepsis.

"It's difficult to articulate this feeling. Losing my limbs so quickly was an immense shock", Sangha shared with the BBC. "I've spent enough time in a wheelchair and in bed. Now, it's time for me to stand up and walk."

Manjit Sangha lost all four limbs due to sepsis, suspected to be caused by a dog lick. Photo: Kam Sangha

Through a GoFundMe page and support from colleagues, she has currently raised over 22,000 GBP for her upcoming rehabilitation.

The ordeal began on a sunday afternoon in 7/2025 when Sangha started feeling unwell. By the following morning, her condition had deteriorated significantly; she fell into a coma, her feet were cold, her lips turned blue, and she struggled to breathe. Kam Sangha, her husband, recounted: "On saturday she was playing with the dog, on sunday she went to work, but by monday evening she was in a coma."

During her intensive care stay at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton, Sangha's heart stopped six times. As the infection rapidly spread, doctors were compelled to amputate both her legs and hands to save her life. She also underwent a splenectomy while simultaneously receiving treatment for pneumonia and gallstones.

According to the Mayo Clinic, sepsis is defined as "a severe condition that occurs when the body's immune system overreacts to an infection". This critical state can progress to septic shock, characterized by a sudden drop in blood pressure, potentially damaging the lungs, kidneys, liver, and other vital organs. As this damage intensifies, patients face a high risk of mortality. The UK Sepsis Trust estimates approximately 50,000 deaths annually in England are linked to this condition.

Sangha's case is not isolated. Last year, June Baxter, 83, from Norfolk, tragically died from septic shock after a dog licked a wound on her leg. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of Pasteurella multocida bacteria, a common inhabitant of animal oral cavities.