A veterinary consensus group defined sepsis in dogs and cats as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection. The group recommends requiring evidence of organ dysfunction, rather than infection or systemic inflammation alone, to identify sepsis.
Three quick summaries of the same article, tailored for different readers.
An infected wound, uterus, lung, urinary tract, or abdomen does not automatically mean sepsis. The concern rises when infection is accompanied by failing organ function. Owners may see collapse, marked weakness, confusion, abnormal breathing, pale or discolored gums, vomiting, or inability to stand, but sepsis cannot be confirmed at home. Rapid evaluation and supportive care are critical.
The consensus paper explains the new definition and clinical criteria.For triage and monitoring, this sharpens attention to mentation, perfusion, blood pressure, lactate trends, oxygenation, urine output, coagulation, glucose, bilirubin, creatinine, and respiratory support needs. Documentation should identify the suspected infection and the evidence that reserve is failing. A single abnormal value should still be interpreted within trends and the whole patient.
The paper provides the consensus framework and evidence review.Systemic inflammatory signs are sensitive but nonspecific. By requiring organ dysfunction, the definition aims to improve phenotype consistency and distinguish uncomplicated infection from sepsis. The framework raises important questions about species-specific thresholds, scoring systems, validation cohorts, and how cardiovascular, renal, respiratory, neurologic, hepatic, and coagulation dysfunction should be weighted.
The PubMed record links to the complete consensus criteria.