For many pet owners, letting their beloved dog sleep beside them feels comforting and safe. But for one man in Australia, that innocent decision spiraled into a medical emergency that nearly cost him his arm—and possibly his life.
The man recalled on Reddit that the terrifying ordeal began when he was sleeping next to his dog. During the night, he accidentally rolled over and struck the animal in the face. Startled and defensive, the dog reacted instinctively and bit his owner’s wrist.
At first, the wound seemed minor, just a deep puncture from a canine tooth. He brushed it off, assuming it would heal naturally. But within days, his arm swelled alarmingly and developed pus-filled spots. Only then did he realize something was seriously wrong and rushed to the hospital.
Doctors immediately grew concerned when his blood pressure dropped to dangerous levels, a sign of sepsis—a potentially fatal reaction to infection. Tests revealed he had developed necrotizing fasciitis, a rare but extremely aggressive bacterial infection often called a “flesh-eating disease.”
According to the NHS, necrotizing fasciitis symptoms can develop within hours and escalate rapidly. Early warning signs include:
Intense pain or numbness near a cut or wound, often far worse than expected
Severe swelling around the infected site
Flu-like symptoms such as high fever, headache, and exhaustion
As the condition advances, patients may also suffer from vomiting, diarrhea, confusion, and skin discoloration with black, purple, or grey blisters. Left untreated, the infection can spread quickly through tissue, triggering organ failure and death.
The Australian man shared: “My dog only just got the edge of my wrist with 1 deep canine tooth wound. I was told at the time that the bacteria that caused my Necrotising Fasciitis lives on human skin and if any wound is deep enough, there’s roughly a 1 in 10,000 chance that it will enter your system and cause an infection.”
Surgeons fought to save his arm as the infection spread. The man was placed in a five-day induced coma while doctors battled to control the bacteria and stabilize his condition. Though his arm was ultimately saved, he endured severe complications.
“The surgeons managed to save my arm, although it was close going,” he explained. “The medications prescribed to me accelerated another condition I have, which ended up leaving me in a wheelchair for a while, then crutches for over a year. I’m currently still on crutches.”
The septic shock also caused organ damage. “There was some organ damage from the septic shock, which requires regular specialist visits, monitoring/testing, and ongoing medication. My kidneys appear to be ok, heart only took minor damage, brain is still a question. I’m slower than I was, and struggling with memory a bit, but I’m still pretty medicated.”
Despite the near-death ordeal, the man revealed that he still has his dog. Doctors assured him the infection almost certainly came from his own skin bacteria, not from the dog’s mouth. “[Doctors] told me that it was almost certainly not from his mouth but from my skin. … I still have my dog, he’s a good boi. He had a rough time when I went to hospital, things escalated so quickly and then I was put into a 5-day induced coma.”
His story serves as a chilling reminder that even small wounds can spiral into catastrophic infections if left untreated. While millions of people safely share their beds with pets every night, experts warn to monitor any bite or deep scratch carefully and seek medical care at the first sign of swelling, unusual pain, or fever.
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