- David Money spent 6 weeks in a coma as his body broke out in painful blisters
- Doctors battled to keep him alive for 5 months in hospital fighting sepsis
- The deadly blood infection had developed after his dog licked an open wound
- He managed to beat the deadly bug, but not before both of his kidneys failed
Stephen Matthews For Mailonline
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David Money, 51, from Manchester, spent six weeks in a coma after one of his whippets licked his open wound
A former soldier was left fighting for his life after he caught a deadly infection from his pet dog licking him.
David Money, 51, from Manchester, spent six weeks in a coma as his body broke out in tennis-ball sized blisters.
Doctors battled to keep him alive for five months in hospital after killer bacteria lurking in his dog’s mouth seeped into an open wound.
This caused him to develop sepsis after his immune system went into overdrive as it tried to fight the infection.
Against all odds the HGV driver pulled through, but not before his kidneys both failed – leaving him needing life-saving dialysis every other day.
Mr Money, who has seven whippets, said: ‘I’m disabled. I can barely walk, I’ve lost my job and I nearly died.
‘My life has been completely turned upside down and to think it’s is from a bacteria from a dog – maybe one of my dogs – is a mind blowing thing.
‘The pain I went through was indescribable. To actually sweat with pain is absolutely horrendous.
‘We are far more aware of the dogs now but I would never get rid of my dogs. I can’t believe what has happened to me, but I cherish them.’
Mr Money started to experience flu-like symptoms in April and was about to settle down to sleep when he felt extreme pain in his legs.
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His partner, Julie Crosby, 44, took him to hospital when he started to feel a piercing and burning sensation on his skin, and dark marks appeared on his face.
Medics diagnosed an infection and his condition rapidly deteriorated, until he was screaming out in pain and his skin started to ‘bubble’ as the infection spread.
Huge blisters formed all over his body – including his hands which saw his fingers triple in size and put in plastic bags to control the infection.
Against all odds the HGV driver pulled through, but not before his kidneys were destroyed – leaving him needing life-saving dialysis every other day
Doctors battled to keep him alive for five months after killer bacteria lurking in his dog’s mouth seeped into an open wound. It caused his body broke out in tennis-ball sized blisters
Just hours after being admitted, Ms Crosby was told his best chance of survival would be if he was put into an induced coma.
However, she was told to say her ‘final goodbyes’ in case he didn’t pull through.
WHAT IS THE BACTERIA IN DOGS’ SALIVA
The organism Capnocytophaga Canimorsus is typically found in the saliva of cats and dogs.
It has the low ability to cause disease in healthy individuals but has been known to cause severe illness in people with pre-existing conditions.
Its transmission can occur through bites, licks or even close proximity to animals.
Symptoms usually appear within one to eight days of exposure, but mostly on the second day, and can range from flu-like symptoms to fulminent septicemia.
Infection can usually be treated effectively with antibiotics and is recommended for a minimum of three weeks.
The faster the infection is diagnosed the better the chance of survival, but death is rare.
He was in a coma for six weeks while doctors diagnosed and controlled the infection – which they diagnosed as sepsis.
Doctors had to scrub off necrotic skin and he lost a toe and his kidneys to the infection – which was caused by capnocytophaga – found in dogs’ saliva – entering his bloodstream.
Ms Crosby said: ‘ It was so shocking how quickly things happened. They didn’t think he was going to make it through the night.
‘He told me he loved me and I said the same and we said our goodbyes. He was gasping for breath and had this face mask on. It was devastating.’
He was transferred to an acute kidney ward and was finally released from hospital in September.
It is expected he will go on the transplant list for a new kidney next year, and Ms Crosby is planning to get tested to see if she is a match.
But they still have all their dogs, but are more careful about letting them lick them, and want to raise awareness of the dangers.
Mr Money added: ‘We tell them to get down now when they jump up.
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