A Shar Pei puppy named Mugsy from Saugus, Massachusetts, battled and suffered from fatal flesh-eating bacteria for more than a month.
Just like with humans, it's scary to know that at anytime, something serious can happen to our beloved pets.
A Shar Pei puppy named Mugsy from Saugus, Massachusetts, suffered a battle with fatal flesh-eating bacteria for more than a month.
The owner Chuck Rees said Mugsy suddenly looked sick and appeared to have bee stings. A local vet referred him to the MSPCA-Angell Animal Medical Center where Dr. Roxanna Khorzad found Mugsy tested positive for necrotizing fasciitis, a rare bacteria known for eating away rapidly at skin, muscle, and bone.
With a 20% chance of survival, Mugsy received high amounts of antibiotics and pain medicine. After a week surgery was performed to remove some of the dead skin and Mugsy was sent home. However, just two weeks later, Mugsy quit eating and relapsed.
A severe intestinal blockage caused by the advancing infection forced Rees to choose a high-risk surgery. Rees explained, “We had come so far at that point and I wanted to do whatever I could to try and save Mugsy.”
Though the 2-hour surgery resulted in Mugsy losing 40 percent of his intestines, tests confirmed the bacteria were gone.
The vets have no idea how Mugsy picked up the bug.
