Described in this study is the case of a 53-year-old woman who developed a 
life-threatening infection caused by the bacterium Capnocytophaga canimorsus (C. 
canimorsus), subsequent to being bitten by a dog. The patient presented to an 
Emergency Department with a 24-h history of diarrhoea and vomiting with 
dehydration but within 36 h of presentation developed an overwhelming severe 
sepsis with septic shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation, acute renal 
failure, metabolic acidosis and threatened acute respiratory failure requiring 
urgent intensive care intervention. At subsequent questioning her husband 
volunteered that she had been bitten on the wrist by the family dog 24h prior to 
the onset of symptoms; this bite had been extremely minor, requiring no 
treatment at the time and leaving only a very superficial wound. The causative 
organism was finally identified two weeks later as C. canimorsus, a common 
commensal in the oral flora of dogs. C. canimorsus has been reported as a rare 
cause of severe infection in susceptible individuals; however this case is of 
particular interest as there were no apparent predisposing factors conferring 
risk of severe infection. This case also raised significant practice issues for 
the treating hospital.