Sepsis in Dogs and Cats-Consensus Definition and Clinical Criteria.

Sepsis diagnosis in dogs and cats now requires confirmed organ dysfunction, not just SIRS criteria.

This consensus-based article addresses the definition and clinical identification of sepsis in dogs and cats, recognizing that recent updates to human sepsis definitions (Sepsis-3) have created divergence with veterinary medicine. The authors, a panel of veterinary emergency and critical care specialists, conducted a systematic review of veterinary evidence to establish species-specific consensus definitions and clinical criteria. They define sepsis in small animals as the life-threatening syndrome associated with a dysregulated host response to infection resulting in organ dysfunction, aligning more closely with current human medicine frameworks. Critically, the consensus recommends that organ dysfunction must be identified—not merely suspected infection or systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria—for a diagnosis of sepsis to be made in dogs and cats. This represents a meaningful shift from earlier veterinary definitions that relied heavily on SIRS-based criteria. The authors further recommend the use of validated, structured illness severity scoring systems and formal measurement of physiological and laboratory parameters to identify organ dysfunction and guide diagnosis. This approach promotes standardization in clinical practice and research, facilitating earlier diagnosis and treatment initiation, which are directly linked to improved patient outcomes. The recommendations provide a practical framework for clinicians in emergency and critical care settings managing potentially septic small animal patients.

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