Woman died after lick from dog caused infection

A "very frail" but independent and "determined" woman died from an infection caused when a dog licked a wound on her leg, a court heard.

June Baxter, 83, from Attleborough in Norfolk, cut her leg while using a commode at her home on 29 June.

Mrs Baxter was alone when she injured herself, but when her granddaughter Caitlan Allin - her main carer - arrived, Ms Allin's dog licked the wound, Norfolk Coroner's Court was told.

Tests showed a bacteria present on Mrs Baxter's leg that is commonly found in the mouths of domestic animals.

On Tuesday, coroner Johanna Thompson recorded a conclusion of accidental death.

None of Mrs Baxter's family were in court, and had not joined the hearing remotely, but the coroner said they had seen the evidence and were content for the inquest to be heard in their absence.

Statements read in court described how paramedics used tweezers to reposition damaged skin, and dressed the wound.

But the next day Mrs Baxter, a retired legal secretary, felt unwell and was taken to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, where tests were carried out.

Results showed pasteurella multocida, an organism typically found in the mouths of dogs.

The court was told that despite medical treatment, Mrs Baxter continued to display symptoms of sepsis, which caused her death on 7 July.

Secondary causes of death included kidney, liver and heart conditions.

Ms Thompson said: "Mrs Baxter was in frail health. On 29 June she was found to have injured her leg at her home.

"On the following day she reported feeling unwell; she was taken to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital where she was diagnosed with an infection which was subsequently identified to be arising from a domestic dog lick."

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