BACKGROUND: The aim of our report was to describe an unusual and exemplary case of Capnocytophaga canimorsus septic shock in a patient who has not been exposed to dogs or cats.

CASE PRESENTATION: A splenectomized 60-year-old male without a known at-risk bite wound was diagnosed with C. canimorsus septic shock, complicated by multiorgan failure and disseminated intravascular coagulation. The patient was empirically treated and recovered without sequelae. The favorable outcome was related to a prompt diagnosis and a timely treatment, despite the absence of epidemiological and suspicion clues. A narrative review and case series demonstrates that only one previous article has reported a case of bacteremia and meningitis without a dog bite in an immunocompetent individual.

CONCLUSIONS: It is important to recognize any case of C. canimorsus sepsis in splenectomized patients, particularly those presenting with fulminant sepsis, even without a history of dog bites, scratches and licks.