Photo: Courtesy Dawn Zwicker-Manteufel
A year ago, Greg Manteufel experienced the unthinkable when he was forced to have his legs and hands amputated after hecontracted a rare blood infection from a dog’s lick.
While his life has changed significantly since then (he also lost part of his face), Manteufel harbors no ill will towards his pit bull, Ellie — even though she may have caused him to get sick.
In fact, Manteufel revealed he loves her just the same.
“We love her like she’s our daughter,” Manteufel said of the pit bull toTime.
“She loves kids. She loves puppies. Other dogs,” Manteufel toldTime.
Manteufel even admitted that Ellie has even licked him again since his amputation and he’s been fine.
Courtesy Dawn Manteufel
Manteufel, a painter from West Bend, Wisconsin, was rushed to the hospital on June 26, 2018 when he experienced a fever and weakness in his limbs.
Manteufel and his family decided not to get Ellie tested for the capnocytophaga germ. The dog lover also was around a number of other dogs before he got sick so Ellie may not be the dog whose saliva caused his infection, the painter previously toldPEOPLE.
“We weren’t going to get rid of her if it was her that caused it anyway,” Manteufel toldTime. “We just love her to death.”
He is, however, being tested to see if he is suspectable to getting infected again and also in the hope that doctors can pinpoint why he got infected so to help others avoid going through what he went through.
Fox News
While the capnocytophaga bacteria doesn’t make animals sick, if it’s spread to humans through saliva — which is extremely rare, the CDC notes — it can cause fevers, diarrhea, headaches and vomiting. According to theNational Center for Biotechnology Information, the infection can also lead to “severe sepsis and fatal septic shock, [and] gangrene of the digits or extremities.”
Manteufel underwent numerous amputations while in the hospital to save his life, which left him without his forearms, legs and parts of his nose. But during the life-changing ordeal, Manteufel longed to return home to see Ellie, he toldFOX 6.
Greg Manteufel.Carrie Antlfinger/Shutterstock
Despite the circumstances, Manteufel previously told PEOPLE that he understands what happened to him is rare so will always be a dog lover.
“I’ve been around dogs my whole life, having them lick at me in my face and hands and everywhere,” he explained. “The doctors told me I could have probably hit the lottery five times that day before I should have got what I got that day from a dog.”
Today, Manteufel is adjusting to life with prosthetics, he toldTime. He shared he has the kind with metal moveable hooks at the end.
Manteufel is also scheduled to undergo surgery again to “perfect” his nose, he toldTime.
source: people.com
