Canadian man dies after dog bite

WINDSOR, Ontario, July 16 (UPI) -- A dog bite a few days earlier is being blamed by the family of a Canadian man who died after being taken off life support.

Richard Arcand, 60, of Windsor, Ontario, was walking his dog about a week ago when another dog, a Husky, allegedly darted out of a house and attacked Buddy. When Arcand tried to separate the two dogs, the Husky bit him, leaving a small puncture on Arcand's thumb and a day later flu-like symptoms resulting from an infection caused by the dog bite, according to his family, the Windsor Star reported Wednesday.

Arcand's condition quickly worsened with his organs beginning to fail and his skin, from his arms to his turning black, said his niece Michelle Cojocar. He then suffered a heart attack and the determination was made by the family to remove him from life support Monday.

Medical Officer of Health Dr. Allen Heimann said the Windsor-Essex Health Unit has placed the Husky that bit Arcand under quarantine, though under control of its owner. A direct link between the dog bite and Arcand's death has not yet been established, he said. But the health unit is still gathering information from physicians who treated Arcand.