Dog dies of Alabama Rot after cutting paw on walk

ANOTHER dog has died in Greater Manchester after contracting suspected deadly Alabama Rot.

Snoopy, a healthy three-year-old Akita, is thought to have picked up the disease after he cut his paw during a walk on Millers Lane in Atherton, Wigan.

Owner Sylvia Draper immediately washed and bandaged his paw after returning home from the walk.

The following day Sylvia noticed a lesion on Snoopy’s leg, which popped like a blister.

She took him to the local veterinary clinic and was told to treat Snoopy with antibiotics. Later on the same day further lesions appeared on Snoopy’s body within just a few hours.

Sylvia feared it was Alabama Rot, but blood tests showed his kidneys were functioning as normal.

But Snoopy was off his food, had been sick and was lacking energy.

Sylvia returned to the vets and results started to show Snoopy’s kidneys were not fully functional, but it was thought this was just because he had been sick.

The lesions on Snoopy’s body quickly spread and became open wounds.

Sylvia took him back to the vets and he stayed in for treatment overnight. Tests showed Snoopy’s kidneys were failing and Sylvia rushed him to Pet Medics emergency surgery.

Vets battled to save Snoopy’s life, but he was only given a small chance of survival and a decision was made to put him to sleep.

Samples have been taken from his body by veterinary experts to test for Alabama Rot. Sylvia was told by vets they were 90 per cent certain he was suffering from the disease.

She has been left heartbroken following the ordeal and wants to warn other dog owners about how quickly the infection can spread.

Sylvia, 46, a pet portrait artist, said: “He was always a healthy dog. He was fine until he cut his paw. He must have contracted Alabama Rot on the walk home. After that his foot was bandaged. In that short walk it must have got into his body.

“The spread of the lesions was unbelievable. Initial tests showed kidneys were okay, but later tests showed they weren’t 100pc. Three days later his kidneys were no longer viable.

“I was told there was less than five per cent survival rate, but I said do everything you can for him.

“He was a lovely dog, it was such a privilege to have him for two years.”

Sylvia has warned anybody who suspects their dog may have Alabama Rot to take them to a vet immediately and said the most noticeable sign of the disease is the spread of the lesions.

She also said there is a lack of knowledge and research surrounding the disease and believes there should be a better database for reporting cases, as well as a questionnaire for dog owners to complete to check for symptoms.