Devastated owner’s wood warning after death of dog

A PET owner has issued a warning following the death of their dog to suspected Alabama Rot.

A seven-year-old springer spaniel died after becoming severely ill following a walk at Tyn Y Coed Forestry, between Creigiau and Pentyrch in Cardiff.

The owner, who didn’t wish to be named, said the dog first developed symptoms last Wednesday, with small scratches on her stomach that appeared to look sore.

“We have a labrador as well and we walk them up there (the forestry) every weekend. They were muddy but we have an outside shower and we wash the dogs down after every walk.

“By Wednesday we saw scratches on her belly. I didn’t think much of it but thought we better check.”

As Wales was in lockdown, they sent photographs to a vet who advised it looked like a bacterial infection.

By Saturday, the family pet was being violently sick and was not eating her food. It was thought she may have a stomach bug or a reaction to the prescribed antibiotics. She was given an anti-sickness injection on the Saturday but by Monday she had become severely ill.

“We took her in on Tuesday and they took one look at her and she was completely jaundiced, her eyes were yellow.

“They said we think this is something called Alabama Rot and I had not heard of it before.”

The family’s other dog has fortunately not fallen ill.

“We are just absolutely devastated, they really are such a big part of your family.”

Alabama Rot is extremely difficult to diagnose as the cause is unknown and is often only confirmed following the death by a post-mortem examination.

The dog owner decided against a postmortem examination but wanted to share the warning after seeing a Facebook post on Vets4Pets Llantrisant of a potential case following a dog being walked at Tyn Y Coed.

Alabama Rot, also known as CRGV, is a disease found in dogs which causes damage to the skin and kidney’s blood vessels.

The disease typically first appears on a dog’s skin, with lesions or a distinct swelling, a patch of red skin or open and ulcer like.

According to the RSPCA, it can lead to severe organ dysfunction and ultimately kidney failure.

A vet in Llantrisant warned dog owners that they have seen a potential case of Alabama Rot following a patient being walked in Tyn Y Coed Forestry in Creigiau, Cardiff.

A statement posted to the Vets4Pets Llantrisant Facebook page said: “We would like to make people aware that we have seen a potential case of Alabama Rot. Our patient had been walked in Tyn Y Coed Forestry.

“Please don’t walk your dogs in this area until we know more or once the ground is dry.”

The vet said they are still waiting for the diagnosis to be confirmed.

The cause of Alabama Rot is currently unknown but there has been a number of cases in the UK since December 2012.

Only 20-30% of dogs survive the disease.

According to the RSPCA, one thing that is known about Alabama Rot is that most cases follow from pet owners who walk their dogs in the countryside and that most cases are reported during winter and spring, but the specific cause is unknown.

Vets4Pets advise dog owners to wash off woodland mud following countryside walks.