Vet’s warnings over dog disease
Reporter A VET is urging dog owners to keep an eye out for symptoms of Alabama Rot after a case was confirmed in County Durham.
The potentially fatal disease was first found in Britain in 2012. Since then, 100 dogs are thought to have died of it.
A case was confirmed in Sacriston, County Durham, in December. And a family in Marske, near Redcar, think their dog Betty caught the disease in Errington Woods. Betty was put to sleep by vets, who said there was nothing they could do to treat her.
Now Jason Atherton, a vet of 20 years and managing director of Newcastle-based Westway Veterinary Group, says that while people should not be overly alarmed, they should take precautions and regularly check their pets for unusual symptoms.
He said: “We have to put this into perspective. There have been around 100 cases across the UK over five years, that’s 20 a year. I have seen more dogs die from things like Parvovirus.
“However Alabama Rot is serious and people should know what to look out for and take their pets to a vet if they suspect they might have it.
“If it’s not picked up early, it can be fatal. Of the cases we know about, about 20% of dogs with this condition survive. Around 70% to 80% sadly die.
“I would strongly recommend that if you see any unexplained redness, sores or lesions, go to a vet and get them checked out. If you can’t explain how your dog’s got these lesions, I would encourage you to get your pet examined.
“Lesions may be accompanied by other symptoms such as diarrhoea or vomiting.
“I would also advise people to bathe their dog after a walk or wash areas that are wet and muddy.”
The disease, officially called cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy (CRGV), can affect all breeds.
The first sign of Alabama Rot is often a sore on the dog’s skin. The skin can become red, while the sore can look like an open ulcer.
The initial symptoms can easily be mistaken for a number of less serious conditions but within days, dogs begin to show signs of kidney failure. Other symptoms can include extreme tiredness, vomiting, diarrhoea and a loss of appetite.
The causes of the disease are unknown.
Mr Atherton added: “We don’t know what the pathogen or the bug is that causes this disease. That makes management of the condition slightly challenging.
“If Alabama Rot is suspected, we carry out blood tests to check renal function as well as urine analysis. If there is a high index of suspicion, then we would use some form of antibiotics.
“Dogs may also require aggressive treatment and can be hospitalised and given intravenous fluids.”