Dog owners warned after new cases of Alabama Rot

DOG owners in South Wales are being urged to remain vigilant after three new cases of the deadly Alabama Rot have been discovered.

A case has been confirmed in Bridgend along with York, Yorkshire, and Ledbury, Herefordshire – taking the total number of cases so far in 2021 to 23.

Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists in Winchester leads research into the potentially fatal cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy (CRGV), also known as Alabama Rot.

Experts at the Linnaeus-owned animal hospital have now confirmed the new cases.

Previous cases have been identified across the UK, including areas such as Lancashire, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Surrey, Derbyshire, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cornwall, Devon and Staffordshire.

The disease, which originally appeared in the late 1980s, was first detected in the UK in 2012.

Alabama Rot affects the kidneys and has a 90% mortality rate.

Anderson Moores has been leading research into the devastating disease since its introduction to the UK and is collating information on all cases and reports of confirmed cases across the country.

It revealed that, in total, the UK has now seen 274 confirmed cases, including 23 since the turn of the year.

David Walker, RCVS and EBVS, American and European specialist in small animal internal medicine, leads the team at Hampshire’s Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists and is the UK’s foremost authority on the disease.

He said: “Unfortunately, we have to confirm another three cases of CRGV, taking the 2021 total to 23 cases.

“Sadly, we find ourselves at the time of year when cases are most commonly identified.

“It is understandably a worrying time for dog owners with regard to CRGV – however, the disease remains rare.

“The disease seems to appear across many counties at this time of year.

“January and February are typically our highest case-number months and, sadly, this year was no different.

“We’re advising dog owners across the country to remain calm but vigilant and seek advice from their local vets if their dog develops unexplained skin lesions.

“If a dog becomes affected by CRGV, the best chance of recovery probably lies with early and intensive veterinary care which may be best provided at a specialist facility.

“Treatment primarily revolves around intensive management of the acute kidney injury and is sadly only successful in around 10% of cases.”