Alabama rot confirmed after dog walked at Hollingworth Lake

A dog has fallen ill with the deadly Alabama rot disease after being walked at Hollingworth Lake in January, vets have confirmed.

Alabama rot, also known as cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy – or CRGV – is an increasingly common disease in dogs which causes damage to blood vessels of the skin and kidneys.

The first sign of the disease – which can be fatal – is skin ulcers on paws, legs or faces, and can lead to acute kidney failure in a short period of time.

It is unknown how ill the dog, from Huddersfield, is after becoming affected with the illness.

Since 2012, over 160 cases have been confirmed in the UK, which are recorded by Vets4Pets.

 

 

The first sign of the disease normally seen is a skin sore or lesion that isn’t caused by a known injury. Most commonly, these sores are found on the lower half of the leg and appear as a distinct swelling, a patch of red skin or are open and ulcer-like.  

The disease, of unknown origin, first appeared in greyhounds in the United States during the 1980s. Unlike the illness presented in the US, the disease in the UK does not seem to target any specific breed, age, sex or weight of dog, according to a report by Vets4Pets.

It’s thought that the disease is picked up on the paws and legs on muddy walks, so always clean wet and muddy areas on your dog as soon as possible.

The British Blue Cross also advises checking your dog’s body once a day for lumps and bumps: checking them regularly for symptoms of Alabama rot will help lower the risk of your dog dying from the disease.

Thankfully, the disease is not always fatal and the earlier it is caught, the greater your dog’s chances of survival.

Any dog owners who are worried that their pet might have Alabama rot should contact their veterinary practice immediately. 

For more information, visit:

• www.vets4pets.com/stop-alabama-rot/