Alabama Rot is occasionally mentioned in the news, and while this might be worrying time for anyone who has a dog in their life, the advice is to not panic, make yourself aware of the disease, its symptoms and follow any advice or tips given by the veterinary profession.

 Alabama Rot is a relatively new disease in the UK. The first report being made in 2012. To date, there have been 318 cases from across 43 counties. As there are some 14 million dogs in the UK currently, the risk of your dog developing Alabama Rot is still very small.

This disease, which affects dogs, was first identified in greyhounds in the state of Alabama in the USA in the 1980’s. At the time it only affected greyhounds. Alabama Rot in the UK is not confined to just greyhounds, with many breeds being affected.  Also, a dog’s weight, age, sex does not appear to increase their chances of developing the disease. It is said not to be contagious and does not impact humans or other animals.

Alabama Rot or CRGV (idiopathic cutaneous and renal glomeruler vasulopathy)

Idiopathic – of unknown cause

Cutaneous – affecting the skin

Renal – affecting the kidneys

Glomeruler – a structure in the kidneys which filters the blood

Vasculopathy – a disease which affects the blood vessels

Alabama Rot is a potentially life threatening but rare disease which can cause tiny blockages to the blood vessels supplying blood to the skin and kidneys. It causes small blood clots to form that will eventually lead to the affected area becoming damaged.  On the skin, this can look like a sore or ulcer. In the kidneys, the clots will lead to kidney failure.

Some dogs only develop skin lesions and, if treated as soon as possible, can go on to recover. However, those that develop kidney failure rarely survive.

Your dog may develop sores, ulcers or lesions on the skin which don’t appear to have been caused by a known injury. Your dog may lick these. In some cases, this has been the first sign that something isn’t quite right. Sores and ulcers are mainly seen below the knee or elbow, on the mouth, nose or tongue or at the bottom of the chest or tummy.

These sores or ulcers may appear as: an area of redness possibly with some swelling, a cut or open sore. As this can be a sign of a number of other conditions, it is best to seek the advice of your vet as soon as possible.

If your dog’s kidneys have been affected, signs may include:

• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting/diarrhoea
• Lethargy (being tired)
• Drinking more
• Not passing as much urine

Signs of kidney failure can appear around three days after the skin lesions. However, in some cases the signs have appeared more quickly and others, up to ten days.

As the cause of this disease is still not known, there is still no guaranteed way of preventing your dog from becoming affected.  Some believe there is a link with walking dogs in muddy, woodland type conditions.  Most cases reported seem to have occurred between November and May. The advice (even though we still don’t know if this helps) is to try and keep dogs away from muddy areas. If dogs have been walked in muddy conditions, wash your dog down straight after a walk and towel dry. Pay particular attention to legs, chest, tummy and face.

Spotting early signs of Alabama Rot and reporting these to your vet immediately may help with a dog’s chances of surviving. Checking your dog’s body on a regular basis can help identify anything that appears different. How to perform a regular body health check is something that is taught on the Allwinds Dog First Aid courses.

Remember, it is important to not panic or be worried by these figures. Being aware, knowing the signs and acting early plays a huge part in the successful treatment.

At the moment, little is still known about this disease but research is being undertaken.

Anderson Moors Veterinary Specialists are acknowledged as the UK’s leading authority on this disease. Along with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons info@rcvs.org.uk  and The Animal Health Trust info@aht.org.uk they are undertaking scientific research to help us improve our understanding of the condition.

The Alabama Rot Research Fund is a national charity aiming to raise awareness and funds for research www.arrf.co.uk