Dog owners in Herefordshire are being warned after a small number of cases of Alabama Rot were discovered in the county over recent years.
What is Alabama Rot? (Source: Alabama rot | Dog health | The Kennel Club)
Alabama rot, also known as CRGV (cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy), is a very rare, potentially life-threatening disease that blocks and damages the blood vessels in a dog’s skin and kidneys.
Affected dogs often develop ulcers or sores (usually on the bottom part of their legs) and generally go on to develop kidney failure, which is often fatal.
What causes Alabama Rot?
It is not yet known what causes Alabama rot, so diagnosing and treating an affected dog can be very difficult. Researchers believe that wet muddy conditions may somehow be linked to what causes this condition. Many of the dogs that died from Alabama rot had been walking in muddy woodland areas during winter and spring months just before becoming ill.
How common is it?
Alabama rot is a well publicised, but very rare disease that is known to have affected around 150 dogs in the UK between November 2012 and March 2018. Reports of Alabama rot seem to be on the increase, which could be because more dogs are becoming affected, or because vets and owners are more aware of the condition.
The most recent case confirmed in Hereford, occurred in February 2020, on fields between Westfaling Street and Breinton Road. Other cases have been noted in the Malvern Hills, Radnor Forest, Buckholt Wood and Longhope.
You can check out recorded cases by visiting – Stop Alabama Rot – #StopAlabamaRot (vets4pets.com)
