27 February 2024 , 11:42
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Numbers of a disease deadly to dogs have rocketed this year, with owners urged to take care when out walking their faithful friends.
Alabama Rot is an incurable disease which causes painful sores on a dog's paws and legs, and can often lead to kidney failure. Most cases are fatal, so early detection and treatment is key to keeping our pets alive. There have been 318 confirmed cases of the disease across the UK since 2012, including 10 so far recorded in 2024 so far, according to Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists. To see outbreaks near you check our interactive map below.
The RSPCA says if owners who spot signs of Alabama Rot in their dog should take them to the vet right away. Symptoms include skin sores, visible swelling, red patches or skin defects not caused by a known injury, and reduced appetite, drinking more, vomiting and lethargy.
Alabama Rot can show up on a dog's body between one and 10 days after they catch it. Kidney failure can happen straight after sores appear on a dog, so seeking out treatment quickly is key to their survival.
It has previously been linked to wet and muddy conditions, so is particularly prevalent in the rainy and damp winter . Alabama rot is also known as CRGV (cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy). It was first reported in America in the 1980s, and at first, was only thought to affect greyhounds. The disease can affect any dog, no matter their breed, age or size.
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Alabama rot is not thought to be contagious, meaning one dog can't pass it on to another. However, more than one dog from the same home can get the disease, likely from walking in an area where the disease is present at the same time.
Josh Walker, an American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) diplomate said: “Unfortunately, this is the time of year when cases are most commonly identified and, sadly, we have seen the first two cases in 2023, following 11 confirmed cases in the UK last year. We’re advising dog owners across the country to remain calm but vigilant and seek advice from their vets if their dog develops unexplained skin lesions.”