A fatal case of Alabama Rot has been confirmed in Bristol. Vets in the city are urging dog owners to remain vigilant after five deaths have been confirmed across the country since the beginning of the year.
A veterinary referral centre has been leading research into the devastating disease since 2012 and is collating information on all cases and reports of confirmed cases across the country. Experts at the animal hospital have now confirmed two new cases which have resulted in the death of dogs in Bristol and Kingston, Devon, taking the total since January 1 to five.
David Walker, RCVS and EBVS European specialist in small animal internal medicine, leads the team at Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists in Winchester. He said: “We’re very sad to confirm two further cases of CRGV. Unfortunately, we find ourselves in the time of year when cases are most commonly identified.
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“It is understandably worrying for dog owners; however, I must stress this disease is still very rare. We’re advising dog owners across the country to remain calm but vigilant and to seek advice from their local vets if their dog develops unexplained skin lesions.”
The disease, which originally appeared in the late 1980s, was first detected in the UK in 2012. It affects the kidneys and has a 90 per cent mortality rate. The two new confirmed cases follow 28 throughout 2021 and 47 in 2020, taking the total number of confirmed cases in the UK to 284.
While Alabama Rot is often fatal, Mr Walker said the best chance of recovery probably lies with early and intensive veterinary care which may be best provided at a specialist facility.
He said: “We have been at the forefront of research into CRGV for almost a decade and have witnessed first-hand the often-devastating effects of the disease.
“Treatment largely revolves around intensive management of the sudden onset kidney failure and, sadly, with our current understanding of the disease, is only successful in around 10 per cent of cases.”
The view Anderson Moores’ new dedicated CRGV website, which includes a nationwide live map ofcases, visit here.
