ALABAMA ROT (CRGV) IN WEST SUSSEX

 


Alabama Rot is not a common health issue but it does exist, and can be fatal.  Please see the link below to view areas in West Sussex where this has been reported. 

Live Map of Cases |Check Your Location | CRGV | Alabama Rot

Therefore, it is useful for owners to be aware of the causes and symptoms of  this potentially fatal disease so that treatment can be sought immediately.  If not treated promptly, acute and fatal kidney failure may occur.

Causes

The disease is thought to be contracted by dogs whilst walking in muddy woodlands and was first recorded in the US in the 1980s and believed to be caused by the E Coli bacteria, which may be living in rotting vegetation in woodland grounds, streams and puddles.  

Symptoms

If you have walked your dog in muddy woodlands, particularly in winter and spring, you will need to check them carefully for:

  • Skin sores (lesions) on paws and legs are a common sign, but legs are not the only place to check. Some dogs affected by CRGV have sores on their head, tongue, body and muzzle. They can appear as red, hairless areas with or without a skin defect (like an ulcer).

  • There may be associated swelling.

  • Other symptoms may include nausea and vomiting.

  • Decreased appetite.
     
  • Possibly an increase in thirst.

  • It is advised that you rinse off your dog to remove all dirt and mud.  This is thought to help prevent the disease but also whilst doing so you should be better able to see any sore areas.   I

Treatment

Key to a successful outcome is by immediate veterinary treatment.  

Research has shown that dogs treated in the early stages are far more likely to survive, whereas those whose owners delay seeking veterinary advice are more likely to die due to kidney failure.

© 2024 Sally Bartlett
www.co-operativecanines.co.uk
07752 427804


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