A warning has been issued to dog owners after a surge of a deadly disease has been identified in the UK.

Anderson Moores Vets has investigated Alabama Rot for over a decade and 318 dogs in the UK have succumbed to the disease since 2012, with 10 deaths recorded this year.

The survival rate for dogs contracting Alabama Rot is just 10 per cent.

Owners are urged to check for skin lesions and wash pets after muddy walks to reduce the risk.

What is The survival rate for dogs contracting Alabama Rot is just 10 per cent?

Alabama Rot was first found in the UK in 2012 and has mostly been reported by pet owners who walk their dogs in the countryside.

Most cases are reported during winter and spring when the weather is typically colder and wetter, and it is generally much rarer in the summer months.

It is otherwise known as Cutaneous and Renal Glomerular Vasculopathy (CRGV).

It damages the blood vessels in the skin and kidneys of dogs, which causes visible sores on the skin and can lead to severe organ dysfunction and kidney failure.

The disease has a 90 per cent mortality rate but the cause of the disease is still unknown, and unfortunately signs are often detected too late.

There have been 10 cases of Alabama Rot reported in south London:

Epsom - August 2020

Areas walked: Epsom Downs

 

Surbiton - April 2020

Areas walked: Unknown

 

Dulwich - December 2017

Areas walked: Unknown

 

Tooting - February 2018

Areas walked: Wimbledon Common, Tooting Common and Beddington Park

 

Southfields - March 2016

Areas walked: Unknown

 

Richmond - February 2021

Areas walked: Unknown

 

Putney - December 2018

Areas walked: Leaders Gardens and Barnes Common

 

Putney - April 2016

Areas walked: Unknown

 

Wimbledon - December 2019

Areas walked: Unknown

 

Wimbledon -February 2021

Areas walked: Unknown

Who are Anderson Moores?

Dogs that develop Alabama Rot are normally referred to specialist veterinary practice Anderson Moores, based at Hursley, near Winchester.

They have been leading research into the devastating disease since 2012.

David Walker, American, RCVS and EBVS European specialist in small animal internal medicine, leads the team at Anderson Moores and is the UK’s foremost authority on the disease.

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.

What to look out for?

The first sign of the disease is often a sore on the skin which will usually appear below the knee or elbow, and occasionally on the face or at the bottom of the chest or abdomen. It can cause the skin to become red and the sore may look like an open ulcer.

The RSPCA recommends looking for the following symptoms: - Skin sores, visible swelling, red patch or skin defects not caused by a known injury - Changes in appetite, including reduced appetite, drinking more, vomiting and lethargy The majority of visible skin lesions will not be caused by Alabama rot disease, and most cases of kidney failure will be a result of another cause, but if you are concerned your dog is suffering, you should seek advice from your vet as early detection is key.