Alabama Rot
in Dorset and some help and support from dog professionals
2024 the dreaded has happened, Alabama Rot has been found in Dorchester, Dorset. It is still extremely rare with 2 cases reported in Dorchester and 1 in Shillingstone in 2024 and a further two fatalities beginning of June 2024 reported by the owners to be at Moreton Ford and another co formed by Medivet at Moreton Forest area, making it 3 cases at Moreton. The advice is to be vigilant, it seems to be found in forest areas but nothing is certain. Clean off your dogs paws and any areas affected by mud after walks. Check for sores and the early symptoms listed below. Seek treatment with your vet. It is extremely rare however, it is still concerning as it is very difficult to treat . Clean paws, legs, tummies and faces ๐พ
Alison Roberts: โI brought a paw wash and antibacterial shampoo and we keep water in the car to wash his paws after a walk.โ
Anderson Moores report:
2019 0 cases
2020 0 cases
2021 1 case in Poole
2022 0 cases
2023 0 cases in Dorset
2024 4 cases in Dorset (waiting for updated info about the 5th)
Whatโs the worst that can happen?
Unfortunately, if not spotted early, it can lead to sudden and potentially fatal KIDNEY FAILURE
How can you stop the rot?
Knowing the warning signs is key to treating the disease. If caught early your vet can evaluate if your dog has contracted CRGV. But some dogs give no early signs until it is too late.
Itโs thought that the disease is picked up on the paws and legs on muddy walks, so always:
๐ฆ๐ถ๐ด๐ป๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐น๐ฎ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐ผ๐:
Early treatable signs are indicated to be: Signs to be concerned about would include lethargy, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, increased thirst or decreased urination.
The further advanced signs:
Skin Lesions
Appearing as a distinct swelling, a patch of red skin, or open and ulcer like.
Sore Skin
Skin sores not caused by any known injury, commonly found below the elbow or knee.
These later signs may be indications the kidneys are already compromised but of course sores can have many associated diagnoses unrelated to alabama rot.
We have been told that there have been cases of closely associated dogs becoming affected.
In some dogs the skin ulcer is the only sign that develops and these dogs can make a full recovery without developing kidney problems. However, some dogs will develop kidney failure. This typically occurs within 1-9 days of first noticing the skin ulcer(s). Signs to be concerned about would include lethargy, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, increased thirst or decreased urination.
If your dog develops an unexpected skin ulcer it is recommended that you seek veterinary advice. RVC
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ข๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ก๐ง ๐ก๐๐ช ๐๐ก๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก:
provided by our vet Dr Badger who runs our upcoming Dog First Aid course (details below for those who could do with some reassurance and vet opinion in person) www.dorsetdogs.com/dog-first-aid
We are devastated for members who have lost their dogs to this disease. Areas identified are Moreton Ford, Dorchester and Shillingstone. Although it is difficult to advise on how to avoid Alabama rot when the cause is still unknown (it is believed to be potentially a bacterial toxin), but it is known to be more common in dogs who frequent muddy woodland areas. We strongly advise owners to thoroughly wash their dogs after a walk, specifically any places on your dogs' body which have mud on them including paws, legs, tummy, and face. We understand that the earlier it is detected, the better chance of survival; early treatment is key, as Alabama rot can lead to sudden and potentially fatal kidney failure. Signs for concern include lethargy, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, increased thirst, or decreased urination. If you notice any of these signs or sores, swelling or red patches, don't hesitate to visit your vet.
To assuage anxiety and fear, we suggest coming to our Dog First Aid, taught by vet Dr Badger from Aniwell Vets, who will be able to give advice from a practising vet's perspective. The details to book are available on our website we hope this helps and we are thankful to be able to provide this course at this time: www.dorsetdogs.com/dog-first-aid
Dr Badger advises us to follow the official advice and, ideally, "to avoid any known areas of incident, generally keep our dogs โhigh and dryโ, meaning going to areas of well-drained ground and avoiding boggy, muddy, or slow-moving bodies of water. Wash clean any areas of the dog that do get muddy or wet as soon as possible; even an initial rinse with a bottle of water in the car is helpful before a proper wash off at home and then dry the dog. This especially applies to the pastoral breeds, gundogs, vizslas, labradors, and spaniels that all seem more susceptible. Any unexplained lesion on a dog, especially on the legs below the elbow or the knee, should be checked by your vet. A smaller percentage of dogs will present with lesions on the face or their trunk. The vet will then discuss the option for checking kidney bloods and these may need repeating if they are normal, but the dog subsequently becomes ill (usually 3-7 days post the lesion developing)."
MudDaddy and other portable washing machines are recommended by our group members.
Bonnie and Buddy's legacy is to help our other dogs on our group and beyond. We are sending so much love to their family. Please share this post to help us to spread the word.
Amanda has provided us some hope and more information:
"Our fox red lab Teddy was diagnosed with Alabama Rot (suspected, canโt be confirmed without a postmortem) in late March of this year. Our vets (Castle Vets in Poundbury) picked it up immediately and with their care and the care of Anderson Moores he made a recovery. We are still very grateful to have our beautiful boy and we know how lucky we are. This is a vile disease and my heart goes out to Bonnie and Buddyโs families.
- Check paws and other areas for sores as Teddy had lesions on his paw, leg and tummy and under his tongue.
- He started with a limp which then went. He then got a lesion on the outside of his pad which just looked like a cut.
- The lesions were not like normal cuts. The one on his paw was really juicy and others looked like bald spots. His paw lesion also had an odour (mouse/rabbit cage smell according to my other half).
- If in doubt please seek veterinary advice. A blood test to check kidney function is required for diagnosis."
Thank you to Samantha Taylor our Comms Bee www.thecommsbee.co.uk, Dr Badger from Aniwell Veterinary Clinic and the parents of Bonnie and Buddy and to those of you who have offered such helpful input and advice. And thank you to our group for supporting those members who have lost their dog this year to this disease. โค๏ธ
Please check your location and any areas you will be visiting for the latest stats on Alabama rot in your area.
Anderson Mooreโs Alabama rot map: https://www.alabama-rot.co.uk/live-map-of-cases/
Read More from RVC https://www.rvc.ac.uk/small-animal-vet/news/alabama-rot-in-the-uk-frequently-asked-questions
https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/blog-article/alabama-rot-what-dog-owners-need-to-know
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