Alabama Rot Over the last few weeks we have been receiving enquiries from our clients regarding Alabama Rot (Idiopathic Cutaneous and Renal Glomerular Vasculopathy, CRGV). It is disease that has been known about since the late 1980s. It was initially thought to only affect Greyhounds and the dogs reported with the disease in the USA presented with kidney failure and/or skin lesions. The cause of the disease remains unknown. The skin lesions are a symptom of the disease rather than being traumatic wounds from an injury. Typically the skin lesions have been below the knee or elbow. They may present as a focal swelling, a patch of red skin or a defect in the skin (like an ulcer). Over the subsequent two to seven days the affected dogs have developed clinical signs of kidney failure which can include vomiting, reduced appetite and tiredness. We have been advising our clients to be vigilant for unexplained skin lesions that may resemble an ulcer, particularly if your dog is showing signs of being unwell. It is important to remember that only a very small number of dogs have been affected. Most skin lesions will not be caused by this disease and most cases of kidney failure will have another cause. If your dog is affected, early recognition of the disease and aggressive management is likely to lead to the best outcome. Without knowing the trigger for the disease it is impossible to give specific advice about walking your dog and it is again important to stress that the case numbers are very low. Please contact the surgery if you are concerned. The disease does not appear to pass from dog to dog, nor from dog to man (ie. Zoonotic). Since December 2012 a number of suspected cases have been seen in the United Kingdom. Some of these were from the New Forest. However, cases have also been identified in other counties throughout the UK. As of April 2014 thirty four dogs across the UK have now been confirmed to have been affected by cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy. These dogs have all had examination of kidney tissue performed to confirm the diagnosis. Following a meeting that we attended on 28/04/14 between local veterinary practices in the Wigan / Greater Manchester area and representatives from Wigan MBC, there have been 2 confirmed cases and 3 suspected cases in and around the area of Leigh. Here at Gilmore Veterinary Surgery we have so far had no confirmed or suspected cases. We will continue to liaise with our local practices regarding suspected cases and update you in due course. This information was compiled following a meeting between local Veterinary Surgeries on 28/04/14 and from information supplied by Anderson Moors Veterinary Specialists. Anderson Moors is a specialist veterinary surgery based in Hampshire that has been collecting data from cases arising from the New Forest area since 2012 and across other areas of the UK. For further information a link to their website is provided; andersonmoores/vet/news The Animal Health Trust is also compiling data on confirmed cases of Alabama Rot and a link to their website and questionnaire form can be found here; aht.org.uk/alabamarot The Forestry Commission also has some useful information on Alabama Rot; forestry.gov.uk/alabamarot Kind Regards Gilmore Veterinary Surgery 01257 426110
Posted on: Tue, 29 Apr 2014 07:28:38 +0000
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