Alabama Rot, or Cutaneous and Renal Glomerular Vasculopathy (CRGV), continues to strike fear in pet owners up and down the country. In 2019 there were 29 cases, bringing the total to 219 confirmed cases since it was first diagnosed in the UK in 2012. It has a worryingly high mortality rate of about 80%. To date there have been six cases in Gloucestershire with a single confirmed case in Cheltenham.

It can cause ulcerative skin lesions

The condition was first recognised in Alabama in the US (hence the name) and seemed to affect mostly greyhounds. It is thought that a toxin produced by certain strains of bacteria caused ulcerative skin lesions but then progressed to cause irreversible kidney damage.

Efforts to determine the exact bacteria or toxin that causes the condition in the UK have so far been unrewarding, so as a result there is no vaccine available and treatment is aimed at resolving the skin lesions and monitoring and supporting kidney function. Diagnosis is also difficult and often only possible on postmortem.

Associated with wintery/muddy walks in the countryside

90% of all cases are diagnosed in the colder/damper months of November through to May. Often it is thought to be associated with wintery/muddy walks in woods or the countryside, but the exact triggers are still to be established. Significant research is ongoing. General advice is to wash off muddy paws at the end of a walk to reduce potential bacterial exposure.

If your dog does develop unexplainable skin ulcers or sores then you should take them to your vet straight away, but be reassured it is still an extremely rare condition.