A warning has been issued to dog owners after more cases of Alabama Rot were identified in the UK.
So far this year, the deadly dog virus has killed five pets in 2022.
The latest cases were identified in Bristol and Devon.
What is Alabama Rot?
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.
It's thought that the disease is picked up on the paws and legs on muddy walks, so owners are urged to always wash off mud from their pets after a woodland stroll.
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.
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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.
How many cases have there been in Buckinghamshire?
Vets4Pets offers a helpful map for owners to see where cases have been reported near them.
Fortunately, according to their map, only two cases have been reported in Buckinghamshire in the past couple of years.
Both of the reported cases were discovered in quick succession in the Longwick area, just outside Princes Risborough, early last year.
One case in Longwick was reported in January 2021, and the other followed in February 2021.
That's all for Buckinghamshire, but another was reported in January 2021 in nearby Maidenhead, Berkshire.
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.
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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 as possible.
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