Alabama Rot, also known as ‘cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy’ (CGRV), is a rare but potentially fatal disease in dogs. Although Alabama Rot is very rare in the UK, it is still worth taking precautions and checking your dog regularly for symptoms. Don’t hesitate to contact the team at Clent Hills Vets in Worcestershire if you need more information.
DOWNLOAD our handy infographic about Alabama Rot – print it and stick it on your fridge
Symptoms of Alabama Rot
The first sign of Alabama Rot is usually swelling, redness, or ulceration of the skin that is not due to injury. Dogs often lick at sores, so make sure that you investigate any area that your dog licks persistently.
• Typical appearance: An open, ulcer-like sore, or a patch of red skin
• Typical site: Paws, legs, belly, muzzle or mouth
If you find a sore that fits this description contact us at Clent Hills Vets as soon as possible. If your dog does have Alabama Rot, the sooner he/she receives treatment the more likely they are to survive. But remember that most skin sores are NOT caused by this disease.
Dogs with Alabama Rot often develop severe kidney problems 1 to 9 days after the skin problems appear. This leads to:
• Vomiting
• Reduced appetite
• Tiredness
Once the disease has got to this stage it requires more intensive treatment.
Preventing Alabama Rot
As the cause of Alabama Rot is unknown, it is difficult to give specific advice about prevention. However, it may be helpful to wash any part of your dog that gets wet or muddy, especially between November and May, which is when most cases have occurred. Also, the disease has been linked to wet, muddy or boggy areas. Until we know what causes this condition, vigilance is the best way to prevent serious disease:
• Wash paws, legs and any other area exposed to water or mud after walks
• Check regularly for skin problems
• Check any area of skin that your dog licks persistently
• Contact us at Clent Hills Vets if you are in any doubt about the significance of a symptom
At the time of publishing this blog post, there have been no suspected or confirmed cases of Alabama Rot at any Clent Hills Vets practice or at any other veterinary practice in the local area as far as we know. The nearest suspected case is Cannock Chase. This information is aimed at helping dog owners understand what to look out for and precautionary measures they can take to try to prevent contraction of this rare but deadly disease.
DOWNLOAD our handy infographic about Alabama Rot – print it and stick it on your fridge