About AlabamaRot.co.uk
Hi, I’m Chris Street. I’m a dog owner living near the New Forest. The aim of AlabamaRot.co.uk is to maintain a map of Alabama Rot cases and provide information for the general public on research and possible ways to avoid dogs getting Alabama Rot / CRGV (Cutaneous & Renal Glomerular Vasculopathy).
What Vets say about AlabamaRot.co.uk
In chronological order.
“At present there is very little information about how the disease is contracted. The website www.alabamarot.co.uk is the go to site for the latest information.” (March 2016)
“I’m directing people to your site. An excellent resource of up to date information.” (December 2015)
David Walker, Director RCVS, American and European Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine, Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists, Winchester, Hampshire wrote in an email:
“Nice work on the website.”
(7th May 2015)
David is generally acknowledged as the UK lead on Alabama Rot research & treatment.
Chad A Northcott, Director / Veterinary Surgeon of Vetcare Ltd in Leigh, Lancashire wrote in a facebook post:
“Your have an excellent resource there very well put together.”
(6th March 2015)
Duncan Reavell wrote in a facebook post:
“I think your map is fantastic”
(24th February 2015)
Duncan has treated several dogs with Alabama Rot.
Duncan Reavell of Lynwood Veterinary Group near Fordingbridge in the New Forest wrote in a facebook message:
Wow, that’s a really great site Chris! Would you be happy for me to link to it from my practice home page?
(22 February 2015)
Hi Chris,
Wondering if you’d be willing to take part in a Telephone Interview for Bournemouth University? If you are free any time today or tomorrow please email me ASAP.
Thanks
Byron Kheroua
Bournemouth University
I’m free from Thursday am 6th April. I’ll email you with my mobile number.
My vet diagnosed Alabama Rot as the cause of death for my Greyhound Daisy a couple of years ago. My area isn’t shown on the map (Norfolk) so I’m assuming that they didn’t inform you?
Julie, sorry to hear about Daisy. Which vet practice diagnosed Alabama Rot and what date?
Bath Chronicle said “a case was reported in December 2016 in Shepton Mallet causing a vet to issue a warning of the spread of the disease.”
http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/warning-pet-owners-warned-to-be-on-guard-after-deadly-alabama-rot-reported-in-south-west/story-30117094-detail/story.html
The Shepton Mallet vets were Shepton Vets who reported news of the Axminster, Devon case “Axminster vets have confirmed a case of Alabama Rot in our area.”
https://www.facebook.com/sheptonvets/posts/1392109190799386
Shepton Vets linked to the Axminster case:
https://www.viewnews.co.uk/axminster-vets-confirm-fatal-case-disease/
Shepton Vets got 248 shares out of the link.
Axminster is ~ 40 miles from Shepton Mallet so I don’t know why Shepton Vets said it was ‘in their area’!
This fact was spotted by Kathrine Bryans “Axminster is quite a long way from us so not too concerned.”
https://www.facebook.com/sheptonvets/posts/1392109190799386?comment_id=1393272390683066&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R9%22%7D
Hi Chris,
I’m a bit confused. You say the Shepton Mallet case was reported but the article you link to is in Axminster. Shepton Mallet is about 10 miles South/South-West of Bath. Looking at your maps, there are no markers shown. I believe this may be a new region.
Regards,
Jon
Please see article from the Bath Chronicle: two more cases/regions.
http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/warning-pet-owners-warned-to-be-on-guard-after-deadly-alabama-rot-reported-in-south-west/story-30117094-detail/story.html
your linked article says “A case was reported in December 2016 in Shepton Mallet causing a vet to issue a warning of the spread of the disease.”
AlabamaRot.co.uk reported this case: http://alabamarot.co.uk/dog-dies-in-axminster-devon-of-alabama-rot/
and “Another case was reported in West Chelborough, Dorchester, by Girling and Bowditch Vets, who put out a message on its Facebook page warning dog owners to be wary and spot the warning signs early.”
AlabamaRot.co.uk reported this case: http://alabamarot.co.uk/1345-2/
Hi, at the beginning 2016 my one year old puppy River, became seriously ill with lesions on left fore leg. It started to show in the morning and my wife booked her in to the vets for the next day. My wife came back from work at lunchtime to find the lesions had spread raw and inflamed further up Rivers leg. My wife took River straight to the vets who had her on a anti bacterial drip for over a week. Fortunately all is now well with the puppy. We were just talking to Fenaghy Vets this week and they reckon it was Alabama Rot. Having found this site and particularly your map it is a coincidence that we walk River in Tardree Forest where you have recorded another incidence in 2014 where the dog died. For me it is interesting to note that it is only since about 2010 that pathogens impacting forestry trees have come to the fore. Tardree has been hit by Phytophthorum ramorum pathogen Japanese Larch Disease and Sudden Oak Death. I wonder if there is a connection?
Hi Mike,
The Phytophthorum ramorum (sometimes referred to in Britain as ‘Larch tree disease’ and ‘Japanese larch disease’ and in USA Sudden Oak Death) map (since 2010) has very few overlaps with the confirmed Alabama Rot map (since 2012).
Many thanks for posting your idea.
I’ve added River’s case to my All Alabama Rot Cases map under the ‘Suspected Survived’ category.
Please note the 2014 unconfirmed case (the dog died) was in County Antrim (NB. cases shown in BLUE are by county, RED cases are located by town) so the actual location of that case was somewhere in Co. Antrim (not necessarily in Tardree Forest).
Chris
I have just lost my dog to confirmed Alabama Rot (29.11.16) near Axminster, Devon. Would it help to write a report with details of the walks he did and any other relevant information to help with your research?
Jackie
Jackie,
I’m so sorry to hear about your dog lost to confirmed Alabama Rot. I’d be grateful if you could provide your dogs name and breed, your vets practise website, where was your dog walked upto week before being taken to the vets. I added your dogs case to the map yesterday http://alabamarot.co.uk/map/confirmed-cases-map/. I heard about the case yesterday via https://www.facebook.com/CoombefieldVets/posts/1222018031210199
https://www.viewnews.co.uk/axminster-vets-confirm-fatal-case-disease/
Yes of course. My dog was a 6 year old male lurcher called Buzz. We always walked at Trinity Hill just outside Axminster, Devon. It is an area of forestry land attached to a nature reserve on OS Explorer map 166 grid ref SY308 958, closest postcode EX13 5SZ. It is very popular with local dog walkers.The last walk we did there was 22nd November the day after very heavy rainfall in the area. I have read somewhere that there may be a correlation? My vets are Coombefield Vets, Axminster, Devon. I have another lurcher who did exactly the same walks and she has been unaffected.
Thanks very much
Jackie
Many thanks Jackie. I’ve updated the maps with this info.
Hi Jackie I’m so sorry to hear about your dog Buzz , we haven’t met, but I have walked Trinity woods and common quite regularly, just not this year as my dog loves the beach.
Can I ask if you think dog food/ faeces could play a part? I just wondered if mess that’s not picked up could be exacerbated by a muddy environment?
Hi Chris,
Thank you for this website and all the work you do. Are there any prevention measures known for this disease? Also there’s no cases in Pembrokeshire in Wales. Is this due to a lack of data? We’re going on a hiking holiday and I don’t want to take my Saluki mongrel somewhere the disease is prevalent. Thank you so much for your time and work.
Hi Courtney,
Since we don’t know the cause of Alabama Rot it is not possible to suggest prevention measures that will definitely work. Washing mud of a dog after a walk may or may not help. Recognising symptoms of Alabama Rot and getting a dog to a vet without delay is important.
All of the confirmed / suspected Alabama Rot cases I know about are listed on these 2 maps: http://alabamarot.co.uk/map/ eg Pembrokeshire has had no Alabama Rot cases to date.
Hi,
My name’s Jon Howick from BBC Surrey and I was hoping to talk to Chris Street about Alabama Rot on our breakfast show on Monday, as we’re keen to showcase the disease and educate listeners on what to look out for.
If you could call myself back on 01483 734337, that would be great.
Cheers,
Jon
Hi Jon,
further to our telecom I look forward to chatting to James & Suzanne of BBC Surrey http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p017tht6 about Alabama Rot at 7am for 7.05am on Monday 4th July. My mobile: 07794 419720.
Hi Chris, I have sent you an email regarding a national charity which is being set up to assist with raising funds for research. Please do get in touch! Many thanks, Michael
Hi Michael,
I’ve got your email and replied a few minutes ago.
Hi my dog has some symptoms in the legs skin loss and lesions fur coming out in fair sized clumps but his blood results only show anaemia. He has been weeing on the kitchen floor. Lethargic, can only walk to end of road but very keen. Skin come off legs and fur, around legs shoulders joints high temp has come down no vomiting piarrheoahwhich Antibx has shifted a bit strraming eye green gunk on left side. Vet is treating him with nonsteroidals and antibiotics..(vets4pets Old swan Liverpool ) are these actually any use? Bathing his as per instruction in salt water. They are saying is only theoretically a case of CRGV. He seems to be rallying a little and areas clearing up but he is still very slow. Apetite has generally been ok amd faeces mostly good solid. Should i isolate my other dog? Help advice please. Thanks.
Hi Sean,
I’m not a vet so can’t advise. My only comment would be that your vet should be instructed to contact Anderson Moores Vet Specialists (in CRGV) immediately: http://www.Andersonmoores.com near Winchester and your dog be referred to them. See http://www.andersonmoores.com/about/article.php?u=H489EW6SJWR9DETSWBGM
Hi Chris
Excellent work !!
My daughters’ dog died from this in March 2014 (included in the statistics) - we strongly feel that comparing the incidences with the rainfall at the time would be very likely to show a direct correlation. Every time we have inordinate rainfall, we anticipate further occurrences and unfortunately we are usually correct.
My daughter GPS tracked her last walk with her dog - she was the only person walking there at that time - so the statistic is that 100% of the dogs walked on that day in that place, contracted the illness. We did offer to take anybody on the walk, and my daughter could highlight where there were sources of water appearing due to the heavy rainfall, which were not normally evident - but nobody took up the offer.
Keep up the good work!!
Hi Lorraine,
I first posted here about the rainfall link some time ago. http://alabamarot.co.uk/map/confirmed-cases-map/. Anderson Moores say they have entirely discounted radiation for reasons I personally find perplexing, even suspicious. If it is something in the water, radioactive pollution is a very obvious culprit, but for reasons we can all guess, the government (the forestry commission and all) that recommends Anderson Moores to us on their site, do not want them to find that out. Maybe I’m putting two and two together, but I’ve posted here and on their facebook challenging them to debate this. To date, no reply.
Fair point my one dog has it the other hasnt, same water source, maybe independent analysis. Of the water source.
Awesome. Thanks, Chris.
Hi there
I live in Midlothian, Scotland, near Edinburgh. On facebook there has been confirmation of a dog dying from Alabama rot in midlothian and another 2 have died recently. This was posted by ICR veterinary surgeons.
I’m not sure if you only post on English or British, therefore I wanted to share this with you
Hi Kate,
please post here the online links by ICR vets.
Hi Chris, can you by any chance point us to a spreadsheet of the cases, please? Thanks whether or not.
Hi Graham,
regret spreadsheet for Google Maps is not available AFAIK. You could download as KML/KMZ file but that won’t help to get into spreadsheet regrettably.
Hi Chris,
Just get me the KML/KMZ file/point me to it and I’ll GIVE you the spreadsheet so you can publish here :o).
Hi Graham,
the KML/KMZ file can be downloaded from the map https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1tk75QDe_6i9q8Ykr6-hCYcErT7E
Enlarge map to full screen. Click ‘Map Legend’, 3 dots at top right, download KML.
Thanks for putting together this site - scary though it is. Is anyone collating potential commonalities between the dogs affected? I.e. Weather conditions, where they walked - woods, open fields, through mud etc? Though I appreciate owners would be understandably distressed in the immediate aftermath (is anyone compiling their contact details?). I’m not for a moment suggesting that you should be doing all this - it’s an onerous and possibly pointless task but I did wonder as it might help…. Perhaps a job for a student vet?
I have collated some publically available information on the all CRGV cases map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zIJgTtl9x6zk.kif7awTR9hAA
You might wish to contact Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists with your suggestion.
Are you safe after the 7 day period? Or can it appear after the 7 days?
Hi Chris,
Thanks so much for this site. Getting case information on this disease is really difficult. Our dog Frisbee is classed as an unconfirmed case as he survived. I’m not sure if he’s in your stats. He was walked in multiple locations near South Gorley, New forest in April 2014. However, we live in Bristol and were back home when he was diagnosed. Here is a link to the vet’s feature on him if that’s useful to you. http://www.highcroftvet.co.uk/BlogRetrieve.aspx?PostID=470020&A=SearchResult&SearchID=403131&ObjectID=470020&ObjectType=55
We are down the new forest quite a lot as we have family there, but we haven’t taken Frisbee since he contracted the disease. I keep an eye on this site to work out how prevalent the problem still is in the new forest so we can decide whether to take him again. Your site is invaluable for this thank you!
One thing that would be really useful to me is if the data you have is available in a spreadsheet format so I can sift the data more conveniently. Please let me know if this is possible.
Thanks again,
Shaun
This is a great suggestion, e.g. I would dearly like to know the ration of dogs to bitches, but it’s not easy to compile this from the map, [indispensible though the map is, of course].
Thank you for this informative website. With the increasing numbers of stories in the media it is good to have this resource to go to. I have highlighted to my friends, dog walking groups and agility club. Thanks again.
thanks Chris for linking to this site.
Hi,
Just a question but is there any chance of other animals being affected by this such as cats or ferrets? We don’t have a dog but do have cats/ferrets and I just wanted to know for peace of mind.
Thank you,
Melissa.
CRGV only affects dogs.
Hi, Could you call me please ?
Steve Humphrey
BBC TV South
xxxx xxxxxx (edited)
Hi, will call Tuesday.
Chris Street
I think the Staffordshire confirmed case is shown in the wrong place on the map - it is shown near Wolverhampton, but the dog was walked at Dimmingsdale much further north near AltonTowers, and I believe the vets was called Abbeyfields in Rocester not far from where the dog was walked. Probably needs confirming.
Thanks Lesley, I’ve moved the pin to Dimmingsdale Wood, Stoke-on-Trent.
Chris Street
http://www.AlabamaRot.co.uk
Hi, is there any information on the treatment(s) that have been successfully administered to the few survivors of this disease?
Thanks,
Annie
Hi Annie,
David Walker at AndersonMoores.com would be the best person to talk to about surviving CRGV. His success rate is 37% rate whereas most other vets is < <10%. Read his blog: http://www.andersonmoores.com/vet/news and his advice to vets: http://www.andersonmoores.com/index.php/download_file/-/view/533
The Royal Vet College successfully treated ‘Alba’ from Bristol using ‘Plasmapheresis’: http://alabamarot.co.uk/who-are-the-experts-in-alabama-rot-david-walker-of-amvs/