The Veterinary Times, 6th April 2015 (week 14) issue interviews David Walker of Anderson Moores about Alabama Rot. David talks about his March 2015 paper in the Veterinary Record.
David Walker said: There are no common triggers for the disease. “What’s interesting is whether it is a disease out there that was not recognised in the UK, or whether it is truly a new disease process?”
David spoke about the Animal Health Trust / Anderson Moores questionnaire on Alabama Rot (link deleted 18/10/16):
“We developed a questionnaire for owners of affected dogs and other dog owners. We were looking for any commonality between what the affected cases were doing compared to the unaffected cases - the same walking route, the same diet or eating other animals’ faeces on the walk - but we found no common link between the affected and unaffected cases”
“Are there environmental triggers for this disease? That is a possibility, but we have ruled out so many possible infectious causes that the geographical location of these cases is not very relevant. Maybe this is a spontaneously arising disease that doesn’t have an environmental trigger.”
But if it not an environmental disease why are the vast majority of CRGV cases only seen between November and June? Why do there seem to be clusters in the New Forest in Hampshire, in Guildford in Surrey and in Cheshire? Are these ‘clusters’ occurring by chance? How many people answered the AHT/AM questionnaire?
David usually prefers the term ‘CRGV’ (Cutaneous and Renal Glomerular Vasculopathy) rather than ‘Alabama Rot’. But, interestingly, in this interview he uses the term ‘canine HUS’. HUS is Haemolytic Uremic Syndrome.
The study authors say it is unclear whether canine HUS and Alabama Rot are two distinct disease processes, but emphasis damage to both the small blood vessels of the skin and kidney seem to be unique to the disease.
Read the Veterinary Record March 2015 paper.
Read the full Veterinary Times 6th April 2015 (week 14) article below (click on the image):
Hi Sarah,
Sorry to hear your dog is suffering. I’m no expert. Clearly, you have to seek expert advice, but if all else failed and it were my dog, I might also be inclined to try treating the lesions with honey, a natural anti-biotic that also promotes healing whatever the cause.
In your place I would make sure that my dog lap does not water from puddles, I would be strongly inclined to clean my dog after walking, cleaning particularly between its paws, so that it could not tread anything into the house, or lick possible contaminants from its coat when it gets in.
I am not directly advising you to do that, though. Merely saying what I would do in your place. I hope it can help somehow.
You might also want to Google “treating lesions with honey” or “honey and radiation burns” (without the quotes), although, I’m sure the vets would be the experts on how to apply it and make sure any dressing stays in place.
If you are willing to investigate further and try anything, then there’s this site too:
http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/protect-your-dog-radiation/
Also, search the net yourself and share it here. Hope some of this can help you somehow.
Monday eve my dog developed acute swelling on the hock part of the leg - no known injury but some superficial wounds which have got bigger. I have seen 3 vets in my area one said it was a ski infection and have prescribed me anti biotics the other took a blood test and it has come back normal but with higher than normal potassium levels- cannot remember what the vet said about this as was so distraught. My dog is a saluki greyhound cross hes 5. Hes eating well but inflammation in leg and new legion has formed. I was told by vet that due t extreme swelling the skin had burst causing the legion? I am so confused my the things i have read advice much appreciated.
Hi Sarah,
I suggest you ask the vet to immediately call Anderson Moores Vet Specialists (AMVS) to discuss symptoms / lesions with them: http://www.andersonmoores.com phone: 01962 767920. They can also offer your vet a free GFR (Glomerular Filtration Rate) 24 hour turnaround test. http://alabamarot.co.uk/dogs-with-skin-lesions-get-quicker-alabama-rot-diagnosis/
If any chance of Alabama Rot, I would get my vet to refers my dog to AMVS for treatment.