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Thought I'd post this here as a heads up for dog owners in the Scottish Borders. From a vet in Galashiels.
We are very sad to report a confirmed case of Alabama Rot in a lovely young retreiver dog from our area. Georgie became unwell a few days after developing a skin sore on her lower leg. She had been playing in and around local rivers including the Tweed in the days before she became affected. As a profession, vets still don't know the underlying cause of Alabam Rot but it might be a bacteria contracted from water or muddy ground. The first sign is usually a sore on the legs, belly or face which might be bald, swollen, moist and quite red looking. This infection causes irreversible kidney failure so almost all dogs will sadly die of it. Some dogs have survived by travelling to the London Vet School for dialysis treatment but there is no local centre offering this treatment. Our best advice to try and avoid this infection is not to let your dog play in rivers or muddy areas. If they do get wet or dirty on a walk then wash them as soon as you get home. Check them for scrapes and sores and make an appointment to see your vet about any wounds you can't explain. Monitor their eating and drinking and if they become lethargic please check with your vet. Hopefully the dry weather will reduce the risk and we won't see any more cases but please be vigilant. Thank you.
We are very sad to report a confirmed case of Alabama Rot in a lovely young retreiver dog from our area. Georgie became unwell a few days after developing a skin sore on her lower leg. She had been playing in and around local rivers including the Tweed in the days before she became affected. As a profession, vets still don't know the underlying cause of Alabam Rot but it might be a bacteria contracted from water or muddy ground. The first sign is usually a sore on the legs, belly or face which might be bald, swollen, moist and quite red looking. This infection causes irreversible kidney failure so almost all dogs will sadly die of it. Some dogs have survived by travelling to the London Vet School for dialysis treatment but there is no local centre offering this treatment. Our best advice to try and avoid this infection is not to let your dog play in rivers or muddy areas. If they do get wet or dirty on a walk then wash them as soon as you get home. Check them for scrapes and sores and make an appointment to see your vet about any wounds you can't explain. Monitor their eating and drinking and if they become lethargic please check with your vet. Hopefully the dry weather will reduce the risk and we won't see any more cases but please be vigilant. Thank you.
Awful disease.
Its been quite prevalent around the Bolton area - https://www.express.co.uk/news/nature/941938/Bolto...
Its been quite prevalent around the Bolton area - https://www.express.co.uk/news/nature/941938/Bolto...
It's a devastating condition and I really hope experts get to the bottom of how it is caused. There is no definite conclusion, but it does look like it is based around wet and muddy ground. Hate to be paranoid, but I'll really try to avoid anywhere like this now and tend to walk my dogs in dry playing fields and the beach. Unfortunately I know this isn't possible for many.
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