Alabama Rot

Author
Discussion

Fallingup

Original Poster:

1,550 posts

99 months

Monday 21st May 2018
quotequote all
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.