A leading Oxfordshire vet is warning dog owners to be vigilant after a confirmed case of the deadly Alabama Rot disease in the county.
Boundary Vets, which is based in Oxford Road, Abingdon has issued the warning after treating a dog affected by the crippling disease, which was first detected in the UK in 2012.
Amanda Gatward, veterinary surgeon at Boundary Vets, is urging dog owners to be aware of symptoms, which can include sudden swelling or soreness on the skin.
She said: “This confirmed case is concerning and I would advise owners to be on their guard. Early symptoms include sores and skin lesions, typically below the knee or elbow, which are not wounds from an injury.
“The sores show as a swelling, a patch of red skin or a defect such as an ulcer. From then, affected dogs can develop signs of kidney failure which can include vomiting, reduced appetite and tiredness.
“Early recognition of the disease is key. Without knowing the trigger for the disease it’s impossible to give specific advice but I would urge dog owners to bring take their pets to be checked after any sudden onset of skin lesions, especially if the dog is also unwell.”
Alabama Rot first appeared in the late 1980s affecting greyhounds in America. The cause of the disease, clinically known as idiopathic cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy (CRGV) is still unknown.
