Linnaeus-owned Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists in Winchester has been leading research into the devastating disease, cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy (CRGV), since 2012 and has recently launched a website dedicated to Alabama rot, which offers advice and information, including a live map of confirmed cases across the UK.
The referral centre has now confirmed two more cases in Bristol and Kingsbridge, Devon, taking the total number since January 1 2022 up to five across the country.
David Walker, American, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and European Board of Veterinary Specialisation (EBVS) European specialist in small animal internal medicine, leads the team at Anderson Moores and is the UK’s foremost authority on the Alabama rot.
He said: “We’re very sad to confirm two further cases of CRGV. Unfortunately, we find ourselves at the time of year when cases are most commonly identified. It is understandably worrying for dog owners; however, I must stress that this disease is still very rare. We’re advising dog owners across the country to remain calm but vigilant and seek advice from their vets if their dog develops unexplained skin lesions.”
The disease, which originally appeared in the late 1980s, was first detected in the UK in 2012. It affects the kidneys and has a 90 per cent mortality rate. The new cases of Alabama rot follow 28 throughout 2021 and 47 in 2020, and takes the total number of confirmed cases in the UK to 284.
While CRGV is often fatal, David said the best chance of recovery probably lies with early and intensive veterinary care which may be best provided at a specialist facility. He said: “We have been at the forefront of research into CRGV for almost a decade and have witnessed first-hand the often-devastating effects of the disease.
“Treatment largely revolves around management of the sudden onset kidney failure and, sadly, with our current understanding of the disease, is only successful in around 10 per cent of cases.”
David added that he hoped Anderson Moores’ dedicated new Alabama rot website would be a useful tool for both dog owners and fellow veterinary professionals.
“In launching this new website, we aim to give both pet owners and colleagues across the industry as much information as possible about CRGV,” he said.
Anderson Moores offers specialist care in anaesthesia and analgesia, cardiology, dentistry, dermatology, diagnostic imaging, emergency and critical care, feline hyperthyroid clinic, internal medicine, neurology, oncology, orthopaedics and soft tissue surgery.
The view Anderson Moores’ new dedicated CRGV website, which includes a nationwide live map of cases. visit the Alabama rot website.
