Alabama Rot
What is Alabama Rot?
It is a condition that causes damage to a dog's blood vessels and kidneys.
It can be hard to identify, diagnose and to treat.
The disease was first identified in greyhounds in Alabama in the 1980s, hence the name, and is much more common in the US than in the UK.
Since 2012, there have been at least 191 confirmed and 35 suspected cases of the disease across the UK.
The first sign of Alabama Rot is skin sores which have not been caused by a physical injury.
They are most commonly found below the knee or elbow or occasionally on the stomach or the face. Usually, this will cause hair loss and the dog will begin licking the wound.
These sores will be followed - between two and seven days later - with symptoms of kidney failure, such as reduced appetite, fatigue and vomiting.
Dogs are more likely to survive the disease if it is diagnosed early, but it is estimated that treatment is only successful in around 20 to 30 per cent of cases.
Studies into Alabama Rot are on-going. But what’s perplexing for vets is that hundreds of dogs can walk in the same area of countryside every day, and only a tiny number will be affected by the disease. This could mean those dogs have some intrinsic predisposition to it.
So what can YOU do to help protect your dog against Alabama Rot?
Current advice is to wash dogs’ feet and legs after a muddy walk. Use Colloidal Silver in a spray form to naturally clean your dog's paws.
