Advice on how to combat Cutaneous and Renal Glomerular Vasculopathy (CRGV) aka Alabama Rot
There are cases of CRGV reported in Nottinghamshire. It is a disease that affects dogs and can be fatal. Blood vessels in the skin and kidneys are damaged. Outwardly, there may be sores visible on your dogs feet, legs and lower body that are not caused by injury. Although it’s impossible to completely prevent your dog picking up this disease, there are some precautions you can take. There is evidence to say CRGV is seasonal with the majority of cases occurring between November and June. Woody, muddy areas seem a common factor but not always.
What are the signs?
Early detection is key to your dog surviving. Some of the first signs of CRGV are
- Sores or lesions around the paws and lower body & legs. These can also be present on your dogs face, mouth and tongue
- Fur loss and licking excessively.
- Pain when ulcers/sores are touched.
- Loss of appetite and lethargy
- Vomiting
- Eventual kidney and organ failure
If you have any suspicion, please contact your vet ASAP as the quicker help is sought the better the chance of survival.
What causes CRGV?
No-one knows for sure, the cause is unknown. Research into the disease has been ongoing for the last 10 years. In most cases, the dogs have been walked in muddy, wooded areas.
Can I prevent my dog from becoming ill?
It’s important to remember that although you should be vigilant, cases are fairly low. It’s advisable to wash your dogs feet and lower body as soon as possible if you’ve been walking in muddy areas.
If you have any worries regarding your dog’s health, phone your vet immediately. It would be better to know there’s nothing to be concerned about than leaving it too late.
For more information you can visit The Vet Report via Vets4Pets which has a map of confirmed cases.