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| Keep a check on your dogs for signs of lesions |
When you look after animals, there is always cause for
concern if they become a “little off colour”, especially as they can’t tell you
what the matter is, unlike children. Mind you, when I was a child, the assorted animals always grabbed far more attention than us children even when they were perfectly
well, let alone if they were ill!
Hence I had to spend a whole day with a broken arm, having
fallen out of a tree first thing in the morning while checking out a bird’s nest. It was not until the evening that I managed to get someone to listen to my
winging and take me down to the doctor – who confirmed the break within seconds
and sent me off to the plaster room!
Anyway, I digress!
A fellow work colleague sent an e-mail
around the other morning saying “When I got home from work last night my dog
wasn't quite himself and wasn't able to get out of bed and I noticed a number
of quite nasty lesions on his skin. After taking him to the vet they suspected
he might have the early signs of Alabama Rot”.
The GWCT just happens to have a Vet working with us at the
moment and he commented “It is thought that dogs can be exposed to this toxin
during the winter months in wet muddy conditions (especially wooded areas). The
toxin can cause skin lesions on the lower legs or feet and damage the kidneys,
sometimes causing kidney failure. Advice is to wash mud off your dog after walking
and to monitor for any unusual skin lesions. It is important to stress that
this is very rare disease, but if you are at all concerned you should get your
pet in to be checked”.
There is not a huge amount known about this disease,
although the New forest does seem to be a stronghold for it, perhaps because so
many dogs are exercised there. The map showing outbreaks of this disease does
however cover most of England, so I think it is as well to keep a good look out
for it over the next few months, as it does appear to be on the increase. It can and does quite often result in the dog’s
kidneys failing, leading to death, however, as with most things, if you catch
it early enough then the Vet can certainly help.
A useful site to read up more on this disease is:
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