Alabama Rot Research Fund (ARRF) are pleased to announce their joint funding with NFDOG, for an epidemiology project into cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy (CRGV or Alabama Rot). This work will be carried out by Dr Kim Stevens. http://www.rvc.ac.uk/about/our-people/kim-stevens
 
Using data provided by Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists the research aims to:
 
1.     Identify possible risk factors for CRGV including age, breed and sex whilst also assessing possible climatic risk factors
2.     Investigate the spatial epidemiology of the disease to identify apparent clusters of cases in certain areas
3.     Developing and launching a new questionnaire that will allow improved data collection
 
We would hope to be able to provide an update on the findings of this exciting research towards the end of this year.

What is Alabama Rot?
Alabama Rot is a disease that causes damage to a dog's blood vessels and the kidney. It is a mysterious disease which is hard to identify and sadly, very difficult to treat. Since December 2012, there have been 78 confirmed cases in the UK, including 14 in 2016 so far.

Vets are warning dog owners to look out for the signs of Alabama Rot, a disease that kills more than three quarters of the dogs it infects.
What is Alabama Rot?
Alabama Rot is more formally known as CRGV. Very little is known about the disease, which causes damage to blood vessels of the skin and kidney. Blood vessels become blocked by tiny clots, which can lead to ulcers or organ dysfunction.
What are the signs?

• Skin lesions - a swelling, patch of red skin or ulcer
• Sores - not caused by any known injury, often below the elbow or knee
• Symptoms of kidney failure - vomiting, lack of hunger, tiredness

How to prevent Alabama Rot
It is thought the disease is picked up through muddy paws, so washing your dog after a muddy walk is recommended. If you believe your dog is showing signs of Alabama Rot, go to the vet at the earliest opportunity

With more warnings about the spread of the potentially deadly disease Alabama Rot, we're asking if your dog has been affected.
It's thought Alabama Rot has claimed the lives of 13 dogs in the south in the past year.
It causes acute kidney failure and seems to be more prevalent in the New Forest, Dorset, Wiltshire, Sussex and Surrey.

Vets have issued a new warning over Alabama Rot, a deadly fungal infection that has affected 14 dogs in the first four months of 2016, and 78 since 2012.

The disease first appeared in Greyhounds in USA in the 1980s but has now spread to 16 English counties, including Kent, London, Hampshire, Greater Manchester and Dorset.
When a dog has contracted Alabama Rot the first sign is normally a skin sore that isn’t caused by a known injury, usually below the elbow or knee, which appears as a distinct swelling, a patch of red skin or is open and ulcer-like.
"The cause of Alabama Rot, clinically known as idiopathic cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy (CRGV), is still unknown and there is no known way to prevent a dog from contracting the disease," said David Walker, from Anderson Moores Vetinary Specialists.
Anderson Moores is now calling for all UK vets to contact them with any suspected cases of Alabama Rot. 
“Only tests on a kidney from an affected dog (most likely post mortem) will give 100% confirmation of the disease,” added Mr Walker. 
“There have been a number of cases ‘confirmed’ by vets, but unless we carry out analysis of the affected pet, we will never be able to confirm the disease.” 
The firm Vets4Pets has launched an online interactive guide for dog owners to help them spot the infection, and to discover if there have been any confirmed cases nearby. 
According to Dr Huw Stacey, director of clinical services at Vets4Pets, warned that treatment for Alabama Rot is only successful in 20-30% of cases.
“If a dog becomes affected the best outcome will probably come from early and intensive veterinary care, which has resulted in some dogs successfully recovering,” he said.
“Any dog owners who are worried that their pet might have Alabama Rot should contact their veterinary practice immediately. 
“This will help build knowledge about the disease and also give a dog the best chance of survival.”