Could your dog be at risk for Alabama Rot disease? Recent reported illnesses show that this devastating canine disease may be spreading. Alabama Rot, or more commonly known as Idiopathic Cutaneous and Renal Glomerular Vasculopathy (CRGV), was first discovered in the 1980s, but diagnoses have waxed and waned with periodic outbreaks in specific areas of the country. It is especially dangerous because early diagnosis is often confused for other less serious illnesses. Even when detected and treated early, CRGV is often fatal and painful for the dogs it affects.
The best way to protect your pup from this horrible disease is to understand its symptoms and how it can affect your dog. In this short but important guide, we’ll go over the most important, “need to know” information.
For more in-depth information, your local vet is your best guide.
CRGV Symptoms
Canine CRGV presents with very specific symptoms, but those symptoms are overwhelmingly easy to confuse with other disorders or diseases. The first and most common sign is lesions or ulcers on the legs under the knee and close to the paw. It’s this symptom that has many researchers believing that the cause may be a pathogen found in muddy soil.
After the original lesions develop, additional lesions on the stomach, tongue, mouth, or muzzle often develop. These expand in size. Eventually, dogs affected show signs of gastrointestinal distress, including vomiting, diarrhea, and generalized fatigue.
Kidney damage and failure then follows.
Sadly, the rate of fatality in CRGV is extremely high, even with intervention. Though some dogs have survived with supportive care, the vast majority succumb to the disease within just two weeks. That doesn’t make it any less important to seek veterinary care quickly.
Is CRGV Contagious?
It does appear that CRGV is contagious in multi-dog households. Though the exact scope of how contagious it is isn’t known, what is known is that some dogs sharing a living space with CRGV-positive dogs have gone on to develop lesions and kidney failure themselves. Though some of these dogs walked in the same outdoor areas as their CRGV-positive housemates, this isn’t always the case.
Until more is known about CRGV, a suspected diagnosis should result in immediate quarantine and quarantine-suitable cleaning/disinfection, especially in shelters, kennels, and other high-number environments.
CRGV Diagnosis Is Difficult
Diagnosing a dog with CRGV is extremely difficult. Because little is known about exactly what causes the disease, treatment of symptoms and diagnosis comes down to elimination of other possibilities. Vets may do a biopsy or skin scrape of lesions to check for canine staphylococcus aureus or fungal infections, and may also check for autoimmune markers that could identify disorders that cause similar symptoms.
One of the earmark testing methods for CRGV is elevated levels of nitrogen compounds upon bloodwork. Known as azotemia, it is this condition that likely plays a role in kidney damage.
Sadly, the only way to confirm diagnosis for sure is via autopsy. Changes in the tissue within the kidneys indicate CRGV as a cause, though it isn’t known exactly how or why these changes occur.
Causes of CRGV
Researchers still don’t fully understand exactly how or why dogs experience CRGV. Though researchers originally believed that E. Coli was responsible for CRGV, they now believe that a germ called aeruginosa may also be at fault.
Toxins released by the germ while in the body can interfere with immune function and kidney function, but by the time most dogs are tested, the toxin itself is long gone. All that’s left is poorly functioning kidneys and skin lesions.
Studies into CRGV have illustrated similarities between Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), a germ that produces hemolytic-uremic syndrome in humans, and CRGV in dogs. Unfortunately, attempts to identify STEC in dogs have largely failed.
Alabama Rot Hotbed Zones
The most recent Alabama Rot outbreak occurred in the United Kingdom, where well over 100 dogs have been diagnosed with suspected cases in the last five years. In 2013 alone, 53 of those dogs passed away as a result of the disease.
While there has yet to be a confirmed outbreak in the United States in recent years, the UK outbreak is an important reminder of the fact that CRGV was originally detected on U.S. soil. Thus, the opportunity for another outbreak here in the United States is more than possible.
Muddy, forested, or swampy areas and trails seem to be the worst areas for CRGV. The disease also seems to affect Greyhounds disproportionately, though this observation was originally tied to the belief that CRGV may be caused by E. Coli.
CRGV Prevention
Because we still don’t know exactly what causes CRGV, and treatment options are mostly supportive in nature, pet owners should be proactive and preventative to ward it off. Avoid muddy or swampy areas whenever possible. This includes puddles and streams, especially in summer (when CRGV is most likely to occur).
If your dog, like most dogs, find himself covered in mud after playing in the latest swamp, wash off all mud with a dog-safe shampoo immediately. Dry the area well and monitor it closely for signs of redness, peeling, ulceration, or broken skin.
If your dog begins to show signs of fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, trembling, refusal to eat, or red, itchy skin after a play session in the mud, don’t assume it’s something he ate or just hotspots. See the vet immediately and monitor progression week-to-week. CRGV typically progresses within the first two weeks, so if your dog is back to normal within three to four weeks, you can safely assume CRGV isn’t the issue.
Researchers continue to investigate CRGV and its causes. Until more is known, little can be done to treat the disease or prevent it aside from basic supportive and preventative care. Early detection is the best way to ensure a successful prognosis for any disease, so spend a little time each day checking your dog(s) over thoroughly. Feel along the back, shoulders, and legs, and do a quick check for parasites like leeches, ticks, and fleas. Keep her immune system working its best with the right food, exercise, and rest for her breed.