Why Aren’t There Any Alabama Rot Success Stories?
Any pet owner that has heard about Alabama Rot is likely to be worried about whether their dog will get this disease. A part of this worry is that only dogs that have died can be classed as definitely having Alabama Rot so you never hear about a success story of them recovering from a trusted source like veterinary specialists, even though we believe there are many cases. This may then raise questions like, is Alabama Rot always fatal? Can a dog recover from Alabama Rot?
This is because this disease can only be definitively diagnosed post-mortem through renal biopsy. This means, in cases where a dog is suspected of having Alabama Rot and recovers, there is no evidence that they actually had this disease and so we cannot say they have definitely recovered from CRGV. We may however strongly suspect the diagnosis when a dog recovers, but we can’t say with 100% confidence that it was CRGV.
What Is Alabama Rot?
Alabama Rot is a rare but life-threatening disease that affects dogs. This disease is characterised by skin sores, which are particularly common on paws and legs, which are often quickly followed by sudden onset kidney failure.
As the disease is so rapidly progressive, Alabama Rot is often life-threatening. This fast-acting disease can be hard to catch in the early stages but doing so might make all the difference for your dog. At the moment, the cause of this disease is unknown and so there is no known cure, but specialists continue to work to make progress on this front with research.
Are Alabama Rot and CRGV the Same Thing?
Yes, Alabama rot is another name for CRGV. CRGV stands for cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy. Therefore, you also won’t see any examples of CRGV success stories for the same reason there are no reported cases of dogs recovering from confirmed Alabama Rot.
How Do Vets Test for Alabama Rot?
In a suspected case of Alabama Rot where a dog has unfortunately lost their life, a vet can arrange to take samples post-mortem. This is done by taking a biopsy of the kidney tissue and seeing if there is any evidence for Alabama Rot through laboratory analysis.
Completing this procedure is also dependent on the wishes of the pet owner, as they will need to consent to the post-mortem biopsy. In a case where a pet owner does not want to test their pet, then we will never know whether this dog suffered from CRGV.
What Can I Do If My Dog Is Showing Signs of Alabama Rot?
Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists have a dedicated page looking at common symptoms of Alabama Rot. If your dog is displaying any of these symptoms or you are concerned about their wellbeing, you should immediately call your vet, who will be able to give further advice. For CRGV intensive management and early recognition might make all the difference in achieving a better outcome for your pet.