A mystery disease which is killing dogs across the country has claimed the life of a pooch in Epsom, according to a heartbroken family.

Sue Gray contacted the Epsom Guardian after her daughter’s family dog, Frankie, an eight-year-old Chow Chow, died suddenly last Tuesday, February 25.

The big, bear-like pet, who had been taken in by Natalie Daws and her family, from Tattenham Corner, six years ago, was healthy on Saturday, when he was taken for what turned out to be his last walk on Epsom Downs.

But by Monday, he had lost his appetite, seemed depressed and was drinking excessive amounts of water.  He also had lesions on his leg.

The next day, the dog died, when Mrs Gray, 63, of Ewell, came to check on him - just before he was due to be taken to the vet because of the family’s concerns about his health.

Your Local Guardian:

Frankie with Chan, a female Chow Chow, also belonging to the Daws family, from whom he was inseparable

Mrs Gray said the vet confirmed that Frankie died of kidney failure.  And she believes that his symptoms point to a form of Alabama Rot - an infection, which originated in greyhounds in Alabama, America, in the 1980s, the cause of which is unknown. 

She said: "Frankie was a very, very greedy dog.  You could never feed him and Chan, the family’s other Chow Chow, together.  You always knew you had to be careful.

"On Monday, for some reason, Frankie didn’t eat.  He had been looking very sad. 

"He stopped eating, but he didn’t stop drinking water and he didn’t like water usually.  He was drinking the water out of the puddles in the garden.  That was a sign for me.  I thought ‘Uh oh, that’s the kidneys.  He’s sick’.

"Frankie died on Tuesday morning.  He died in the garden on his favourite spot and he waited until someone was here.

"The vets said we wouldn’t have been able to save him.

"Frankie was a big, healthy dog and suddenly went in 48 hours.  It’s horrendous.  There was no warning.  The children are broken-hearted."

There have been 19 confirmed cases of dog death due to Alabama Rot in the UK since 2012, and 17 other suspected cases.  Although it first struck in the New Forest, Hants, dogs have also died in Surrey, Yorkshire, Cornwall, Worcester, Devon and Cheshire.

David Walker, of Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists, near Winchester, Hants, said his surgery is researching the cause of the disease.

Despite a number of cases originating in the New Forest, Mr Walker said the disease is not regional, as it has been reported throughout the UK, and therefore geographical localities cannot be cordoned off.

He said: "It’s been ongoing since 2012 when we were first becoming aware of the disease.  Alabama Rot was not reported in the UK before 2012. 

"The dogs are presenting with skin lesions - a reddening area of the skin which progresses into a defect in the skin. 

"Then, in two to seven days, there are signs of kidney failure.  The dogs can also go off their food and start to vomit.

"It is an idiopathic disease which means its trigger is unknown.  What we know, looking at the kidneys under the microscope, is that the dogs have the condition known as Alabama Rot.

"Our research efforts are focused on finding a trigger for the disease."

Mr Walker said there have been two cases in Surrey - one confirmed, in Pewley Down, and one unconfirmed in Albury Hill.

He added: "We don’t know what the trigger is so it’s impossible for us to give specific advice.  But if you see a skin lesion of an unknown origin - in that you’re not expecting to see it from the activities you have undertaken with your dog - then go and see a vet.

"This is concerning, but we need to keep perspective - it is a relatively low number of cases."

Andy Downing, the principal vet at Banstead Village Veterinary Surgery, echoed Mr Walker’s advice to dog-owners.

He said: "Any dog with non-healing ulcers, particularly on the hind legs, should be taken to the vets straightaway, because it can then progress to life-threatening kidney failure.

"The dogs that have survived it have been identified straightaway before the kidney failure sets in."

Mrs Gray said the Daws’ remaining dog, Chan, has been "quiet and withdrawn" since her partner’s death.

She said Frankie had survived an earlier traumatic attack: "Frankie didn’t bark as a snake had bitten him on the neck.  He just warbled.

"Then in 48 hours, he just went."

Alabama Rot - what to look out for:

  • Unexplained cuts or ulcers on the legs
  • Vomiting
  • Loss of appetite
  • Severe depression
  • Signs of kidney failure

For more information click here.

Do you think your dog has been affected by Alabama Rot? Contact Hardeep Matharu on the newsdesk on 020 8722 6346, email hmatharu@london.newsquest.co.uk, or leave a comment below.