Norwegian Buhund

Breed Notes 2nd February 2017 Margaret Deuchar

NORWEGIAN BUHUNDS

Last weekend Brenda and Tony Bethell went to Cardiff Canine Society open show, their first show of the year, it was held at the Cwmbran Stadium Henllys Way. The judge was Mr Atkinson who awarded BOB to their Zodiac’s Featuring Fredrik At Taevas Of Minforst(Imp US.)

This week I am going to talk about Alabama Rot, as recently 2 new cases have been confirmed, one in north Devon and one in North Yorkshire. Last year cases of the Rot were reported up and down the UK, sadly with a death rate of 85-90%. The disease can affect any dog of any breed any age and any size. Vets still have no idea what causes it or how it is transmitted. It has the veterinary name of Idiopathic cutaneous and glomertular Vasculopathy (CRGV).

It was first identified in the USA in the 1980s in Greyhounds; in the UK since 2012 there have been 122 cases with 37 being reported last year. The first sign of Alabama Rot taking hold is that the dog’s skin looks sore but there is no obvious injury. The sores are usually around the elbow and knees but can be over the whole body, there may be swelling and the sores can be ulcer like in appearance, affected dogs can develop clinical signs of kidney failure which may include sickness, tiredness and loss of appetite often resulting in death. These symptoms are not exclusive to Rot, so if a dog shows any one of these signs it is essential a vet is consulted immediately. Not only do vets not know what causes it, neither do they know how it is transmitted. One scientist has tested kidneys and has never found anything that could cause the Rot. A bacterium was found though on the legs of the dogs, that she recognised had been found in pond fish. She said that the bacterium would not travel to the kidneys but could cause a blood infection which would. The fact that the bacterium is known in fish makes her suggest that the infection is present in water, possibly stagnant ponds, wet woodland or boggy areas. This is not proven and more research has to be done but the advice for some time, has been to wash off your dog’s feet and legs and even noses when you return home, if you walk your dogs in these areas. It is also suspected that it is seasonal and that could tie-in with more wet weather in winter. The most recent cases were diagnosed by Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists, they provide a fact sheet on the disease and say, if you think your dog may be affected, early recognition and aggressive veterinary management, is the most likely way for there to be a good outcome.

Our younger daughter and her husband live-in the New Forest and have a cocker spaniel who has his legs and feet always washed off most days, after he has walked in the Forest.

Margaret Deuchar   margaretdeuchar@gmail.com

The views expressed in Margaret’s Breed Notes are hers and hers alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Norwegian Buhund Club of the UK