Gundog Training Forum

Without wishing to cause alarm I would like to inform all gundog owners in the Worcestershire area that there is a serious illness locally which can be fatal. The symptoms are: A rash which looks like nettle rash which then breaks out in lesions which then leads to kidney failure. If your dog gets the initial symptoms get it to a vet pronto. Very sadly several dogs have had to be pts. I feel so desperately sorry for the owners.

Any more definite details as to where this originated or is this the usual phenomena that does the rounds of fora? Google searches throw up nothing..

Rascal

Oh lor Miff as I live in the Worcester area, any more details?

Jelinga

Rascal wrote:Any more definite details as to where this originated or is this the usual phenomena that does the rounds of fora? Google searches throw up nothing..

Rascal

No, this is not one of 'those'. There are no more details as yet. I spoke to the wife of the distraught owner of the two dead spaniels this evening and the advice being given by his vet is that dogs should have their tummys washed down when home after being out and about and if they have a rash, like nettle rash, to get it checked out immediately. The dogs go down hill so fast and into kidney failure.
I do assure you this is not a 'panic story' (of which there are too many) it is quite genuine. I hope to hear more once the owners get the autopsy results. I will certainly be keeping a watchful eye on my own dogs.

Any idea of the specific area where these dogs were when this happened Miff?

Just so folks have an idea of places to avoid. Sounds like it could be a crop dressing of some sort maybe, can't think what though.....

Rascal

Rascal wrote:Any idea of the specific area where these dogs were when this happened Miff?

Just so folks have an idea of places to avoid. Sounds like it could be a crop dressing of some sort maybe, can't think what though.....

Rascal

I cannot be so specific as nothing has been proved/disproved yet. The vet has asked that gundog people are 'aware'; to check their dogs and if anyone has any queries regarding their own dogs health, any dog showing a rash which cant be explained, to get their own vet to get in touch with him. The practice is in Evesham. So, we wont know whether this awful illness is connected to a specific place or could be more general until the autopsy results are in. If I get any more news I will contact the forum; as I have said before, just keep an eye and wash down dogs undercarriage once home.

Received this today;

EVERYONE PLEASE BE AWARE:

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL CASES OF DOGS SUFFERING FROM SKIN LESIONS, LETHARGY AND SICKNESS AND IN THREE (3) OUT OF FIVE (5) RENAL FAILURE, FITS AND DEATH.

PERSONALLY, WE HAVE LOST TWO DOGS IN THE LAST WEEK, BOTH WERE KENNEL DOGS AND AFTER A DAY’S BEATING WERE PUT BACK IN THEIR KENNELS - SOMETHING THAT MOST PEOPLE DO, THE THIRD DOG LIVES IN AND WAS BATHED!

ANOTHER DOG ALSO PRESENTED WITH THESE SYMPTOMS , BUT AS WITH OUR HOUSE DOG IT HAD BEEN BATHED AND TREATMENT SEEMS TO HAVE CONTOLLED THE SITUATION THOUGH BOTH THESE DOGS ARE UNDER SURVEILANCE AND ARE STILL HAVING REGULAR
BLOOD TESTS AS THERE IS STILL A CHANCE OF RENAL FAILURE.

WE HAVE TODAY LEARNT THAT A YOUNG SPANIEL, WHO HAS PRESENTED WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS, DESPITE VISITING THE VET AND RECEIVING ANTIBIOTICS, AS THE VET DIDN’T FEEL IT NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT BLOODTESTS AS HE FELT THE OWNER WAS OVER REACTING, HAS ALSO DIED.

PLEASE ,PLEASE, PLEASE - IF YOUR DOG HAS SPOTS ON IT'S LEGS, TUMMY ETC, AND IS LETHARGIC SEEK VETERINARY ADVICE IMMEDIATELY AND INSIST ON A BLOODTEST TO CHECK FOR RENAL FAILURE.

ASK YOUR VETS TO SPEAK TO MARTIN AND CARR OF PERSHORE (TOM CARR OR JAMES) WHO ARE MORE THAN HAPPY FOR YOU TO DISCUSS THE SITUATION WITH THEM AS THEY HAVE THREE WEEKS EXPERIENCE OF DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM.

(If you need to speak to them in the evenings then please email me and I will send you their telephone numbers. Judy)

WE WOULD SUGGEST THAT ANYONE WHO TAKES THEIR DOG INTO THE SHOOTING FIELD TAKES THE TIME TO BATH THEM WHEN THEY GET HOME SO THAT THEY DO NOT LICK THEMSELVES AND INGEST
ANYTHING POTENTIALLY FATAL.

Steve Smith
Chairman
WGDS

Arghhh...very worrying.. I was out beating last weds near pershore ( on my training course). If there is any more specific information on where the affected dogs had been beating, I would be most grateful for the info.. Meanwhile , I will phone the vets when they open... Gulp...

I have now spoken to the Chairman of the Worcester gundog soc, who lost two of the dogs.

Apparently whilst the initial cases (5 dogs: 3 died) were in Worcestershire, vets are now reporting similar isolated cases in Herefordshire and Sussex. He and the vets don't think its location specific.

The initial symptoms are a nettle-like rash on the belly/inside back legs after about 24hrs after exposure, which goes worse over the next couple of days. After a few days ( I think he said 5 in his case) the dogs starts vomiting & becoming lethargic and thereafter blood tests show signs of renal failure. Post mortems have been done on the dogs, but so far inconclusive.. more detailed renal analysis is underway.

Initial hypothesis is that it is some virulent form of leptospirosis. It seems that the dogs are picking something up on their skin/fur.. dogs which have been exposed, but which have been washed, have not got it so badly.

The suggestion is to make sure your dogs are bathed after taking out into the shooting field (or elsewhere I guess!)

Very worrying in deed...

Maybe due to the mild weather conditions and the amount of standing water about? Would vacinating for it seperately to the booster help?

Maybe this colder weather will help to kill it off?

Rascal

I've made this topic a sticky now...