A landlady is warning dog owners to stay away from woodland in Wigan after her beloved pet contracted a deadly fungal infection.
Julie Rothwell, 54, took her two dogs Bradley and Lily out for a walk on disused railway tracks near her home, in Tyldesley, three weeks ago.
When the trio returned home to the Tap Rooms pub they had no idea that Bradley had picked up the deadly fungal infection Alabama rot.
It was only two days later when Manchester terrier Bradley started showing signs of pain in his leg that Julie realised something was wrong.
Julie said: “The vet couldn’t see a break in his leg but it was really sore and swollen.
“I never thought it was Alabama rot but he just got worse. He started being sick and was weeing blood.
“This lesion appeared on his front leg. It went from a tiny mark to a four inch gash. The damage was done and he just went downhill.”
Six-year-old Bradley was admitted to Vetcare Ltd, in Leigh, but suffered catastrophic kidney failure. Julie was then forced to make the heartbreaking decision to put him to sleep.
She said: “It was awful. Devastating doesn’t even sum it up. The ironic think is I’m so aware of Alabama rot and we only went for one walk.
“Once is enough and it’s just not worth it.”
Julie and her vet Chad Northcott are now warning dog owners to keep their pets away from the Squires Lane area of Tyldesley.
Veterinary surgeon Chad, a director at Vetcare Ltd, said Alabama rot originated in the United States and materialised in the New Forest three years ago.
He confirmed that Julie’s dog died from the disease and has advised dog walkers to stay away from wooded and damp areas around Squires Lane.
He said: “There were about six cases of this around the area two years ago.
“It is historically picked up around Spring time on damp or wet land where people walk their dogs.
“Nobody is any the wiser as to what causes it. It might be some kind of microtoxin entering a wound or being ingested.
“It’s not an epidemic as there has only been one case this year. But I would advise people to be very cautious about letting their dogs off the lead in that area.”
Bradley’s death comes just two years after her friend’s dog Sally also died after contracting Alabama rot from the same spot.
