MEMBERS of a heartbroken York family have revealed how they lost their beloved pet dog to Alabama Rot - and are now planning a marathon walk to raise funds to research the condition.

James Gilbertson, 38, his wife Sarah, 38, and daughters Ruby, 15, and Isobel, 13, of Haxby, are fundraising in memory of their dog Rocky, a Poochon (Toy Poodle/Bichon Fries), who died from the rare disease - also known as ‘cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy’ (CRGV).

Rocky was three-years-old when he died, and James, who owns Crew Hairdressing in Gillygate, York, said: “It’s been the hardest thing we have ever been through. During this last year, through lockdowns, he had become our world.

"He woke up one morning licking his paw and we noticed that there was a small lesion by one of the pads on his foot. But, knowing Rocky, if he had cut his foot he would have let us know – he was very sensitive.

“We took Rocky to the vets and they said ‘it’s a scratch, it’ll be fine’. A few days later it was still bothering him, so we took Rocky to a vet in Haxby for a second opinion. He started being sick and they gave him anti-sickness tablets and an injection.

“Rocky then had blood tests and they found his kidneys weren’t functioning properly. He was kept in on a drip for three nights because he had stopped drinking, and then Alabama Rot was mentioned. We were sent to Swift Referrals in Wetherby. He then had a seizure during the night and we spent a heartbreaking last few hours with him the next day.”

The family will be walking a marathon next Thursday to raise funds for research into the disease. And Ruby has set up a JustGiving page. To make a donation, go to: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ruby-gilbertson

Treatment for the disease involves intensive management of the acute kidney injury and is only successful in around 10 per cent of cases. There have been 23 confirmed cases of Alabama Rot in the UK to date in 2021, and only 274 cases since 2012.

Approximately 92 per cent of cases are seen between November and May. There is currently a lot of research going on into Alabama Rot.

David Walker, a specialist in small animal medicine, leads the team at Winchester-based Anderson Moores vets and is the UK’s foremost authority on the disease.

He said: “January and February are typically our highest case months and, sadly, this year was no different. We’re advising dog owners across the country to remain calm but vigilant and seek advice from their local vets if their dog develops unexplained skin lesions.”