An Alabama Rot warning in Lower Kingswood, Surrey, in 2020 (Image: Grahame Larter)

A rare but serious disease affecting dogs is putting owners on high alert, as 90% of cases are reported between November and May. The UK has seen 330 confirmed cases of Alabama Rot since the disease hit the country in 2012, and while rare, it can sometimes lead to fatal kidney failure.

Also known as Cutaneous and Renal Glomerular Vasculopathy (CRGV) , Alabama Rot damages blood vessels in the skin and kidneys. It causes painful skin lesions on dogs which can appear ulcerated or necrotic and may progress to acute kidney failure within days.

The disease carries a high mortality rate, making early detection critical. First identified in greyhounds in the United States during the 1980s, Alabama Rot emerg

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