What is Alabama Rot, what are the symptoms and causes and how can I protect my dog against the disease?
It’s feared an outbreak of Alabama Rot is gaining ground across the country
A DEADLY flesh-eating disease that has killed more than 130 pets in Britain is causing dog owners increasing concern for their pets.
With four new cases being reported so far in June, let's take a closer look at Alabama Rot - sometimes referred to as the "black death" disease - which is feared to be gaining ground in the UK.
What is Alabama Rot?
Alabama Rot, or cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy (CRGV), has only recently been recognised in dogs in Britain after first being identified in the US in the 1980s.
The disease kills 80 per cent of the animals affected.
It causes lesions on the skin and occasionally in the mouth, which can look like bites, sores, wounds or stings, and some dogs go on to develop life-threatening kidney failure.
Alabama Rot causes tiny blood clots to form in the blood vessels which blocks them and can ultimately lead to damage of the affected tissue.
This causes ulceration in the skin but in the kidney it can lead to organ failure.
If untreated, dogs can develop a raging fever and will eventually die.
The disease is fatal in nine out of ten cases and dogs of any age, sex, or breed can fall victim.
Between November 2012 and May 2015 there were 56 confirmed cases in the UK.
The total number of deaths is now believed to be at least 127.
Vets say pooches should be washed after walking in muddy areas in case they have picked it up.
What are the symptoms of Alabama Rot?
The first symptoms of Alabama Rot are skin lesions, ulcers or sores, not caused by any known injury, according to .
These sores appear on the legs, body, mouth or tongue.
The dog may start to lick their foot or leg - and it might not be clear initially that the problem is underneath the fur.
Over the course of one to nine days, dogs develop symptoms of acute kidney injury, which include vomiting, lack of appetite or unusual tiredness.
Less than a fifth of dogs have jaundice, fever, diarrhoea, petechiae (blood spots on the skin), seizures or blood in stools.
The cause isn’t known but theories include a parasite or a bacterial infection.
Cases in the US have included evidence of E.coli toxins which have not been found in UK specimens.
Vets say the bug multiplies in wet warm weather because it collects in pools of water, especially in boggy woodland areas.
The puddles become host to a slimy, blue-green algae which is perfect for the bacteria, turning into a death trap for thirsty dogs out for walks with their owners.
How can I protect my pet from the flesh-eating disease?
As the exact cause of Alabama Rot is unknown it's not clear how to prevent dogs from getting it.
Dog owners are advised to bathe any area of their pet if they become wet or muddy on a walk, although there's no evidence to suggest this is of any necessary benefit.
A vaccine is yet to be developed for Alabama Rot.
Vets advise taking dogs to a clinic if they are spotted licking any skin lesions, ulcers or sores not caused by a known injury.
A practitioner can then take blood or urine and samples to determine whether it is Alabama Rot.
They can then be treated with antibiotics or the area can be covered and painkillers can be given.
If the dog has developed kidney failure, they will need to be referred to a specialist and if it's been caught early it may be treated.
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Which areas of Britain have been affected?
Four new cases have been confirmed in June, in West Sussex, Hampshire, Greater Manchester and Alphington near Exeter.
The distraught owners don't know where their beloved pups contracted the disease, but spoke of them writhing and yelping in pain.
A Shih Tzu called Paris, who was put down two weeks after developing a wound on her paw after a walk in Farnworth, Greater Manchester.
Before that there were four dogs in Dorset, bringing the total since 2012 to 127.
The disease claimed the lives of a record 37 family pets last year - double the total for 2016 - and vets have already seen 22 cases in the first two months of 2018.
Hampshire is the worst-hit area of the UK with 18 recorded cases since 2012, closely followed by Greater Manchester with 17.
Cocker Spaniel Maggie died in March 2017 after being walked in the New Forest.
Cases have been reported as far apart as Devon, the Lake District, the Midlands, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
In 2013 nearly 20 dogs died in the New Forest, with more cases confirmed in November 2014 and May 2015.