Alabama rot, known to vet teams as ‘Cutaneous and Renal Glomerular Vasculopathy’ or ‘CRGV’ is an extremely rare, but potentially deadly disease that affects dogs.
PDSA Vet Nurse, Nina Downing shares her insight into this mysterious dog disease.
Nina says: “What we know about Alabama rot is that it causes damage to blood vessels in the skin and sometimes the kidneys. Tiny blood clots form within the vessels, which prevents blood and oxygen getting to skin cells and causes sores. When the kidneys are affected, it can lead to kidney failure and be fatal.
“Due to how rare Alabama rot is, it’s hard to study, but there is research ongoing to understand the disease more. At the moment, we aren’t sure what causes Alabama rot, but we do know that it’s more commonly reported during winter and spring, usually between November and May.
“Alabama rot is often reported in dogs that have walked in muddy or woodland areas, and it can affect dogs of any age, and any breed.
Symptoms of Alabama rot can include:
- Skin ulcers/sores – most commonly on the leg, foot, nose or tongue, not caused by a known injury. Usually painful, red, raised and circular sores, sometimes have a dark or black centre. Often sores will be surrounded by swelling and/or bruising
- Limping or stiffness
- Loss of appetite
- Low energy
- Vomiting/Diarrhoea (sometimes bloody)
- Drinking/peeing more
- Red dots/blood blisters on the skin
- Licking their paws a lot more than usual
Nina adds: “If your dog is displaying these symptoms, seek advice from your vet. Chances are your dog won’t have Alabama rot, and the symptoms are being caused by something else, but it’s essential to have them checked.
“If your dog is amongst the very rare cases of Alabama rot, the treatment they receive will depend on their symptoms. Your vet will do a full examination and take a blood sample to check to see if their kidneys have been affected. If caught early enough your vet may be able to treat your dog with medication, but if their kidneys have been impacted, then intensive care will be necessary to give them the best possible chance of recovery.
“It’s really important to note, whilst it’s good for owners to be aware of diseases like Alabama rot, the number of cases reported in the UK remains extremely low. It’s wise to stay aware of the risks but not to worry too much, because the chance of catching it is very low. We don’t want anyone to stop their dogs from living their best lives, enjoying fun walks in woods and fields.
“According to Anderson Moores veterinary specialists, there were 18 cases of Alabama rot reported in 2024, which is thankfully a very small proportion of the 10.6 million pet dogs in the UK, although of course devastating for the families of each of those pets lost.
“As little is known about Alabama rot, we can’t say for certain how to avoid it, but there are a few sensible steps that dog owners can take if there’s been reported cases in your area:
- It’s been suggested that cases of Alabama rot are more common after a dog has walked in wet, muddy areas. We therefore recommend washing off any mud from your dog following a wet and muddy walk, especially if you’ve been through a woodland. Be sure to give their paws a rinse too. Avoid walking in areas known for Alabama rot – you can check the Alabama rot Live Map of Cases (www.alabama-rot.co.uk) to see if there have been any reports in your area.
- Check your dog regularly for any skin legions or wounds. Look out for any unexplained redness or sores on the skin, especially on their paws, legs, face, mouth or tongue.
- Contact your vet for an appointment if you are concerned about your dog – it’s always best to seek veterinary advice, even if it’s just to put your mind at ease.
If you’d like to find out more about Alabama rot, or you’d like some more advice about your dog, head to PDSA’s website: www.pdsa.org.uk/phh
