Alabama Rot- What is it and How Can You Prevent It?

Alabama rot is an often-fatal disease affecting dogs and is slowly on the rise in the UK.

Although the rates of dogs getting the disease is low, fatality rates are currently at 90% due to it attacking the kidneys and blood vessels.

The disease otherwise known as Cutaneous and Renal Glomerular Vasculopathy (CRGV) has only been known to be in the UK since 2012, however the RSPCA and Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists have warned that they’ve seen a spike in cases this year, with 19 cases in 2024 and 2 more cases this year.

Crosby Beach, Photograph by Rachael Buttery

Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists have recommended that dog owners wash their dogs if they have walked in muddy or sandy, swamped areas as cases seem to be reported between November and May.

In a press release they said: “There is currently no proven cure or preventative measure for CRGV. When it rains more frequently,

“Dogs that walk through wooded areas may be more susceptible to the illness.”

The RSPCA have said that symptoms to look out for include swelling of the feet, blisters, heavy breathing or lack and appetite.

Vale Park, New Brighton, photograph by Rachael Buttery

Tally Long, veterinary nurse at Birch Veterinarian Centre said that its uncommon but the best thing to do is to wash your dog’s paws after they have been in muddy areas.

She said: “It’s a really weird one, only some dogs seem to be susceptible to it,

“I think it’s from a bacteria, but we don’t know of any specific places in Merseyside that are definitely places of risk."

"The symptoms are typically sores on your dogs ankles or back of their legs, or they might lose their appetite and become a bit irritable or seems exhausted a lot of the time. But it's hard to say, we haven't seen it ourselves here yet."

"I'd probably just say to make sure you're washing your dogs paws if you've taken them somewhere that's muddy. There's nothing to say its caused by anything in sand, so for that I don't know, but I wouldn't like to say that it's definite either."

"I’ve seen it more on the TV recently which is really good because yes, its uncommon, but it’s so awful when it does happen and people do need to know about it.”

"If anyone had any concerns or worries that their dog could be suffering I'd just say to bring them to your vets as soon as you can. There's still quite a lot of unknowns about it is the issue."

"I'd probably just tell people to do what they can to let people, you know with Facebook pages and things like that? That's always really helpful to know what's going on if it worrying you."

Map of current cases surrounding Merseyside. By Rachael Buttery

Whilst there have been no confirmed cases of the disease in Merseyside, areas such as Runcorn and Delamere have had suspected cases which were unable to be confirmed, according to Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists.

According to Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists, there have been over 330 confirmed CRGV cases in the UK since 2012, including 19 in 2024 and at least 2 so far in 2025 — a sign that cases may be on the rise this season.

The RSPCA have said that symptoms appear as skin sores, visible swelling, red patch or skin defects typically appear below the knee or elbow, and occasionally on the face or at the bottom of the chest or abdomen. It also includes a change in appetite.

Areas like Vale Park, New Brighton, some areas of Sefton Park, Liverpool, Childwall woods or Otterspool festival gardens are some woodland areas with high amounts of mud.

New official government advice states that "Informal site inspections, which could be carried out by known regular local dog walkers" such as homemade signs and alerting members of your community.

Although it is not confirmed exactly what the cause of the disease is, areas like these align with the descriptions of areas to avoid according to research from the British Veterinary Association.

By Rachael Buttery