A LUCKY Herefordshire dog has pulled through after contracting a suspected case of Alabama rot, with a warning issued to local walkers.

The warning was issued this month by Ross-on-Wye firm Raw Dogg, which supplies raw dog food and natural dog treats.

The firm said a regular customer's dog had fallen ill with suspected Alabama rot, although the disease could not be confirmed without a post-mortem biopsy.

Happily, the dog has pulled through, making it one of the lucky few to survive the disease.

The warning said that the affected dog was always walked in the Lea Bailey area, near Ross-on-Wye.

What is Alabama rot?

The disease, also known as CRGV, was first identified in the United States during the 1980s, mainly affecting greyhounds.

But now, it's understood to be a threat to all dogs, no matter their breed, age, or size. Alabama rot damages blood vessels in the skin and kidneys. Dogs with the disease often have skin ulcers, usually on their legs or paws, says the Royal Veterinary College (RVC).

Unfortunately, if a dog contracts Alabama rot there is only a 10% chance it can be saved.

Alabama rot symptoms

Skin sores, visible swelling, red patches or skin defects not caused by a known injury. These skin lesions typically appear below the knee or elbow, and occasionally on the face or at the bottom of the chest or abdomen.

Changes in appetite - reduced appetite, drinking more, vomiting and lethargy are signs of acute kidney injury.

Remember, most visible skin lesions will not be caused by Alabama rot disease, and most kidney failure cases will result from another cause.

Has Alabama rot been reported in Herefordshire?

The case is not the first to be reported in Herefordshire, while more than 300 cases have been reported across the UK since 2012.

The above map shows the Alabama rot cases reported in Herefordshire since 2020, according to veterinary specialists Anderson Moores, who track every case on their website. Locations are not exact.

In 2021, Eastnor Castle confirmed that a dog had died from the disease after being walked at Eastnor Deer Park.

In 2022, a heartbroken Herefordshire family spoke out about the loss of their pet to the disease.

Marley, an eight-year-old golden retriever, died after catching Alabama rot, which is sometimes thought to come from muddy, wooded areas.

His owner Rebecca Backhouse, who lives in Ledbury, said that while the family were previously aware of Alabama Rot, known as CRGV, the brutality of the disease was shocking and the death had left the family with a huge void.

She said: “We knew about Alabama Rot as a few years ago we lived in Portsmouth and there were some cases nearby in the New Forest. Marley was only a year old then and, while very conscious of the disease, it was one of those things you never think will happen to your dog.