A HEREFORDSHIRE dog has died, with a vet confirming that it had contracted a case of Alabama rot. 

Issuing a warning to local dog owners, Bromyard Vets said a dog from the Stoke Lacy area had fallen ill with Alabama rot, with a post-mortem biopsy confirming that the dog had the fatal disease.

The vets said that the dog lived in a rural location and never left its owners' private land, the exact location of which was not given as the vet cited privacy concerns.

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. 

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.

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.

Recently, a family from Ross-on-Wye said their dog had suffered from suspected Alabama rot, but had survived.

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.