Vets are urging dog owners in West Sussex to take extra care as we head into peak season for the deadly Alabama Rot disease.

The condition, also known as cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy (CRGV), is most prevalent between November and May.

It causes an animal to develop skin lesions which can then lead to organ failure.

In 80% of cases, infected dogs die in just a few days.

Four cases have been reported in Sussex this year, in Petworth and Brighton in January, in Findon in March and in Maplehurst near Horsham in June.

• Fresh case of Alabama Rot in West Sussex

"Although the disease is very rare, affecting an extremely low percentage of dogs in the UK, the condition is very serious and potentially life-threatening. It is therefore vital that owners understand and recognise the warning signs, especially as time plays a significant part in successfully treating the disease.

"We are asking owners to look out for any signs of Alabama rot during the winter months and to remember to take action right away.

"Any dogs with unexplained or concerning skin lesions which typically look like sores, ulcers, or red, swollen, bruised areas, commonly with an infected appearance should be taken to their vet as soon as possible.

"These skin changes are usually found on their paws or lower legs, but may also appear on their head, face or lower body.

Dogs who have contracted the disease may also become tired, disinterested in food, or present other signs of illness like vomiting or diarrhoea."

Caroline Kisko, secretary of The Kennel Club

There is currently no known cure for Alabama Rot, which has been found in almost 30 counties in England since 2015.

In 2016 it took the life of two pets in West Sussex, one in Littlehampton and another in Angmering.

Nicky Cornford from Littlehampton took her dog Dash for a walk in Patching Wood, and three days later saw ulcerous sore on stomach and paws.

She said:

"The only other option was dialysis which they do up at the London University, but you’re talking about £15,000."

Jessica Worthington's dog, Pippa, caught the disease in December 2015. The two-year-old cocker spaniel was in good health and had been enjoying her normal walks in woodland near Swindon where Ms Worthington lives.

The veterinary nurse said the disease was "every dog owner's worst nightmare".

"Pippa was a little bit lame, so I thought immediately that she had jarred her leg or something.

"I brought her into work with me just to get her checked by one of the vets.

"We felt that we couldn't really find anything significant so I took her home that evening then the following morning was when I first noticed the skin legions.

"It was literally like they appeared overnight - from nothing to these horrible ulcerated red nasty-looking ulcers on her limbs and on her trunk."

Pippa was taken to a specialist veterinary clinic but she quickly deteriorated, developing renal failure and dying just a week after being first admitted.

How do I recognise Alabama Rot?

• The first signs you may notice if your dog has contracted Alabama rot are lesions or ulcers on the skin. These could appear as a patch of red skin, or as an open ulcer or sore. In many cases, the lesions will look out of the ordinary to vets.
• These sores are most commonly found on a dog’s paws or lower legs, but they can also be found on a dog’s face, mouth or tongue, or on their lower body.
• Signs of kidney failure include loss of appetite, tiredness and vomiting.
• If your dog is showing signs of sore skin or ulcers on an area of their body that is close to the floor (and you know these have not been caused by an injury) it’s a good idea to contact your vet.
• On average, dogs suffer from kidney failure about three days after lesions begin to show on the skin, however the time between sores appearing and kidney failure can be between one and 10 days.
• The earlier this disease is caught and treated by a vet, the higher the chances of recovery.

Source: Blue Cross

Vets for Pets has a map showing the confirmed cases of Alabama Rot and you can check that here.