Guidance

Alabama Rot

Updated 18 June 2024

The MOD is aware of a disease affecting dogs called Alabama Rot, also known as cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy (CRGV).

The disease is very rare, but can be life-threatening, causing damage to the blood vessels in the skin and sometimes the kidney.

Symptoms of CRVG

Common symptoms of CRVG inclue tiny blood clots in the blood vessels, which block them, and ulceration on the skin. In more severe cases it can cause severe dysfunction of the kidney, and can lead to kidney failure.

Recovery is expected for dogs that only develop the skin sores, but survival is sadly unlikely for those with kidney failure.

What causes CRGV?

It is not yet known what causes the disease or why some dogs suffer more than others. There is active research ongoing to try and understand more.

We know that the disease is more common in winter and spring, and in dogs who walk in muddy, woodland areas.

More information

For more information about CRGV and how to prevent it, ask your vet or visit Anderson Moores - Alabama Rot.