Vets across the country have issued warnings to dog owners to be on the lookout for CRGV, commonly known as Alabama Rot, after three new deaths. The flesh-eating bug is an increasingly common disease in dogs which causes damage to the blood vessels of the skin and kidneys. Dogs who suffer with the disease can suffer from skin ulcers, acute kidney failure and even death. But where exactly is it in the UK?

The first reports of Alabama Rot came from the state of Alabama in the USA during the 1980s.

At that time it appeared that only greyhound dogs were affected, but now it is known that many breeds are susceptible to the disease.

Alabama Rot was first reported in Britain in 2012, with 189 confirmed cases since that time, with 14 cases reported so far this year.

Alabama rot proves to be fatal in nine out of 10 dogs.

Previously, the flesh-eating bug had been prevalent only during the winter and spring in the cold and wet conditions.

However, that has changed this year after three new deaths were reported resulting from the deadly canine disease.

Vets issued warnings to pet owners across the nation, fearing the disease is becoming an all-year round issue posing a rising threat to the UK’s 8.9 million dog population.

There is no vaccine and it can affect any dog of any breed, age or size.

Early signs of the disease include sores, ­commonly spotted on paws or lower legs, with vets advising dog owner’s to check their pet’s body daily for these symptoms.

The skin lesions that occur as a result of the disease can affect the lower limbs and their mouth and tongue.

The Royal Veterinary College in London said the fatality rate is high, with fewer than one in five dogs recovering.

The three dog deaths this year occurred in Mullion in Cornwall, Ivybridge in Devon, and Manningtree in Essex.

There have been reports which have linked the disease to dogs who were walked in muddy or woodland areas, but as of yet, no clear patterns or causes have been identified.

Given this, vets advise that dog owners taking their pets on muddy walks always, wash off woodland mud, check for signs of CRGV and if in doubt call the vet.

Many of the cases so far have been clustered geographically with a bias towards the western parts of the country as well as hot spots in Greater Manchester, the New Forest area and Surrey.

Leading veterinary chain Vets4Pets has produced an online interactive map to help owners chart where confirmed cases have occurred as well as detailing the signs that could indicate if a dog has been stricken.

You can check where the nearest confirmed case of Alabama Rot to your location was here.

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