A WARNING has gone out to dog owners after a beloved pet died after contracting a disease while out walking.

Alabama rot is known as the black death for dogs, with more than 100 cases reported in the past five years.

In the latest incident, in Brighton, the dog lost its life.

Now vets are warning owners to be on their guard, as more often than not, the disease proves fatal.

Alabama rot, also known as CRGV (cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy) affects the skin and kidneys.

It is thought that the disease is picked up on the paws and legs of dogs while on muddy walks.

As the cause of the illness is unknown, there is no known way to prevent it. Currently the only advice is to wash the mud off dogs straight away after walks.

Emily Bridges, from Brighton-based Coastway Vets, who treated the Brighton case, said there were telltale signs

She said: “Alabama rot causes lesions which can be swellings, red patches, ulcers or scabs, usually on the limbs.

“Very quickly it will also result in kidney failure.

“The mainstay of our treatment in this case, as in others elsewhere, was supportive therapy with intravenous fluids and antibiotics but sadly in all but a very small number of cases it is too late to reverse the damage done to the kidneys and therefore many of the dogs die.”

Camille Nayrolles, from Brighton Furry Tails, often walks her dogs near Stanmer “It is worrying – you can’t stop walking the dogs otherwise they get ill,” she said.

“I would change my routes away from muddy areas and stick to the paths.

“Now, I always make sure I’ve got enough towels with me to wash off the dogs after a walk.”