Dr Scott Miller highlighted various red flags of a dangerous dog disease on ITV’s This Morning
Dog owners are urged to watch out for various signs of a rare yet deadly disease that causes death in roughly 90% of diagnosed pets. Dr Scott Miller, the resident vet on ITV’s This Morning, issued his alert amid a slow rise in cases in the UK since the disease first appeared here in 2012.
Speaking to presenters Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley, the vet explained this week: “It’s scary for me, not only as a vet, because we can’t explain what causes it, but also as an owner of a cocker spaniel, and they are one of the breeds that are most affected by it.
“So, Alabama rot, otherwise known as cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy. It leads to small lesions initially that could be many, many different other things on the skin. It’s blistering between the toes, sometimes it can be lesions on the face as well, but most of the time it then will progress to severe and forever damage to the kidneys and an awful 90% fatality rate.”
Figures from Anderson Moores suggest there have been 330 confirmed cases of Alabama rot in the UK, with 19 recorded in 2024 and two in 2025. Despite first emerging in the US state of Alabama in the 1980s, scientists still have no clear understanding of what causes it, but are actively working to find out.
Beyond its notorious flesh-eating symptoms, the illness can give rise to vomiting, a loss of appetite and tiredness – all of which may signal that kidney damage is occurring. Dr Miller also added that cases more frequently occur during the winter months, so being vigilant between now and March is crucial.
“It tends to be dogs that like to be in muddy places, potentially wooded areas,” Dr Miller continued. “And the reason we think that is because it affects the feet up to about sort of the hock of the knee, and then the face as well. And also the chest, so places that maybe mud might splatter.”
Nonetheless, it is essential to stress that Alabama rot remains a rare condition, and several factors can contribute to the development of lesions in dogs. Therefore, vets only diagnose Alabama rot once other more common causes have been ruled out.
Official advice from the RSPCA adds: “While it’s extremely difficult to give advice about how to avoid Alabama rot, we recommend washing off all mud following a wet and muddy walk, especially through woodland.”
It also states: “If you’re concerned that your dog may be suffering, we urge that you contact your vet immediately for further advice. If it is Alabama rot, early recognition and aggressive management are likely to have the best results.”
Potential symptoms of Alabama rot
Many of these symptoms can be attributed to more common causes. However, generally, signs of Alabama rot in dogs may include:
- Skin lesions/sores below the knees and occasionally on the face or the bottom of the chest
- Red patches on the skin and visible swelling
- Vomiting
- Increased thirst but reduced appetite
- Lethargy
For more information, head to the RSPCA’s website.
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