Dog owners now being warned that Alabama Rot is hitting Ireland and the UK

Owners of dogs are being warned to clean them after being in muck, following revelations that a disease is now in the UK and Ireland.

Alabama Rot, or idiopathic cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy (CRGV), results in painful lesions on the dog's skin and eventually develops into kidney and liver failure.

The disease, which has a fatality rate of 90%, originated in the USA 30 years ago but at that stage it only appeared to affect greyhounds. At least 20 cases, affecting all breeds of dog, were confirmed in the UK in 2016.

Though it is not believed to be spread from dog to dog, pet owners have been advised to rinse their pets clean with plenty of water after walking in the mud to reduce the chance of infection.

Anyone who suspects their dog is unwell, suffering from loss of appetite, vomiting or lesions on their legs or lower body, is advised to contact their vet immediately.