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Alabama Rot is the common name for cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy (CRGV), a rare disease in dogs that damages small blood vessels in the skin and can sometimes affect the kidneys. Unexplained sores or red, swollen patches need veterinary advice, but they have many possible causes and most skin lesions are not Alabama Rot. If your dog also seems unwell or is vomiting, contact a vet urgently.
What is Alabama Rot?
CRGV can cause tiny clots that block small blood vessels. In the skin, this damage may lead to sores or ulcers. In some dogs, the kidneys are affected and may develop severe dysfunction or kidney failure. The UK Ministry of Defence describes the disease as rare but potentially life-threatening (Ministry of Defence guidance, updated 27 January 2025); the RSPCA also describes skin and kidney damage.
The guidance reviewed here is UK-focused. The RSPCA says reported UK case numbers are extremely low, though a rare disease can still be serious for an affected dog.
What are the symptoms of Alabama Rot in dogs?
Possible skin signs
Early signs can include unexplained red patches, swelling, sores or ulcers. Lesions are often below the knee or elbow, but may also appear on the face, lower chest or abdomen. Sores may occur on the legs, feet, nose or tongue, and can be painful, raised, bruised or surrounded by swelling. These signs are not specific to CRGV: most visible skin lesions have another cause.
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- "COMPLETE MEDICAL RECORDS FOR DOGS & PUPPIES: Comprehensive health record booklets designed to track vaccinations, deworming, exams, and treatments. Ideal for maintaining organized, accurate medical histories for individual dogs or entire litters."
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- IDEAL FOR PET OWNERS, BREEDERS & CLINICS: A must-have tool for dog owners, shelters, veterinarians, and groomers to track a pet’s complete health history. Simplifies communication between caregivers, adopters, and clinics."
Signs that may indicate kidney involvement
Reduced appetite, tiredness or lethargy, vomiting, drinking more than usual, and changes in urination can be signs of acute kidney injury. They can also have other causes, but warrant urgent veterinary assessment. Kidney signs may emerge after skin lesions, so do not wait for them to appear before seeking advice about a concerning wound.
Should I take my dog to the vet for a sore on its paw?
Contact your vet promptly about an unexplained sore, especially if your dog seems unwell or has recently walked in an area where cases are suspected. A paw sore alone does not mean your dog has Alabama Rot, and owners cannot diagnose CRGV by appearance. If your dog is vomiting, unusually tired, eating less, drinking more or urinating differently, seek urgent veterinary advice. The RSPCA advises immediate contact when an owner is concerned and says early recognition and intensive management are likely to give the best results.
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- Sufficient Quantity:When you choose our dog vaccines records, you'll receive 10 notebook.Whether you're a breeder, veterinary practice, or multi pet household, this will ensure you have enough documentation on hand for managing each pet's health history。Every puppy vaccination record book has 12-page puppy health journal has 8 dedicated pages for tracking your pup’s health, vet visits, and key details, with 4 blank pages at the end for jotting down extra notes, pet-related info, or anything else you want to record.
- .Ideal Size for Record Keeping:Each dog vaccine record book measures 5x3.5 inches folded; 5x7 inches unfolded, allowing for easy portability and storage.These handy health records notebook for dogs with double sided printing, featuring enough space and columns for all your pets important information,plus, it has dedicated spots for sticking on vaccine stickers and adding cute puppy photos.They offer a stylish and organized approach to pet health documentation, a must have addition to your pet supplies.
- Premium Quality: The puppy health record tracker’s cover features 300gsm coated paper with vibrant full-color printing and a protective laminate finish. Inside, 100gsm high-quality offset paper pages are durable and ink-resistant, ensuring no bleeding from pens or markers—so your records stay neat and easy to read.
- .Effortlessly Track Vaccinations and More:The canine health record booklets pages include:owner and puppy information,medical history and hospitalizations,vaccination record and sticker,dog service providers,fecal examinations and de-worming,heartworm screening, prevention and treatment etc.This record keeping tool will ensure every important detail is accounted for and make this task easy, organized, and straightforward.Add this essential tool to your pet supplies for a happier, healthier pet.
- Essential for Pet Owners：Designed for veterinary clinics and pet owners, these puppy vaccination record books make tracking key health details—like shots, checkups, and treatments—simple and organized. When you’re away and leave your pup with a sitter or family, the dog medical record and vaccine book serves as a quick reference for their medical history, ensuring care stays on track even in your absence. Plus, dedicated sections for photos, physical markings, and ID info prepare you for emergencies, helping you recover your friend quickly if they ever get lost.
How do vets assess and treat Alabama Rot?
A vet may examine the skin lesions and use blood and urine tests to assess kidney function. A skin or kidney biopsy may also be considered. The tests and treatment depend on the dog’s condition; diagnosis and care belong with a veterinary team.
- Skin wounds may need pain relief and antibiotics if they are infected.
- Kidney involvement may require hospitalisation, intravenous fluids and intensive supportive care.
PDSA notes that emergency treatment can become expensive, particularly if hospitalisation or intensive care is needed. Discuss likely costs and available treatment options openly with your vet (PDSA guidance).
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Can Alabama Rot be cured?
Some dogs with skin lesions only, whose kidneys are not affected, are likely to make a full recovery. The outlook is substantially worse when kidney function is impaired, and kidney failure can be fatal. The reviewed veterinary guidance does not establish a reliable current overall survival percentage, so a single figure would not reflect the different outlooks or an individual dog’s condition.
How do dogs get Alabama Rot?
The cause of CRGV remains unknown. Reports have been more common in winter and spring and among dogs walked in muddy, wooded areas, but these are observed associations—not proof that mud, woodland or a particular walk causes the disease. They do not establish that any specific area is safe or unsafe.
Rank #4
- Product Include:When you choose our dog vaccines records tracker, you'll receive one notebook.This 12-page puppy health journal has 8 dedicated pages for tracking your pup’s health, vet visits, and key details, with 4 blank pages at the end for jotting down extra notes, pet-related info, or anything else you want to record.
- Ideal Size for Record Keeping:Each dog vaccine record book measures 5x3.5 inches folded; 5x7 inches unfolded, allowing for easy portability and storage.These handy health records notebook for dogs with double sided printing, featuring enough space for all your pets important information,plus, it has dedicated spots for sticking on vaccine stickers and adding cute puppy photos.They offer a stylish and organized approach to pet health documentation, a must have addition to your pet supplies.
- Premium Quality: The puppy health record tracker’s cover features 300gsm coated paper with vibrant full-color printing and a protective laminate finish. Inside, 100gsm high-quality offset paper pages are durable and ink-resistant, ensuring no bleeding from pens or markers—so your records stay neat and easy to read.
- Effortlessly Track Vaccinations and More:The canine health record booklets pages include:owner and puppy information,medical history and hospitalizations,vaccination record and sticker,dog service providers,fecal examinations and de-worming,heartworm screening, prevention and treatment etc.This record keeping tool will ensure every important detail is accounted for and make this task easy, organized, and straightforward.Add this essential tool to your pet supplies for a happier, healthier pet.
- Essential for Pet Owners：Designed for veterinary clinics and pet owners, these puppy vaccination record books make tracking key health details—like shots, checkups—simple and organized. When you’re away and leave your pup with a sitter or family, the dog medical record and vaccine book serves as a quick reference for their medical history. Plus, dedicated sections for photos, physical markings, and ID info prepare you for emergencies, helping you recover your friend quickly if they get lost.
Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists’ live tracker showed 335 confirmed UK cases in total, including one in 2026, when accessed on 7 October 2026 (CRGV case tracker). This is a changing cumulative count, not an incidence rate or a measure of an individual dog’s risk.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How can I prevent Alabama Rot?
No cause or scientifically established method of preventing CRGV is known in the guidance cited here. The RSPCA and PDSA suggest washing mud off a dog after wet, muddy walks, particularly woodland walks, as a sensible precaution. Paw washing has not been shown here to prevent the disease.
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A paw-cleaning cup or washer can make rinsing more convenient, but it is only a cleaning aid—not a treatment or proven prevention method. Do not use a product as a substitute for veterinary advice about a suspicious sore or signs of illness.
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