A dog in north Cumbria has been put down after contracting 'Alabama rot', a veterinary practice has confirmed.

Dan Lewis, director at Capontree Vets, which has practices in both Brampton and Longtown, said that a four-year-old male labrador was brought in to the Longtown surgery on November 26.

However, despite receiving treatment, the dog was euthanised on December 6.

He said: "The dog was living on farmland north of Longtown.

"Alabama Rot was first diagnosed in the UK in November 2012 and there have been a total of 81 cases - three of which have been in the last week."

Mr Lewis said that it is most commonly seen in labradors and spaniels but that it is not known to affect any one breed in particular.

He added: "It's likely to be because there are more labradors and spaniels in this country than any other breed."

He said that symptoms include lesions on the skin, particularly on the legs, while the latter stages of the disease can lead to vomiting.

Mr Lewis said: "We don't want to cause alarm but we would urge anyone who has concerns to take their dog to a vet to be checked over."

What you need to know about Alabama rot

  • First cases of Alabama rot were identified in the UK in November 2012
  • The Cumbria case is one of three new ones identified in the UK. It is understood the disease has never been reported in the county before
  • Alabama rot (or idiopathic cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy) was first identified in the USA in the 1980s. It initially infected greyhounds
  • It is a condition that is often fatal. Initial symptoms are lesions on the legs, chest and abdomen with eventual renal failure in about 25 per cent of cases
  • Some experts believe a parasite is to blame, others believe it is a bacterial condition. As the exact cause is unknown, developing a vaccine is difficult
  • Some dogs can fight off the flesh-eating disease and live with minimal damage