DOG owners are being urged to take extra precautions when out walking their pets this summer, to help combat the deadly disease Alabama Rot.

The mysterious illness, which first appeared in the late 1980s, affecting greyhounds in the Unioted States, has been found in at least 27 counties in England and Wales since 2012, with 78 cases confirmed in the UK and 14 being already identified in 2016.

Now vets are working together, to increase awareness and help find the causes, including Alabama Rot experts Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists and Vets4Pets.

“The cause of Alabama Rot, clinically known as idiopathic cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy, is still unknown and there is no known way to prevent a dog from contracting the disease,” said David Walker, from Anderson Moores.

“While there is currently no known way to prevent a dog from contracting the disease, there is a useful guide available online to help people understand where in the UK confirmed cases have been found and advice on how to spot signs.”

Any concerned dog owners should visit vets4pets.com/stop-alabama-rot.