Alabama Rot in dogs – signs and what to do

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

Contact a vet today

Contact your vet today if you think your dog has this – it can become serious. Alabama Rot is a rare, potentially deadly disease that damages blood vessels in a dog's skin and kidneys.

What to do now

What you can do now

Contact your vet today
Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see
Take a photo or short video to show the vet
Keep fresh water available
Let your dog rest somewhere calm

Don't

Do not give any human medicine
Do not wait if it gets worse

What it is

Alabama Rot is a rare but potentially deadly disease that affects dogs by damaging the blood vessels in their skin and kidneys.^[1] Skin sores are the most common symptom, and severe cases can cause kidney failure and death.^[1]

Signs

Skin sores, most commonly on the leg, foot, nose or tongue
Painful, red, raised and circular sores
A dark or black centre
Swelling or bruising around a sore
Limping or stiffness
Loss of appetite
Low energy
Vomiting or diarrhoea, sometimes bloody
Drinking or peeing more
Red dots or blood blisters on the skin

How a vet finds out

Blood tests
Urine tests
Biopsy of the skin or kidney

How vets treat it

Pain relief for skin wounds
Antibiotics if a wound becomes infected
Fluids or a drip
Hospitalisation

What the experts say

“Overview. Alabama rot is a rare but potentially deadly disease that affects dogs by damaging the blood vessels in their skin and kidneys. Skin sores are the most common symptom of Alabama rot, but in severe cases it can cause kidney failure and even death.”
— PDSA [1]

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

What is Alabama Rot?

Alabama Rot is a rare but potentially deadly disease that damages the blood vessels in a dog's skin and kidneys.^[1]

What signs can Alabama Rot cause in dogs?

Signs can include painful skin sores, limping or stiffness, loss of appetite, low energy, vomiting or diarrhoea, and drinking or peeing more.^[1]

How might a vet investigate Alabama Rot?

A vet may use blood tests, urine tests or biopsies of your dog's skin or kidney to investigate suspected Alabama Rot.^[1]

Sources

PDSA

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages