A concerning map showing the locations of dogs struck by the flesh-eating Alabama Rot has revealed the spread of the deadly disease across the UK.
Around 135 cases have been recorded since 2012 but some fear the bad weather experienced this winter could make 2018 the worst year yet.
Vets are unsure what causes the disease but it is believed to thrive in cold, wet soil, as around 60% of the cases occur in the first three months of the year.
The highest number of recorded deaths was last year at 37, but in 2018 15 dogs have already died from the mystery disease.
This shocking image (left) shows the flesh-eating disease taking hold of Julie Rothwell’s six-year-old Manchester terrier Bradley (right, in happier times). He caught the disease while walking near his home in Tyldesley in Wigan
Vets4Pets have shared an interactive map on their website showing where Alabama Rot cases have been recorded, and tips for spotting the disease early before turns deadly and leads to kidney failure.
The first sign of Alabama Rot, or cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy (CRGV), is a skin sore, often below the knee or elbow, that swells and looks like an ulcer.
Within two to seven days of the sore first appearing signs of kidney failure appear, including vomiting, reduced hunger and unusual tiredness.
Alabama Rot is fatal in nine out of ten cases recorded, and there is no known cure.
It is believed that the disease is picked up by dogs going along muddy paths, and pet owners are being told to wash off woodland mud picked up while walking and to contact the vet immediately if you spot the warning signs.
Last month a two-year-old labrador called Thornton died after catching the disease while walking in the Long Eaton and Shardlow areas of Derbyshire, according to the Derby Telegraph.
At first Thornton had just a small lesion on his paw but within a few days he became so ill that he had to be put to sleep.
Vets are saying pet owners should be aware of the warning signs so their dogs can be diagnosed early with Alabama Rot.
This photo shows the effects of the disease on dogs. The first sign of the disease is a skin sore, often below the knee or elbow, that swells and looks like an ulcer. Within two to seven days of the sore first appearing signs of kidney failure appear, including vomiting, reduced hunger and unusual tiredness