Mystery dog killing disease may be Alabama rot Mr Walker, from Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists in Hursley, near Winchester, said 13 dogs had died at his practice alone. When we look at the disease under the microscope, it looks very similar to a disease that appeared in the 1980s in the USA known as Alabama Rot. We have a much better understanding of what is going on, but we don't know what the underlying trigger is. It is believed to be caused by a rare form of E.coli. Mr Walker said his practice first saw cases in December 2012 which he said looked "very similar" to Alabama Rot. Although various breeds have been affected in England Mr Walker said the "pathology is exactly the same." For several years dogs have been mysteriously dying in the British countryside prompting the Animal Health Trust to launch and investigation in 2010 with the Natural History Museum and the Institute of Zoology. In that year 54 animals became ill with 10 deaths, including six dogs which had walked on the Queen's estate in Sandringham, Norfolk. They eventually labelled the disease as Seasonal Canine Illness (SCI) because it appeared to only strike between August and Mid-November. The symptoms shared similarities with Alabama Rot with dogs suffering sickness, diarrhoea and lethargy but no lesions were present. The source of the current outbreak is unknown. However, the Environment Agency has ruled out chemical contamination in water supplies. British Veterinary Association President and vet Robin Hargreaves said the disease has only affected a handful of pets. "Dog owners in these regions will feel understandably anxious about the recent cases but it seems that only a very small proportion of the dogs walked in these areas each day have been affected," he said. Symptoms to watch out for include severe depression, loss of appetite and vomiting. Owners should take their dog to a vet even if the lesions appear a week after a walk.