Dog-owners have been on high alert after an outbreak of Alabama Rot killed two whippets and left another dog still poorly.
The deadly disease causes serious damage to a dog's kidneys and blood vessels. and is often fatal.
The deaths were confirmed by vets at Hartshorne Veterinary Practice on Friday, December 9.
The whippets belonged to the same owners, who have nine others dogs.
The dogs are believed to have been walking in Gorse Lane Fields, towards Boothorpe, shortly before they fell ill and were taken to Hartshorne Veterinary Surgery in Repton Road.
Burton Mail readers have been reacting to the news of the deadly disease being so close to home, with one reader, Jamie Brown commenting: "This looks horrible."
Mandy Tomlin added: "Omg (oh my god) that's awful", with other readers clearly keen to warn their dog-owning friends about the potential threat.
Laura Bailey said: "Be careful with your doggies," Mandy Lee Burton warned her friend to: "Watch where you take Indy," and Courtney Duffey said: "Watch out when you’re walking your Sid," to one of her Facebook friends.
Sylvia Williams said: "Quite a few cases confirmed and dogs died in the Cannock Chase area," which could be reference to the deaths of three dogs in Cannock in November after they contracted the disease, which is notoriously difficult to treat.
Hartshorne surgery has issued a warning to dog-owners in a bid to prevent further cases and potential heartbreak for owners.
A spokesman explained that whenever walking dogs through muddy or woodland areas, owners should make sure to wash their paws, legs and underbelly when they get home.
He said all dogs should be checked in those areas for any cuts or visible wounds, and if owners spot anything to concern them, they should take them straight to a veterinary expert.
What is Alabama Rot?
It is a disease that causes damage to a dog's blood vessels and kidney. It can be hard to identify and diagnose and even harder to treat.
The disease was first identified in greyhounds in Alabama in the 1980s, hence the name, and is much more common in the US than in the UK.
Since 2012, there have been 98 confirmed, 22 unconfirmed and 35 suspected cases of the disease across the UK.
The first sign of Alabama Rot is skin sores which have not been caused by a physical injury.
They are most commonly found below the knee or elbow or occasionally on the stomach or the face. Usually, this will cause hair loss and the dog will begin licking the wound.
These sores will be followed - between two and seven days later - with symptoms of kidney failure, such as reduced appetite, fatigue and vomiting.
Dogs are more likely to survive the disease if it is diagnosed early, but it is estimated that treatment is only successful in around 20 to 30 per cent of cases.
