Further research is needed into a disease that has killed at least 30 dogs and probably many more in less than 18 months, veterinary experts have said.

Suspected to be Alabama rot, cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy, it causes skin lesions and kidney failure but the cause remains unknown.

Research published in the BMJ said the disease has been affecting dogs in the United States for the past 30 years, has only occasionally been seen outside it and this is the first report of a series of cases occurring in England.

Warning for dog owners as killer disease claims another life From analysing information on dogs taken to 53 veterinary practices in England between November 2012 and March 2014 with related symptoms, experts found there were 71 possible cases of Alabama rot but 41 were excluded due to limited investigations or because medical records were incomplete.

The remaining 30 dogs, made up of a variety of breeds including five English springer spaniels, four flat coated retrievers and two border collies, were from multiple locations but 10 had been in the New Forest in Hampshire shortly before becoming unwell.

Most of the dogs were taken to the vet by their owners because of skin lesions and while some were also showing other signs of being unwell, others developed symptoms such as tiredness, loss of appetite, vomiting and fever a few days later.

Researchers said that acute kidney injury in these dogs was caused by damage to the small blood vessels of the kidney (renal thrombotic microangiopathy), which is also found in another rare disorder affecting dogs and humans - haemolytic uraemic syndrome - which results in acute kidney injury and anaemia, but which is not associated with skin lesions.

The report concludes that the question remains as to whether this is an emerging disease or one that was previously present but unrecognised.

''Continued detailed clinical, clinicopathological and epidemiological evaluation will further enhance the understanding of the disease and will hopefully help to identify possible triggers, define prognostic indicators and determine the most appropriate management for these patients,'' it added.