Sad news for poor Chica who is just back from the vets where she had a dental and teeth removed, they also removed a fatty lump from her paw that was sore and she has been spayed. We also asked them to X-ray her back too as her back legs were weak and lacked muscle mass and sadly they have found spondylosis in the thoracic and lumber regions of her spine which makes them think she is older than the 4 years it says on her microchip. She is struggling to walk well and her back legs are weak and now we know there is extreme spondylosis, that explains it. We need to get her on good pain relief, a quality, nutritious diet and support her with treatment to help relieve the pain and ease her condition.

Long term she will need a good nutritious diet, keep nice and slim and healthy and will need pain relief probably for life. Spondylosis can be caused by over exertion of joints in young dogs, and bizarrely the opposite, also in dogs that don't get exercised at all (inactivity); it can be hereditary or as a result of poor nutrition which prevents spine and bones from developing normally as a young pup - either way this little girl has not had a great life and it saddens me as this news will probably also limit her chances of being offered a Furever home now as people are reluctant enough to take on an older brindle staffy, let alone one who will need monthly meds for pain relief.

We want to improve her chances by being able to provide support and advice and there is evidence that a good quality joint supplement can help, for example, and we would cover the cost of pain relief if she were offered a home. She will do well having gentle exercise such as walking and swimming, rather than running and bouncing, but she will need exercise, so we can also take advice from a hydrotherapist too. It's a common complaint in older dogs, like arthritis in people, and it doesn't mean she can't have a happy, normal life but it inevitably means she probably won't be offered a new home soon

We are only a very small volunteer run Charity and do often end up picking up the mess others have created and sadly her sorry state is an example of that, but we will stand by her and do our very best for her all the same - at FFH we NEVER turn our back on a dog in need and as well as Chica, we have other dogs that need our long term support to fund medication etc. Please help us?

Chica is on pain relief meds just now and next week will be starting a course of hydrotherapy treatment to build up her muscles to better support her spine. We are having a special harness for her that supports and does not put undue weight or pressure on any of her pinch points and feeding her a good quality diet with joint supplements that have good evidence to support their use. The Winter is approaching and it is NOT a good time of year for a little older dog in pain with a bad back and wobbly legs to be in kennels - please help us to help Chica and get her into a foster home where she can have all the home comforts she needs. We will then need to support her ongoing for life.

All funds raised here will be used first for Chica's immediate needs - we will then fund ongoing if she is lucky enough to be offered a Furever Home. Any remaining funds will be used to help other staffies in need. We never turn our back on a dog, ever.