THE owner of a dog with a serious congenital back condition which may require a £10,000 operation has warned other owners that their pets could be at risk as well.

Margaret Pottage said she got her Rottweiler Doberman cross, called Maori, from the RSPCA animal home in York in July 2011, when she understood the animal's six siblings also found homes.

Mrs Pottage, of Stamford Bridge, said that over the past week, Maori had turned from being a fit and healthy dog to hardly being able to walk and suffering great pain.

A vet had diagnosed a congenital disorder in her back, and she was now taking the animal down to Surrey today to be examined by TV 'supervet'' Noel Fitzpatrick.

She said an MRI scan would be taken, which might be followed by surgery if he considered it appropriate. This could cost up to £10,000, and her pet insurance only gave her annual cover of £7,000.

"I've already spent £1,000 on treatment," she said.

She said her vet had warned that Maori's six sisters and brothers might also have the same condition but she had only been able to contact the owners of two of them, who also lived in Stamford Bridge. She said one of them had told her they thought their dog had actually suffered from a stroke.

She said there were four other people in the York area who had taken dogs from the home and who had no idea their animal could suffer this problem, and the RSPCA was not able to give her their details.

"We got Maori in July 2011, so anyone else who got a Rottweiler Doberman in that month from the York animal home should be aware that their pet may also be at risk," she said.

"Our vet recommended they should take their dog to the vet for a check-up."

She said anyone who believed they were the owner of one of Maori's siblings could contact her by emailing iammaggspottage@msn.com