I have moved here from Dorset with my five-year-old Springer Spaniel.

A year ago she injured her knee joint and had surgery and my vet suggested a course of hydrotherapy to help her recover. I would like her to carry on with this as she loves it so much.

Can I overdo it and how do I find a hydrotherapy centre locally? S Whyte, Oxford

Hydrotherapy is therapeutic swimming for dogs and is an excellent way to provide exercise for dogs who have problems with their joints. This can include recovery from joint surgery and arthritis.

There are many doggy swimming pools with qualified staff who oversee and monitor the swim sessions and each dog has a programme designed specifically for his/her needs.

The beauty of swimming is the dog has the benefit of a full body workout without bearing weight on diseased or painful joints, while the muscles, tendons and ligaments are strengthened, helping support the joints.

Many people swim their dogs just to help keep them fit and dogs generally love it (life jackets and mechanical hoists are available for those dogs who are frightened or who struggle to climb in/out of the water).

To find a local centre try canine-hydrotherapy.org or Valehydrotherapy.co.uk

My pony has laminitis and spends her time mostly lying down and only moves when she can’t reach the grass around her. My mum says I should make her get up and make her walk as that’s the only way she will get better. I am worried about this – she has no shoes on and is so reluctant to walk. What should I do? Sally, aged 12, Witney

Laminitis is a very serious and very painful disease which involves inflammation of the internal structures of the hooves.

The tissues which hold the toe (pedal) bone in place are damaged resulting in the pedal bone rotating and sinking within the hoof. In extreme/untreated cases the bone can burst out through the sole.

You urgently need to get a vet to examine the pony and give her some pain relief and possibly X-ray the hooves.

Supportive shoes are an essential; these are called heart bar shoes and are available as standard metal or as thermoplastic (Imprint).

The last thing she needs is forced exercise, that would be cruel.

Only when she is shod and pain free will she be ready to walk.

I think my King Charles Spaniel may have a grass seed in her ear as she is going mad and shaking her head and screaming. Could I get it out with my tweezers? Mary Daniels, Oxford

It is grass seed season and Spaniel ears seem to attract more than most so it is a definite possibility.

I would advise against a DIY job though as grass seeds can be very tricky to remove (they can be so painful some dogs have to be sedated first) and you may end up doing more harm than good.

Take her to your vet as soon as you can – grass seed or not, this sounds like a nasty, painful ear and the sooner it is fixed the better.