Q I have a ten-year-old dog which has been diagnosed with the early stages of arthritis. I have been told that healing can help animals as well as people. Is this true, and do you know of a good animal healer?

A Healing is a gentle, non-invasive therapy that can help animals as well as humans. It helps to relax the body and so reduce stress. As arthritis is a degenerative condition, it probably won't offer an overall cure, but it can help to alleviate the pain and discomfort associated with this disease. This in-turn will aid your dog's mobility.

There is an Animal Healing Clinic held at The Cosmic Trader, Gillygate, York, every month. For more information on this you can contact Linda Baker on 01904 671460 or Mark at The Cosmic Trader on 01904 622706.

The healers at the clinic stress that you must have had veterinary advice before you take your animal to them. It is also a good idea to look at your pet's diet.

I would suggest you try feeding him dried food with no additives preservatives and chemicals and no bulking agents that can aggravate diseases such as arthritis. You can purchase hypo-allergenic food from James Wellbeloved, a producer of dried food. If you cannot find this brand in your local pet shop, you can telephone the producers on 01935 410600.