AN ARTHRITIC dog is celebrating a new lease of life thanks to acupuncture.

Lurcher/collie cross Toby struggled to walk up the stairs, run after a ball or lie on his back to be tickled due to arthritis and faced a lifetime on strong painkillers to tackle the chronic inflammation in his back legs and spine.

But now, the 10-year-old is back to his best after receiving acupuncture at the Vet in Cockhedge Shopping Centre.

Owner Paula Thomas said: “A good few years ago, Toby was having problems with his back legs.

“At the time he was only seven and I didn’t want him to be stuck on medication for the rest of his life, so I started to look for an alternative.

“Acupuncture is brilliant – we started to see a difference straight away.

“Toby is usually very high octane but when he goes in he relaxes straight away – it’s like he’s having a back massage.

“He just lays there while they work to find out where the problem areas are – sometimes he even falls asleep while he’s having it done.

The treatment can also be used on rabbits, guinea pigs and snakes.

Head vet Dr Bethany Birch said: “Acupuncture might sound like a strange option for pet care but it’s been scientifically proven to work for pain relief and in helping to deal with diseases.

“It’s something I hope more and more animal owners take seriously.

“Most of the time, the animal will accept the needles very well – becoming relaxed and sleepy during the treatment.

“In Toby’s case, he loves treats and enjoys about half a jar every time he’s here.

“If your dog has arthritis and you catch it early then acupuncture can be really effective at combatting the pain.”