A CANINE health expert is travelling to India to shed new light on her research into dog behaviour.

Julia Robertson, the founder of the Galen Myotherapy Centre, is going to Bangalore to conduct a new study into canine chronic muscle pain by observing Indian street dogs.

The Galen Myotherapy centre, based in Bolney near Haywards Heath, was launched in 2002.

It has treated more than 8,000 dogs and focuses on managing chronic pain in order to maximise muscle function in dogs.

Julia and her team are now travelling to India to learn more about the underlying pain of arthritis and muscle problems in canines.

The team will be teaching the techniques of Galen Myotherapy to vets and dog trainers in a more natural environment.

In addition to teaching they will be holding free workshops in order to advise pet owners about their dog’s anatomy.

Julia said: “My mission is to help as many dogs as possible that are tormented by underlying pain, arthritis and repetitive strain injuries, all of which can be suffered in silence.

“If these street dogs tend to suffer less from conditions such as arthritis and RSI, for example, we can look into these traits further to see how they might benefit our beloved pets at home.

“I treat hundreds of dogs every year with such conditions, all of whom live in a domestic environment.

“I hope that by studying street dogs in a natural pack environment the team and I can further our understanding of canine posture and behaviour.”

The team is currently fundraising to help cover travel costs and expenses.

They are close to hitting their target of £2,700 but are still appealing for donations.

She said: “We are all very much looking forward to travelling to India, which will be a first for many of us, and meeting many new dogs and their owners.

“Our supporters have been wonderful in helping us with our fundraising but any other contributions will be gratefully received.”

If you would like to make a donation to the team’s mission to India visit: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/galenmyotherapyindiamission