Police dogs injured in the line of duty are doing the doggie paddle to restore them to health.

State-of-the-art hydro-therapy treatment helps injured animals from Gloucestershire Police return to fighting crime in record time.

Dogs recovering from surgery, ligament or tendon damage or animals with arthritis use the water treadmill at Hart-pury College in Gloucestershire while student vets look on.

One German Shepherd which benefited from the treatment was two-and-ahalf-year-old Steiner, who liked the water tank so much he kept going back for more.

Shelley Byrne, 31, a dog handler with Gloucester-shire Police, explained how Steiner ruptured a cruciate ligament in his leg.

"It was in the early hours of the morning and I got a call out to work," she said.

"As I put him in the van he just cried and went lame.

"I took him straight to the vet and hydrotherapy was recommended."

Steiner underwent six weeks of treatment at the college, where the hydro-therapy centre is used by the Pets Barn Animal Hospital and osteopaths from the area.

The water relieves the dogs of up to 50 per cent of their body weight, making it less painful for them to exercise on the treadmill and build up strength in their injured limbs.

Pc Byrne, from the Forest of Dean, said she took Steiner back for more sessions even after the treatment course had finished - to keep him healthy.

"He loves it, he's quite happy," she said. "He jumps straight in the tank and he's really excited when he does it."

After the success of Steiner's treatment, Gloucester Police has sent three more dogs for hydrotherapy.

Nick Horniman, vet at the Pets Barn Animal Hospital, said the equipment was helping staff become better vets.