Mum managed to get an appointment with the new vet who is highly rated by the owner of our local pet shop – and he should know, surely? We were lucky as he was about to go on holiday but they fitted us in. He could see and smell that my ear was bad, and he had read all my notes so he did not cause me any more pain by examing inside the ear. He has recommended two different antibiotics plus a steroidal anti-inflammatory tablet. Then I will go back in ten days to see if I am any better.In the waiting room there was more publicity about overweight dogs. Apparently you can now buy the best weight loss pills to get your podgy pooch back into shape: I only weigh 13.4 kilos so I will not need them.

Last weekend Mum and Dad had another discussion of how to help get my ear better. We are trying conventional and complementary methods to cure the infection, which has now continued for mnearly two years. I have been taking Baytril for ages and my ear is still yukky and bleeding. The local petshop owner has recommended a different vet so Mum is checking him out. At least I do not have the problem of dog obesity, and they do not have t get me any fitness equipment

I have been drinking Willow Mineral Water for nearly three weeks now, and I have been less itchy so we are fairly hopeful that this can help me. Mum adds the water to my meals so they are like a soup, it is too expensive to use in my normal drinking bowl as I usually tip it over before I have drunk the water. The best buy for Willow Water seems to be Sainsbury’s or Waitrose, where it costs 99p for a 1.5 litre bottle.

Yesterday we went out into Bedfordshire and I sat in the car in a shady corner while Mum and Dad went to a meeting. Then we went to the town of Ampthill for a look around. We had a look at the Antiques Emporium, where the owner offered me a bowl of water cos my tongue was hanging out. This was nice, I had drunk some water in the car but I never drink very much at a time. Then we wnet to a very nice custom picture framing shop, where the owner showed us how Giclee Prints are made. I think a photo of me would look good in this method.

Well, we had a lovely time in the New Forest, the dog friendly hotel was great and Mum and Dad found a very nice pub nearby, where they could take me along for a meal in the evening. We stayed in Brockenhurst and the pub was called the Forester’s Arms. We reserved a table in the corner so that nobody would step on me! When we arrived, the staff had left a bowl of water next to the table for me – most impressive! I do not need to lose weight so I helped Mum and Dad eat their steak and chips: I am such a good boy.

I am looking forward to the end of the week as Mum and Dad are taking me away for a few days to the New Forest. They have found a dog friendly small hotel in Brockenhurst, and there is a nearby pub where I can go into the bar and they can order their dinner. Then I will sit under the table and taste everything for them just to make sure it is not poisoned! We are going in Dad’s car and it is big, so we won’t need travel trailers for our luggage.