Jeanne

Well done to everyone for motivating themselves to take the healthy option and excercise. Can anyone advise the best type of excercise for me. I'm no longer a spring chicken (i.e. 58 ) but have taken up horse riding again after a break of 30 years. I am loving it but find I am very stiff in my thighs and I need to do something to enable me to become more flexible and supple. I would like to lose my tummy too! I had thought about Pilates but not sure if that would achieve my aim.

There is a website which will be able to help with any queries you have. www.catwork.co.uk they can be contacted on [email protected] Barbara is a very caring and knowledgeable person and has dealings with many FIV & FeLV positive cats she would be pleased to advise I'm sure.

Joe is back from the vet and they could not find any abnormalities in the heart or lungs so that's a relief. He has a heart murmur which I now know is a grade 2. So nothing conclusive, the only other thing they could do is an ECG but the results from the xray & scan don't warrant it apparently and he was a little anxious at the vet so I wanted him home asap. He didn't need a sedative so he must have been a good boy. Shame they had to shave his beautiful coat off the side of his chest for the scan, hope it won't take long to regrow. Perhaps Tag will settle now Joe is home she wouldn't eat her breakfast this morning!

I am so cross. My cousin and her husband lost their old dog recently, no problem there they took him to the vets etc. But they have a record of passing on animals when they can't/don't want to cope with them. There was the St Bernard who spent all his time outside and then was passed to someone on a farm, they had a German Shepherd that was rehomed, a cat that wee'd on the table so was rehomed, an aviary of birds that are no longer there, cats that have disappeared plus more that I can't remember now and cil's mother rehomed one of her dogs (runs in his family it seems). The late old dog was one of the few that stayed on until old age. My cousin doesn't want any more dogs, her husband who is about 66 has had numerous strokes and cannot walk very well. I have just heard that their son brought home a young dog as cil was upset at the passing of last one and in an attempt to cheer him up. On top of that cil has gone out and got himself another dog which sounds as if it could be a rottweiler cross (smaller than the breed I believe). The dogs won't get walked if past history is anything to go by and also what about the cat that they still have how will that cope? He so called loves animals, so why is it that the animals are the ones that suffer?

Thanks for taking the time to reply especially after your recent emergency Mrs Mop, it's good to know that there is a lot the vets can do for heart problems. Joe has been getting a little slower lately but as he is 15 yrs old, the weather has been hot & muggy, and he suffers with arthiritus and a weak back end I thought that was the cause. However almost immediately after he collapsed he seemed brighter and he is more active too, whether the Fortekor tablets would have acted that quickly I don't know. We shall know more on Thursday.

Thanks for your comments. I took Joe to the vet this afternoon and she said his heart (which has a slight murmur) sounded a bit muffled but his lungs were clear. She has arranged for him to have an xray and scan next Thursday to find out what is going on. He has some Fortekor tablets to take until then. I feel it is going to be a long week until Thursday.

This morning Joe passed out I didn't see it but OH was there. It wasn't like a fit or like his previous episode of vestibulitus. Joe lost the use of his bladder and bowels and appeared to be unconcious for 2/3 minutes. He lay quietly on the floor for about half an hour then got up and had a drink of water. Afterwards he ate all his breakfast as usual. I feel I should take him to the vet but there is nothing for them to see. What do others think please?

I can help in the Chippenham, Wilts area although most Sundays (weather permitting) I do a car boot sale to raise money for Cat Rescue.

I can't believe it was a year ago today that we were driving to Twickenham to meet and collect Joe from Becky. We had been speaking to Melissa to arrange the adoption and duly had our home check with Elaine (I was a nervous wreck both before and after in case she said 'No'). I would like to thank the above mentioned and anyone else involved from Oldies Club who made it possible for us to adopt Joe. Joe is the sweetest, gentlest, handsomest, kindest, cheekiest, happiest, most responsive (even though he's deaf) dog I know and yes we love him to bits. He is a pleasure to care for and we would do anything for him. He continues to keep well and has a good appetite (!) although his back legs are not as strong these days. Needless to say sossages are involved in Joe's celebrations and luckily for Joe we had to have a couple of dress rehersals before I could get a reasonable photograph.

Yes Elaine I've booked my ticket for Bowood, hoping to bring Tag but not sure if a full day would be too much for Joe rather depends on the weather too, after all he is 14 1/2 to 15 years old now! Look forward to seeing you soon.

I just wanted to say that Joe has been to the vet for his annual booster, nothing special about that you may say. Except that it signifies to me that a very special day is around the corner for him (or us) as it was a year ago that Becky for Oldies Club gave Joe his first inoculation before he came to live with us. I think I shall have to get a supply of cakes and sossages in soon!

Yes we will!! I am helping the RSPCA remove a colony of cats from an industrial estate due to health and safety issues. They were in danger of having pest control people called out, I dread to think of their fate if that happened. All cats have tested negative for FIV and FeLV and two of the pregnant mums are quite friendly.

I help a local voluntary group in Wiltshire called Cat Rescue www.cat-rescue1.co.uk and while we don't have kittens at present I currently have 5 pregnant females! If your friend is prepared to wait she should have a choice.

I help a local voluntary group in Wiltshire called Cat Rescue www.cat-rescue1.co.uk and although we don't have kittens at present I currently have 5 pregnant females! If your friend was prepared to wait there should be a choice.

I am taking in a colony of cats from an industrial estate which need to be removed for Health & Safety reasons. The RSPCA have been called in to catch the cats and they are being brought to me to have neutered and to re-home. I understand there may be 10 (or more!) cats and that they have been fed for the last 3 years by a worker who is able to stroke them (or some of them). It may be that they could be socialised to live as part of a household but until I see them I shall not know. The first cats are due to arrive on 23rd March then they will have to be neutered. I shall be looking for suitable homes in the Wiltshire area, if any one can offer a place for these cats in pairs or more I'd love to hear from you.

I lived at Bradford on Avon around the time of this dog, he was called Winston and was a golden Labrador. We saw him many times. There were many rumours about how he came to be there from the more common one that his owner died in a car accident there to the other that he was a failed gundog that kept running away from his wealthy landowner owner who eventually stopped trying to return him to his rightful home!

Another dog rescue is Old Farm Animal Sanctuary at Grittenham run by Denise Barrett. They don't have a website but their phone number is 01666 510726. A friend of mine had a young rescue dog from there last year which is doing well.

I am new to Forums so apologies for any mistakes. I am Jeanne and the proud owner of Oldies Club (Gentle) Joe a 14 year old lab/collie and also many cats including Serena a feral who was relocated here 9 1/2 years ago when the scrap yard she was living at was due to be re developed. I help with a local cat rescue group www.cat-rescue1.co.uk hence the number of cats! I retired from work almost 2 years ago and wanted to have a dog again after a gap of 5 years since we lost the last one. Previously OH and me have had 2 racing greyhounds, 3 lab crosses and a Large Munsterlander but not all together! I have dabbled in obedience, gundog working, agility, showing and of course rescue. Jack of all trades etc. Because of our cats any new dog had to be good with cats and Joe is brilliant we both love him to bits. I have also just taken up horse riding again after a gap of many years, it's wonderful this retirement lark! It has been lovely to meet some of the Oldies Club members on both the walk at Westonbirt and at Bradford on Avon and I look forward to meeting again soon. I hope to learn my way around the forum in due course, there seems to be so much to see.

Forgive me I've never used a forum before! I'm surprised no-one has mentioned Trudie cocker. If things were different I would love her and I know my Oldie Joe would too.