Hints From Heloise

Newly Arrived Pet Hints

Dear Readers: We thought we would share some PET HINTS that have come into Heloise Central. Hopefully, you and your pet will benefit from these:

How often should my cat's claws be cut? Vets say that they should be cut about every two to three weeks so they don't get too long and damage your furniture.

Don't give your cat or dog any medication unless a vet has prescribed it.

How often does my dog need to go to the vet? Vet experts say a dog should have a checkup, a heartworm blood test and shots annually. If your dog is sick or has an accident, take it to the vet ASAP!

If your pet is injured in an auto accident, some insurance companies cover cats and dogs under collision coverage. The policies pay a certain amount of money if a pet dies or is injured. Check with your company to see if it has this pet provision.

When you first get a fish tank, don't overfeed the fish. Give them only the recommended small amount of food several times a day. Read food packaging for guidelines. And if food is floating on top of the tank after the fish eat, too much was added.

If your dog has gone missing, call nearby animal shelters, animal-control agencies and rescue groups immediately. If your dog isn't there, keep checking in with them, and you might want to go by to double-check.

If you think your pet has eaten something poisonous, get it to the vet immediately and, if possible, bring the container or label of the substance licked or swallowed.

Give those precious pets a hug from me, and my Cabbie, a miniature schnauzer, says "woof" to one and all! -- Heloise

PET PAL

Dear Readers: Jim and Carol Mitchell of Abilene, Texas, sent a photo of their two dogs, Lucky and Dipper, lying on top of a pile of gravel. Carol says: "We had a big load of gravel delivered to our property, and once the pile was made (it was a good 4 feet high), both dogs thought it was for them and went right to the top of it with big smiles of their faces. They were sooo happy!"

If your newspaper doesn't print the pet photo, visit www.Heloise.com to see Lucky and Dipper on the gravel. -- Heloise

BIRD QUERY

Dear Heloise: I bought a bird (my first one), and when I went to the pet store, there was a multitude of foods to choose from. How do I know which one to get? Well, I took my feathered friend to an avian specialist, and he said birds should be fed good-quality pellets that have been created specifically for the bird species you have. He also gave me a list of fresh fruit and veggies that Elvis (my bird) would enjoy. Now he's happy as can be, and I know I'm feeding him what he needs. -- Violet in Utah

(c)2008 by King Features Syndicate Inc.