Hints From Heloise

Hot-Weather Hints

Dear Readers: With HOT WEATHER here, you need to take extra-special care of your pets. Here are some hints to keep them safe and healthy:

Watch carefully what your pet is eating! NEVER let your dog or cat consume alcohol, chocolate, raisins, grapes, onions or anything with the sweetener xylitol.

Summertime means more water for your pets. They can become dehydrated very easily. If they are outdoors, be sure they have a shady place and fresh, cool water.

Fleas are usually worse in the summer months. Be sure that the treatment for these pests is the right one for your pet. They are labeled for either dogs or cats (not both!). Keep your pet away from any pesticides you might be using for other pests.

Thanks so much to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for this helpful information. Let's have a safe pet summer! -- Heloise

SEED STORAGE

Dear Heloise: In our Saturday paper (The Columbian of Vancouver, Wash.), there was mention of storing birdseed. We have cats and buy our cat litter in the huge plastic containers. When the containers are empty, we wash and bleach them, then use them for storing birdseed, fish food, dry cat food, etc. Plus we try to give many away to others to use for similar things. -- Jacquelyn, via e-mail

PET PAL

Dear Readers: Barbara Pound of Batesville, Miss., sent a photo of her 2-year-old silky terrier, Toby, standing on his hind legs watching for an animal on television. He is quite intent in his viewing.

To see Toby watching TV, visit www.Heloise.com. -- Heloise

BIRD NESTS

Dear Heloise: In response to the reader's concern about watering hanging plants due to birds nesting in them:

We, too, have hanging baskets and get birds nesting in them. The thing to remember is that these birds also nest in trees and shrubs that aren't in under the protection of a porch roof. A little shower from a watering can or hose isn't going to hurt anything. I wouldn't recommend going full blast on them, but a gentle spray from a soaker head won't hurt a thing. I do it every other day. This way, the reader will be able to enjoy the ferns as well as a little touch of nature's beauty in the baby birds when they hatch.

If she truly doesn't want the birds around for other reasons, I have found that a statue of a hawk works best for keeping pesky birds out of the garden. -- Andrew in Ohio

STORM STORY

Dear Heloise: I read in your column about a pet that was afraid of storms. My family once had a female cat that didn't like storms either. We had a dark, open closet (no door, just a heavy curtain), and when a storm came up, she would dash in there and not come out until it was over! -- A Faithful Reader, Columbus, Ohio

(c)2009 by King Features Syndicate Inc.