HELOISE Chocolate can be hazardous to pets' health

Dear Heloise: A while ago, I read your column about how dangerous chocolate can be for your dog. We had a birthday party for my little girl, and we caught our schnauzer eating a small piece of chocolate, but thankfully he didn't get sick. Please warn your readers again. A Reader, Via E-mail
You are lucky. Chocolate can be dangerous, and one type, unsweetened baking chocolate, is the worst since it contains larger quantities of theobromine, which can be toxic to dogs. It can make them very ill and even cause death.
The American Veterinary Medical Association says that smaller-breed dogs, like yours and Yorkies and Chihuahuas, can be affected more than larger breeds, so keep all types of chocolate away.
The symptoms a dog would show after eating chocolate are vomiting, nervousness, diarrhea and jitters. If you see any of these, call or take your dog to the veterinarian ASAP! Heloise
Dear Readers: Terry Wood of Sidney, Maine, owns a beautiful golden retriever service dog named Barth, from Canine Companions for Independence. He is 9 years old and has been Terry's partner for seven years. He does so much to help, and a photo she sent shows Barth with a phone in his mouth, ready to hand it to Terry.
Visit my Web site, www.Helo-ise.com, and click on This Week's Pet to see this beautiful dog. Send your favorite, unusual pet photo to: Heloise/Pet Photo, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279. Heloise
Bird IQ: What bird flies hundreds of miles a day during nesting season? Actually, most everything they do is while flying - eating, courting, mating, even finding material for nesting. They nest vertically in man-made structures.
1. Sparrow
2. Hummingbird
3. Chimney swift
4. Sea gull
This bird's favorite place to nest is inside a chimney all summer, thus the name "chimney swift." So if you chose No. 3, you are right! Heloise
Dear Heloise: Can you give me a hint on how to keep cats out of my flower beds? They dig up my flowers constantly. Will mothballs work? Joyce, Gahanna
Some readers say that mothballs sprinkled near and around the flower beds work, but others say they don't. Most readers with this problem found a solution by using cayenne pepper. It isn't expensive, so use it liberally around the flower garden.
If it rains heavily, sprinkle again. Most cats get the point and won't return to the flower beds after a while. Good luck! Heloise
FYI: If you have two plastic laundry baskets, you can make a quick pet carrier for small dogs or cats.
Put a towel in one, place your pet in and put the other basket on top so the tops of the baskets are touching. Tie them together with plastic wire ties on both sides, or use a couple of shoestrings. It holds the pet secure and is easy to open and close. Heloise
XSend a great hint to: Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, Fax: (210) HELOISE or E-mail: Heloise@Heloise.com.
King Features Syndicate