New trick can teach an old dog

Dear Heloise: When my aged dog’s kidneys began to fail, the doctor suggested that in addition to medicine and a low-protein dog food, I should try to get her to drink as much water as possible — not an easy task. I then came upon the idea of adding water to the gravy that was left behind in my younger dog’s canned chunk-style dog food. There was little actual gravy, so I didn’t worry about the additional protein, and my dog drank it right up. I saved any extra in the refrigerator to use the next day.

Even if you do not have a dog with kidney problems, it is a frequent problem in old age. Therefore, as a preventive measure, I started giving my younger dog some gravy-flavored water to help her kidneys continue to function well into her older years.

And, I also foster animals from local shelters that often need to take medications. I have found that if I put the pill in some soft margarine or peanut butter, even the most finicky will take it. Also, if it is placed toward the back of the tongue, they are guaranteed to swallow it. Laura Alderman, San Antonio

Dear Heloise: The covers you buy for cat- and dog-food cans fit beautifully on opened cans of evaporated milk to store in the refrigerator. Betty, via e-mail

Dear Readers: Cam Campbell of Derry, N.H., sent a photo of her neighbor’s cat banging on the storm door to see if her youngest indoor cat would come to the door to play. Cam says: “I say play, but it is really fighting. They stand on either side of the glass in the bottom half of the door and whack at each other while growling and yowling outrageously. They seem to enjoy getting their aggressions out, and we enjoy watching — woe to us all if the glass ever breaks!”

Go to my Web site, www.Heloise.com, and click on Pet of the Week, You’ll find the “visiting cats” picture there! Heloise

Dear Heloise: We bought our fifth golden retriever two years ago from a longtime breeder. He was 17 months old and went by the call name Friar.

We found out during the purchase that the breeder had registered his name. It’s a name that the children in our neighborhood never forget once they hear his full name: Friar Friar Pants on Fire!

Now, any kid who has met Friar can’t wait to call him by name, but they have no idea what our names are. Doug and Mary Hoag, Simi Valley, Calif.

Dear Heloise: I had a cat that loved to dig in my potted plants, so I put rocks I had collected at Lake Superior in the tops of the pots. This kept the cat out and spurred a design that friends (without cats) copied. Bill H., via e-mail.

King Features Syndicate