HELOISE: Lost your pet? Consider microchip

Dear Readers: Have you ever lost your dog or cat? Maybe the dog got spooked by lightning or was off chasing other dogs, and cats are notorious for going out on “adventures.” Your pets should wear collars that have tags with contact information, but those can come off. Microchipping takes identifying the pet to the next level. The microchip is a tiny chip that holds information about your pet. It can be read by veterinary personnel’s hand-held scanners, sort of like a scanner at the grocery store!

The microchip is placed in your animal as if it were receiving a shot. This is quick and virtually painless for the animal; it will feel like a pinch. The microchip should not move or migrate, but sometimes it does.

How about cost? We checked with a few vets in private practice here in San Antonio, and our Humane Society. Costs can vary, from $25 to upward of $60 or more. There may be an additional fee for the microchip company’s service.

If you move or if you adopt a pet who has been microchipped, call the registration company.

Heloise

P.S.: It’s worth peace of mind to our family to have our pets chipped.

Dear Readers: Sharon L. of San Antonio sent a photo of her orange, long-haired cat, Mr. Kitty, getting a drink of water from the bathtub faucet. Sharon says: “I don’t know why Mr. Kitty is drinking from the faucet, since he has water dishes throughout the house. Maybe he had to search long and hard for water here in the Texas heat before he adopted us.”

To see Mr. Kitty, visit www.Heloise.com.

Heloise

Dear Readers: Pet food can put a strain on your budget, depending on how many animal dependents you have! Watch store fliers for sales on pet food. Buy larger bags or extra cans if your budget allows. Talk to family or friends who have pets to see if they would be willing to split the cost of the larger bag (if it’s a better deal).

Heloise

Dear Readers: There are many hazards for pets that come with the holidays. Here are some things to keep away from our pets:

Candy and other sugary treats; turkey bones, because they can splinter; and garland and tinsel, because cats especially can ingest it.

Also bad for animals? Broken ornaments, stringed lights that would cause an enticement for cats, and extra extension cords lying about. Puppies may chew on something that is new and unfamiliar.

Heloise Central

Dear Heloise: When we got our new puppy, he was very anxious and afraid to be alone. I think he missed his littermates and his mother. We wrapped an old alarm clock in a towel and tucked it in his bed. Another solution would be a wristwatch in a towel.

A.V. in Virginia

Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, fax it to 210-HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.

King Features Syndicate