Having turtle for pet poses some risk


Dear Readers: Have you ever seen those cute turtles in a pet store and been tempted to buy one? Here are some important things to know about turtles:

They can carry salmonella, which is a nasty stomach infection that causes diarrhea, headache, fever and vomiting.

If you have a turtle, wash your hands! This is the most important thing to do every time you handle the turtle.

Another point is that it is illegal to offer for purchase turtles that are less than 4 inches in length; they can die quickly from rough care. You may see these small turtles for sale, but it is still not a good idea to buy them.

There are some turtles that are endangered, so if you happen to find a turtle in your yard, a pond, etc., it is best to release it into a lake.

A friend of one of my assistants had a turtle “wash” into her yard after a rainstorm. She attempted to take it to a pet store and was told that it was an endangered species and to please take it to a pond or river and release it.

So, make your choice carefully when considering having a turtle as a pet.

Heloise

Dear Readers: Mary Farrar of Madison, Maine, sent a picture of her Himalayan mix cat, Kiwi, lying in a box perfectly suited for him. Long-haired silver with a black tail, Kiwi wakes Mary up every morning. To see Kiwi and our other Pet Pals, visit www.Heloise.com and click on “Pets.”

Heloise

Dear Heloise: My dog likes to eat used cotton swabs, of all things. Admittedly, I found this out while teasing her with one, but it explains what she was looking for every time I found the contents of my bathroom garbage can spread out on the floor.

This could cause serious problems like intestinal blockage, so dog owners, please dispose of cotton swabs where your dog can’t get to them.

Christopher, via e-mail

Dear Heloise: Through the years, I’ve tried just about every cat-box liner on the market, and none of them holds up to my cat with the determined claws. Recently, I ran out of liners, and for a temporary solution, I cut the top off a contractor’s trash bag — the heavy-duty kind you can get at home-improvement stores. It turned out to be perfect for the litter box, and the cat has been unable to shred it.

Bea, via e-mail

Dear Heloise: My 3-year-old spilled a whole cup of juice on the kitchen floor. I didn’t want to grab the mop, so I spied one of the (clean) pet potty pads that we had been using to train our new puppy. I tossed it on the spill, and it soaked up all of the liquid. What a great thing to have in a situation just like this!

M.C., via e-mail

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

King Features Syndicate

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