LITTLE ROCK — DEAR READERS: In the winter months, many people may think that they don’t need to give their pets heartworm pills. The American Heartworm Society recommends giving heartworm prevention year-round, even in seasonal areas. Here are several reasons:You can never guarantee that mosquitoes are no longer a threat. Even areas with cold winters can have warm periods.
Many heartworm preventives also treat for intestinal parasites, like hookworms, roundworms and whipworms, so monthly is good to prevent other problems, too.
Many companies guarantee their product. If your dog becomes heartworm positive while on their product, they will pay for treatment. But you must prove that they were on it consistently.
Heartworms can be anywhere from 4 to 12 inches and are deadly. Heartworm prevention is much less expensive than the treatment, much safer, and much easier for your beloved dog.
DEAR HELOISE: Here is an easy way to make luggage tags: Take brightly colored index cards (neon colors work great) and write or print the desired information. Many stores sell laminating pages that you can just peel and stick. I use packing tape and cover both sides of the card, then trim around the edges. Punch a hole, tie it to your suitcase and you are ready to go. The bright color helps identify your bag quicker.
- Sandy in Florida
DEAR HELOISE: I hate, when I am driving, for someone to tailgate me, so I used to tap my brakes in hopes of getting them off my bumper. I found a better way, and while it doesn’t work all the time, it works much better and more often than tapping my brakes. I just switch on my emergency flashers, and that, quite often, is successful.
- W.M. in Texas
DEAR READER: Tapping your brakes is never safe. And using the emergency lights while driving is not recommended, either. The best solution, if possible, is to move over and let the driver be on his way.
DEAR HELOISE: I had a few tissues end up in the wash - what a mess! Just out of desperation, I tossed a microfiber rag into the dryer along with the clothes. It worked wonderfully to collect the tissue.
- Michelle Bennett in Maryland
Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio,Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or e-mail Heloise@Heloise.com
MovieStyle, Pages 36 on 01/18/2013