DEAR HELOISE: My family and I are having a little disagreement on whether it is safe to give dogs leftover meat bones. Could you help clear up the confusion and let us know if it is safe?
-- A Reader
in Pennsylvania
DEAR READER: The simple answer is that it is not safe to give your dogs leftover meat bones. According to the Food and Drug Administration, there are many potential hazards -- no matter how small or what type of meat bone it is. These can include broken teeth, cuts to the mouth and tongue, or the bone could become stuck or lodged in the esophagus, stomach or intestines, etc. These all are costly fixes, if not life-threatening injuries.
Be safe and never give your dog leftover meat bones. Be sure to dispose of bones right away and in a trash can that your dog cannot get into. The FDA also suggests talking to your veterinarian about alternatives to bones, and to always supervise your dog when giving any new chew or toy.
DEAR HELOISE: I dye my hair every couple of months and always end up with some dye left on my hands. What can I use to remove it?
-- Stacy P. in Colorado
DEAR READER: First, take some lime or lemon juice and rub it all over your hands. Give it time to sit on the skin, because the citric acid will work naturally to bleach the areas, then gently scrub the skin and nails with a nailbrush.
Or, mix salt and some vinegar (white or cider) to make a scrub. Rub over your hand.
With either method, rinse well and be sure to use some type of moisturizer afterward.
You also can use apple-cider vinegar to "wash" your hands after working with fish or onions.
DEAR HELOISE: After a run at the dog park, our dog is dusty, sweaty and covered with lots of dog spit. As soon as we get home, my husband uses baby wipes to rub her down all over, including her ears. She smells good and is clean. They work wonders.
-- Susan B.,
Dana Point, Calif.
Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or email
Heloise@Heloise.com
HomeStyle on 05/31/2014