LITTLE ROCK — DEAR HELOISE: I am the human companion of four dogs, including two who take daily medications. After having a bout with kennel cough that affected all four dogs, requiring juggling bottles and trying to figure out which went with which pet and which medication was about to run out, I had a light-bulb moment. Why not get a couple of weekly pill dispensers from the pharmacy and distribute the doggie meds a week in advance, just like I do my own? I used a permanent marker to write each dog’s name on the dispenser. If I’m not home at dosing time, a pet sitter or a human member of the family easily can figure out which medications go to which dog.
- Ann Webb in Houston
DEAR READER: Wow, four dogs with meds to match. Glad everyone is better. Readers, do you know what kennel cough is? Here is what our friends at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said: Kennel cough is similar to what we as humans call the common chest cold. It can be viral or bacterial, and can cause swelling of a pet’s windpipe and voice box. This condition easily spreads between dogs.Before boarding pets, vaccinations are required so that kennel cough isn’t caught or spread during a pet’s stay.
DEAR HELOISE: I put three to four dryer sheets in the toes of my slip-on shoes to help keep them smelling nicer. Obviously, I remove the sheets before wearing the shoes and return them after I take off the shoes. Since I’ve been doing this, the fragrance stays through several wearings.
- Nova M., California
DEAR HELOISE: In response to the hint about an electronic book reader providing emergency lighting, I have an electronic tablet, and it has a free flashlight application that can be downloaded and will provide lighting with various intensities. Also, in my cell phone contacts, I set up a contact for “husband,” “son” and “mother.” Since my husband and I have different last names, someone searching for my family would not find him by searching for others with my last name.
- J.M.J. in Silver Spring, Md.
DEAR READER: The emergency-lighting hint using the electronic book is great! Please keep in mind that it probably will drain your battery if used a lot.
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
Style, Pages 30 on 09/25/2012