DEAR READERS: It's holiday time! Rich, delicious foods abound, but which foods are OK to share with our dogs? Most veterinarians would agree that people foods should not be given to pets. In fact, some foods are absolute no-no's:
• Dark meat turkey, roast beef and ham - Their fat content is too high, and spices and seasonings, including salt, can lead to pancreatitis and gastroenteritis.
• Turkey bones splinter easily, so they are a definite no. One small bite of plain white meat turkey is OK.
• Sweets - Sweets in general are bad, including fruit cake. Raisins are poisonous to dogs and can lead to renal failure. Read labels. NEVER give a dog anything with the artificial sweetener xylitol (a sugar substitute). Chocolate can also be poisonous.
• Fried foods - Digestion is the problem; dogs cannot digest heavy, greasy foods.
Which foods pass muster? In small quantities: cooked sweet potatoes, baked potatoes, pumpkin puree, carrots (steamed or raw), bananas, apples or green beans.
Our dogs will be sharing the holidays with us and will be hoping for a tasty treat, so it's important to monitor what they eat -- only bland, light foods in small quantities.
DEAR HELOISE: I love warm, delicious coffee in the cooler temperatures. How can I keep the beans fresh and flavorful?
-- Gina in Pennsylvania
DEAR READER: A hot cup of coffee on cold winter days is delicious and soothing, and according to the National Coffee Association (www.ncausa.org), the best tasting coffee starts with quality beans that have been stored in an air-tight container in a cool, dark location away from direct light. Air, moisture, heat and light are your coffee beans' worst enemies. FYI: Although coffee tastes best when it is fresh, if it is frozen or refrigerated, it should be stored in a canister with an air-tight seal to avoid absorbing odors, moisture or tastes that can change the flavor of the coffee.
DEAR HELOISE: I always have a bowl of water next to me when working with a glue gun.
-- Reader, via email
DEAR READER: Good idea in case of burned fingers.
DEAR HELOISE: I love those cloth dish-drying mats, but they can get stinky and moldy if not dried properly between uses. So, I have two mats that I alternate, hanging the damp one on a pants hangar (with clips).
-- Mama Betty in Texas
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