Summer’s high temperatures turn the
sidewalks in your neighborhood into
minefields of melted chewing gum
and other gooey messes that stick to
your sweetie’s paws. Removing the
sticky stuff is a pain, plus you worry
that the xylitol in sugar-free gum could
make your pal sick (it’s toxic to animals
if ingested). Fortunately, there’s an
easy way to clean off your pet’s paws:
Simply massage a small amount of
vegetable oil into the fur around the
gum. The oil will break down sticky
bits so they slide right off. Then you
can remove any residual oil by wiping
his paws with a wet cloth.You like to make sure you have water for your dog
when traveling around with her, but it’s not always
easy to haul a bowl along. To ensure she stays
hydrated, make her a take-along water bottle. To do:
Use a box cutter to carefully cut the top off a clean
1-liter soda bottle, then cut the bottle in half verti-
cally (smooth out rough edges with a nail file). Fill
another 1-liter bottle with water and wrap the cut
bott le around t he f u l l bott le. Then when your cutie
is thirsty, place the cut bottle on the ground (cut side
up), fill with water and let your pup drink up!Keep Fluffy calm
and cool on car tripsClean off dirty
paws in seconds
Visits to the vet are hard enough on
your sweet kitty without having to
worry about her getting overheated in
the car on steamy days. To make sure
she stays cool for the ride, try this:
Soak a clean dish towel in a bowl of
ice-cold water, then wring it out and
lay it over the cat carrier, making sure
to keep the front of the carrier uncov-
ered. The cool towel will instantly
lower the temperature inside the
carrier by a few degrees, so your
sweetie can ride in comfort.Banish litter
box odors
No matter how often you
clean it, your kitty’s litter
box smells worse than ever!
The likely problem? Odors
lurking under the box. To
eliminate the smell, clean
the f loor or mat under the
box with your usual f loor
cleaner, then wash the lit-
ter box, wiping the bottom
with a mixture of equal
parts vinegar and water.
Vinegar’s acids will kill
odor-causing bacteria, leav-
ing the area smelling fresh.94 First for women 8/26/19
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ARBARAM
CGREGOR.^TE
XT:^ LORRAINE^ SULLIVANDIY travel water bottle
smart PET solutions
Quick tips that help keep
pets happy and healthyYou always place your dog’s bowl outside on the
patio so your favorite fuzzball can have a snack
while playing in the yard, but bugs always end
up in the bowl. To the rescue: FIRST readers’
top tips to keep the pests away
What’s the best way to
pest-proof pet bowls?
52% (^) ❤ this idea!
48% (^) ❤ this idea!
QUICK POLL
Tie a string through a DVD and hang it over the
bowl, says Sarah Jacobs. The light reflected off
the DVD will confuse bugs, so they’ll steer clear.
Cut a lemon in half and stud it with cloves, then
place it on a ledge near the bowl, says Jane
Mallory. The spicy citrusy scent will repel pests.
If your pal hates getting his hair
brushed, it’s possible you’re using
the wrong tool. Grooming pros
advise brushing long-haired dogs or
cats daily using a wire slicker brush
(the wire unfurls long strands more
easily), but for short-haired breeds,
you can use a soft-bristled brush,
which is more gentle on the skin,
once a week. Then to make your
pet’s coat really shine, rub a soft
cloth in the direction the hair grows
to distribute natural oils throughout.
The secret to
a healthy coat