Q: Our 13-1/2-year-old Rat Terrier has a growth on her lip. The mole first appeared six months ago and it's growing in size. It doesn't seem to bother her. Our vet did blood work to determine if surgery was possible to remove the growth and send it out for further testing. At the same time, the vet wants to clean Heidi's teeth and X-ray her kidneys. I was quoted $978 for these procedures. I just can't afford it.

I spent $4,000 trying to save my Great Dane without success. Then we had a puppy come down with parvovirus and it took $2,000 to save him. It was worth every penny, but being realistic, Heidi is old and money is tight. Any advice? -- B.K., Cyberspace

A: I can certainly empathize, as does Dr. Sandy Willis, who serves on the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Communications and is director of medicine at the Humane Society for Seattle-King County, Wash. "I'm worried about that growth becoming larger, that may be an ominous sign," she says. "Ultimately, you'll want it removed for aesthetic reasons and for health reasons, and the sooner the better. The sooner you do it, the less extensive the surgery. Knowing what that mass is may be helpful, unless you've absolutely determined that if it isn't benign you won't treat. But for a small dog, 13-1/2 isn't necessarily elderly. As for the X-rays of the kidneys, depending on what your veterinarian suspects, that can possibly wait. And unless the dental disease is so bad that your dog is pain, that can also wait."

Willis, an internal medicine specialist, continues, "I understand sometimes you just have to do what is most urgent. You should not feel guilty or that your back is against the wall to spend money you don't have. Now, it's time to have a heart-to-heart with your veterinarian to find a middle ground that will work for what you can afford and is also in the best interest of your dog."

If you're a longtime client, it's possible your veterinarian may accept payment over time. I know of cases where clients even worked off their debts filing or providing other office functions at vet clinics. Or consider Care Credit, a sort of veterinary credit card, though there is interest to pay.

Q: My cat keeps getting out when I open the door. Last week, it took a week to find her. What should I do? -- S.C., Las Vegas

A: Microchip your cat. Research suggests indoor cats get out more than most folks think; the risk is real. Unless a cat returns home or family members or friends track down the missing kitty, most land in shelters or animal-control facilities. Sadly, those cats are rarely reunited with their families because no one knows where they belong. While some are adopted, many are euthanized. Since all shelters have scanners that read microchips, microchipping saves lives daily of cats who accidently find themselves outside. Unfortunately, too few cats are microchipped.

Of course, keeping your cat inside is best. Go toward the door, as if you're going to leave the house, and open the door only slightly, with not enough space for the cat to fit though. Each time you do this, toss a treat in the opposite direction. If all family members are consistent, over time your kitty will learn to run in the opposite direction of the door each time it's opened.

By microchipping your cat this summer, you may save the pet's life and help all cats in the process. If you microchip with a HomeAgain chip and register, HomeAgain will donate money to the Winn Feline Foundation for cat health research. Learn more at www.winnfelinehealth.org.

Q: Our 5-year-old Shetland Sheepdog was treated for acute pancreatitis a month ago. I understand the need to monitor her diet and my vet prescribed a prescription diet for her for the rest of her life. We never gave her table food, which I know can be responsible for pancreatitis. But we did give Omega 3 fatty acids for her skin and coat, and an occasional piece of grilled salmon. Is there a difference between good and bad fats? -- K.G., Newington, Conn.

A: This is an excellent question, and a complicated one, according to Dr. David Twedt, an internal medicine specialist and a professor at Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine-Fort Collins.

"There are many reasons or combinations of reasons we believe pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) occurs," says Twedt. "Certainly, dogs on fatty diets, who often receive fatty treats (such as pieces of chicken or ham with the fat) or get into the garbage and eat, say, part of a pork roast, are most susceptible. Obesity, endocrine disease, adverse reactions to drugs and gastrointestinal disease are possible additional explanations. In some Miniature Schnauzers and Shelties, there's a genetic predisposition for elevated triglycerides. A simple blood test can determine this. If this is the case, then Omega 3 fatty acids are thought to lower triglyceride levels. Certainly, a low-fat diet is important as well, but the Omega 3 fatty acids -- which are also in salmon -- are a good idea. For a small percentage of dogs with high triglycerides who are unresponsive to diet changes, human lipid-lowering drugs may be prescribed."

Q: I once had a dog die due to heartworm disease, back before preventative tablets became available. But preventatives aren't cheap. A friend who trains horses suggested I use equine vermectin to prevent heartworm disease in my dog. My dog is only 35 pounds, and horses weigh hundreds of pounds, so I wonder about dosage. What do you think? -- P.R., Jackson, Miss.

A: "The American Heartworm Society does not recommend or condone any product off- label," says Dr. Sheldon Rubin, its Chicago-based president. "A product labeled for horses is made for and tested on horses, at an appropriate dosage for horses. Losing a dog to heartworm, as you did, I'm sure you know how devastating this disease can be. Today, we have preventatives that work. And the difference in price is minimal when compared to the risk of treating with a drug which you are unsure of."

Learn more at www.heartwormsociety.org.

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