Information please:

THIS new page is to help readers with any questions to do with dogs or any subject that influences dogs in any way. Readers are invited to send in their questions to: news@k9magazinefree.com and also to send answers or suggestions for any of the questions listed.

• My little dog has heart valve disease (left side) and recently, when he was undergoing a rough patch, he went into the garden and ate the tops off a row of baby sunflower plants. I am always very aware that when dogs are ill they will look around for the medication that will help their situation and of course I am now wondering what sunflower leaves or stalks have in them that could help with heart disease or lung congestion as I have not heard of any particular healing qualities in this plant. Can anyone help with some information?
• Recently my landlord sprayed the weeds in our yard. He mixed up a grey powder with water and sprayed the pavers and between concrete slabs and around the fence line. Next night my dog vomited and the day after that I felt dizzy and nauseous (I went out the night before and hosed everything down for about an hour after my dog was sick). There was no name on the powder container so I do not know what it was. Has anyone familiar with weed sprays any suggestions as to the possible name of the spray please?
• Does anyone know the truth about garlic - is it healthy for dogs, or is it a mistake to add garlic to a dog's meal? For a long time it seems we have been saying that onion is definitely NOT to be fed to dogs (I think because of the sulphur in them and dogs make their own?) but that garlic is good and keeps them free of illness and helps keep them worm-free and is good for the heart. There are many dog food preparations and biscuits that contain garlic, usually the ones that are more concerned with health. BUT garlic has sulphur in it, the same as onion. And now there seems to be an opposite theory being circulated. So what is the fact on garlic - is it good for dogs, or should it be avoided?
• Can anyone tell me why a dog makes a very small hole in the lawn, only a few inches wide, and then rubs its chin in the soil and grass roots until the little hole is smooth and rounded? Sometimes it seems to eat the grass roots too. My older dog used to do this as well, so I was just curious.