Will chewing gum harm my puppy?
QMy five-month-old crossbred puppy swallowed a whole piece of chewing gum recently but did not seem to suffer any effects. I read somewhere that chewing gum is dangerous to dogs. Can you confirm this so that my teenage children are more careful?
AI am happy to confirm this, and I hope your children take note. Sugar-free chewing gum accounts for the majority of cases of toxicity in dogs. The toxic ingredient to blame is xylitol, an artificial sweetener.
I was surprised to see how commonly it is found in foods such as cakes, biscuits, muffins, diet bars, ice cream and some peanut butters. It may also be found in medicines, particularly chewable ones, and even toothpaste.
Chewing gum, as mentioned, seems to be the main problem though.
It can be difficult to diagnose xylitol poisoning because it is often not labelled on the food, and an owner may not know what has been eaten or how much. Depending on the quantity a dog has swallowed, clinical signs of poisoning vary from mild to severe and they can appear within a few hours.
Xylitol acts by causing a reduction in blood sugar. There may be vomiting, lethargy and an inability to walk or stand. Severe cases will develop nervous signs such as fits and there is a danger of liver failure developing later.
Blood samples will identify low blood sugar prompting emergency treatment, which has a good prognosis if there are no liver issues. Prevention is far better than cure, so ensure your puppy is kept away from potential xylitol sources.
QI was allergic to cats as a child but I’ve been fine for several decades until now. Our cat is allowed to sleep on the bed but for several years has had sneezing fits and I suffer asthma attacks when this occurs. Can you advise?
AI recommend making a consultation with both your GP and your vet. Working together with them is the way forward.
The pills you mention in your letter are not very effective in severe allergies to cats.
I suspect your GP will prescribe a more effective treatment and advise keeping the cat out of the bedroom for the time being.
There are various causes of sneezing in cats. Most commonly these are upper respiratory tract infections or sinusitis, or perhaps an allergic reaction to inhaled allergens.
These can be seasonal – pollens for example – or all year round, as would be expected with house dust mites.
A consultation with your vet might lead to fewer sneezing attacks.
The sneezing and the onset of your breathing problems is very significant.
Cat saliva contains an allergen called Fel-d 1, which causes allergy to cats in people. This can transfer to hairs when the cat grooms.
Sneezing produces an aerosol containing salivary allergen, and breathing this in possibly accounts for your asthma.
Recently the Purina pet food company formulated a diet for owners allergic to cats. It contains antibodies that neutralise Fel-d 1.
The diet, when fed continuously, aims to render the cat non-allergic, and I think this approach might help with your problem.