Secondhand Smoke: The Risks of Exposure for Pets

Most people understand that secondhand smoke is dangerous to anyone who inhales it. Yet, not as many people understand that secondhand smoke can be just as dangerous to their pets as it is to their health.

A Colorado State University study found dogs that had long snouts and whose owners smoked were being diagnosed with nasal cancer more often than those dogs that lived in a smoke free home. Most dogs diagnosed with this disease died within one year. Dogs that have short or medium sized noses and lived in smoking environments were found to have respiratory cancer. Respiratory cancer was also found in cats with flat faces.

Some cancers and smoke found in tobacco goods are linked to some cat cancers. Many cats diagnosed with mouth cancer were from homes where their owners smoked. Not as many cats that came from a smoke free environment were diagnosed with this kind of cancer. Cats, whose owners smoked more than five years, were more likely to develop oral cancer. Cats diagnosed with lymph nodes cancer came from owners who typically smoked. More than three-quarters of the cats with lymph nodes cancer died within a year after getting the disease.

Other animals that live in smoking homes are being diagnosed with smoking related illnesses. Birds are quite susceptible to smoke and may get pneumonia and respiratory cancer. Birds exposed to smoke may have problems with their reproductive organs as well as their eyes, skin and heart.

Secondhand smoke is not the only thing dangerous to your pets. There are the other parts of smoking that can be dangerous. These are:

Leaf tobacco
Cigarette butts
Cigar stubs

Pets/Animals that consume nicotine can die. If you smoke, throw out your ashtray and keep the butts off the ground. If your pet is curious about them and ingest them, it will lead to problems.

You already know that smoking is bad for you and those humans who live and work around you. However, keep in mind that your pets are also at risk for developing smoking related diseases. They are just as innocent as a baby.