Secondhand Smoke Harms Pets

Did you know that smoking in your home can kill your indoor pets? Dogs, cats and birds have shown to be affected. Research from Colorado State University has found that secondhand tobacco smoke has a clear effect on dogs and their chance of disease. One study shows that the more members of a household who smoke, the higher their dogs’ risk of developing certain kinds of cancer. It’s such a direct connection that dogs with long noses are at an even greater risk of developing certain nasal and sinus cancer, as they expose more tissue to the carcinogens when they inhale. Short and medium-nosed dogs are more susceptible to lung cancer, as the carcinogens more quickly pass the nose and settle in the lungs.

Likewise, a study done at Tufts College of Veterinary Medicine found that cats exposed to secondhand smoke have an increased chance of developing a type of oral cancer that smoker’s often fall victim to–squamous cell carcinoma. It is suspected that because of the grooming behavior of cats, they expose the mucous membranes of their mouth to the cancer-causing chemicals. Cats living with smokers are also twice as likely to develop malignant lymphoma, a cancer that occurs in the lymph nodes and that is fatal to three out of four cats within 12 months of developing it.

Anyone with a pet bird knows to avoid using Teflon-coated pans because of birds’ sensitive respiratory systems–so it’s no surprise that birds are also at risk for lung cancer, as well as pneumonia, from secondhand smoke.

Of the 5,000 chemicals identified in tobacco smoke, public health authorities have classified between 45 and 70 of those chemicals (including carcinogens, irritants and other toxins) as potentially causing the harmful effects of tobacco use. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 126 million Americans who don’t smoke are exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes, vehicles, workplaces, and public places. This exposure causes thousands of lung cancer and heart disease deaths among nonsmokers every year, according to the California Environmental Protection Agency. Now, we can add pets to this sad set of statistics.

Read more: General Health, Health, Pets, Safety, second-hand smoke, smoking

By Melissa Breyer, Senior Editor, Healthy & Green Living

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Latoya B.

1:30AM PDT on Mar 21, 2013

I pray for the innocent animals in those homes with toxic air.

How can so many think that smoking is a choice and that they should be allowed to do whateve they want? If you doing what you want and the choices that you make cause someone else to physically suffer or even die, then you shouldn't be allowed to do it. You are violating the rights of others. Their safety should trump your vice. Their health is more important than you sucking on a cancer-stick.

March 21
send a green star

Teresa W.

7:52AM PST on Mar 2, 2013

Why on earth do people smoke?!

March 2
send a green star

Yvonne E.

1:09PM PDT on Sep 16, 2012

It's so selfish to smoke around people or pets. I'm never in smoke these days as smoking is banned from public places and no-one is allowed to smoke in my home. It affects my asthma if I'm in smoke. My children were never in smoke, and now that they're grown all 3 are against smoking. My Dad died in January with emphysema caused by years of smoking even though he gave up 13 years before he died, the damage was done. And yes, smoking definitely does harm our pets too.

September 16
send a green star

Winn A.

5:33PM PDT on Sep 15, 2012

Well that's a no brainer! If it harms people guess what folks it's harming your pets as well. Get help and stop smoking (and this comes from a reformed smoker).

September 15
send a green star

Eric L.

10:27AM PDT on Sep 15, 2012

Smoking is disgusting.

janet T.

10:13AM PDT on Sep 15, 2012

Look at the bright side, secondhand smoke can turn your children into smokers as soon as junior high school age. Isn't that nice!!!!

Sandi C.

7:32AM PDT on Sep 15, 2012

never smoked and don't let people smoke in my home or car.

Kim D.

6:44AM PDT on May 25, 2012

I know several people who claim to LOVE their pets, yet they smoke like fiends in their homes all the time. That's love??

May 25
send a green star

Amber B.

2:36PM PDT on May 24, 2012

not surprising at all. it beaks my heart when a pet comes in to the vet clinic I work at just reeking with smoke smell. seriously, do you think that isn't hurting your pet?? do you care about them at all? and what makes me just as mad is people who smoke around their kids as if it won't hurt them. ridiculous!