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.

David N.

5:05PM PDT on Sep 22, 2011

Thanks for the article.

send a green star

Susan C.

12:21PM PDT on Sep 18, 2011

I illustrated and wrote a childrens book about the dangers of second smoke to my adopted dog Wilson. "Wilson Gets Adopted". I talk to schools about the dangers of SS and about Pet Adoption. Please visit my website and consider the book for children. See my TV interviews, the subject is # 1.
Susan Castriota - facebook - wilson gets adopted
www.wilsongetsadopted.com

Linda L.

7:01AM PDT on Sep 18, 2011

Thanks!

Inari T.

10:04PM PDT on Sep 17, 2011

This is hardly surprising; but addictions can be very difficult to overcome.

Also, I'm pretty wary of reports that "X increases the risk of Y" ... if the risk of Y is negligible without X, then even if X doubles the risk, it may not be worth worrying about, in the grand scheme of things.

Kath R.

3:09PM PDT on Sep 17, 2011

Plain and simple...stop smoking, it harms everyone and everything.

Marcia M.

12:12PM PDT on Sep 17, 2011

Thanks

Dana B.

1:19PM PDT on Sep 16, 2011

In every way, smoking is bad

Serena A.

4:57PM PDT on Sep 15, 2011

if people wanna smoke, then fine, go ahead and do it, but you're stupid for doing it. But smoke outside or something, it's not fair that your pets have to breath in all that crap too just because you're too lazy ass to go outside.

Majvi T.

11:55AM PDT on Sep 15, 2011

It´s quite common that cats live 15-20 years in a good environment,without smoke.
Smoke is dangerous for everyone.

Manuela C.

9:00AM PDT on Sep 15, 2011

Smoking is a very stupid habit...