Secondhand Smoke Puts Pets in Peril

Of all the compelling reasons to quit smoking, this one should make pet lovers sit up and take notice: there's ample scientific evidence to suggest that secondhand cigarette smoke can cause cancer in companion animals. Indoor animals, like small children, don’t have a choice when it comes to breathing in cigarette or cigar smoke.

Cats exposed to secondhand smoke have an increased chance of developing a type of oral cancer commonly found in smokers called “squamous cell carcinoma”, possibly because the carcinogens in smoke can settle on cats’ fur and they can ingest them when they groom themselves. (Tufts University) Smoking may cause or worsen asthma in cats.

Dogs are contracting nasal cancer from their owners who smoke, with long-nosed hounds, such as dachshunds, collies, and greyhounds, most at risk as their snouts filter out the smoke as it is inhaled.

Short nosed dogs such as Pugs, Boxers, and Boston Terriers are more vulnerable to cancer as the smoke inhaled from their owner’s tobacco use goes directly into the lungs and gets trapped there. While some breeds are more susceptible to certain types of cancer, all dogs that live with smokers are at a greater risk for some form of cancer than dogs that live in non-smoking homes.

Dogs are more likely than cats to eat cigarettes, and birds that are let loose in the house may shred and chew on them as well. Pets can show signs of toxicity within 15 to 45 minutes if eating cigarettes or cigarette butts. Death often results.

Prevention
Do not allow pets to be in contact with tobacco or tobacco products.
Do not allow pets to drink from puddles or water sources that have leached tobacco juice in them (such as when a water filled cup has been used as an ashtray or spittoon) since this water can have extremely high concentrations of nicotine.
Keep cigarettes, ashtrays, nicotine gum, nicotine patches (NRT), chewing tobacco, cigars, and pipes away from animals.
If your pet eats any type of tobacco product call your veterinarian immediately. Depending on the animal, your vet may need to induce vomiting or pump the stomach.

If you must smoke please take it outside. Do not smoke around your pet. If you choose to quit for your pet and yourself there is help through the Pike County Tobacco-Free Coalition 570-296-3400 or the free PA Quitline 1-800-QUITNOW