Secondhand Smoke and Pets
In recent years, studies have concluded that tobacco and secondhand smoke are just as dangerous to pets as they are to people. Secondhand smoke has been associated with oral cancer and lymphoma in cats, lung and nasal cancer in dogs, as well as lung cancer in birds. As a general rule of thumb, it is always best not to smoke at all, but if you do, refrain from smoking in the presence of your pets. We at Ash Veterinary Clinic want to make owners aware of the different ways that secondhand smoke can harm your pets.
Preliminary studies have suggested that cats that live in homes with smokers are more likely to get oral cancer and lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes.) They are extremely susceptible to second hand smoke because of their grooming habits. Cats constantly lick themselves while grooming, therefore they ingest the cancer-causing carcinogens that accumulate on their hair. Even mild dental disease exposes their mucus membranes and oral cavity to these carcinogens and makes them more vulnerable to oral cancer. Cats in smoking homes have also been found to be predisposed to lung disease and eye irritation, as well. Although secondhand smoke alone has not been shown to cause the lung disease or eye irritation, the primary culprit is thought to be chronic exposure to smoke in poorly ventilated areas.
Dogs do not groom themselves as much as cats; never the less, nicotine residue can still collect on their hair. There is a higher incidence of nasal rumors in dogs living in a home with second hand smoke, too. The increase was specifically prevalent among long nosed breeds of dogs like Collies and Dachshunds. These breeds have a larger surface area in their noses that is exposed to the carcinogens, which can accumulate in their mucous membranes. The shorter or medium nosed breed dogs, like Pugs and Bulldogs, have a tendency to show higher rates for lung cancer because of the smaller size of their nasal cavity. With less surface area to attach to the membranes, carcinogens bypass the nose and accumulate in the lungs.
Dogs and cats are not the only pets that are susceptible to second hand smoke. For birds, it is suspected that long-term exposure to secondhand smoke in poorly ventilated areas predisposes them to pneumonia and other respiratory ailments, including lung cancer. Unfortunately, many of the harmful products in smoke are in the form of gas. Therefore, environmental tobacco smoke cannot be entirely filtered out through ventilation systems or special fans. It can take many hours for the smoke of a single cigarette to clear. Keeping a bird healthy also includes avoiding smoke from burnt food, Teflon pans, house fires, as well as tobacco.
Your pets can come in to contact with nicotine in other ways, too. Be aware that if your pet ingests cigarette or cigar butts, drinks water where these butts are or ingests nicotine replacement gum or patches they can get very ill. Some symptoms of nicotine ingestion include breathing problems, salivation, diarrhea, vomiting and cardiac abnormalities. If your pet shows signs of nicotine ingestion or develops any of the previously described health problems, please seek veterinary care immediately.
If you are a smoker and your pets are exposed to second-hand smoke, this might be a good reason to stop or to consider smoking outside. If neither of these are options, you might consider having smoke-free areas in the house to which your pets can escape. Regular brushing and grooming helps to remove the smoke residue from your pet’s hair. Here at Ash Veterinary Clinic, we are more than happy to provide routine groomings to help keep smoke residues to a minimum. If you have any questions regarding secondhand smoke and pets, any health concerns or need to schedule a grooming or bath, please call Ash Veterinary Clinic at 734-782-2827.
