Secondhand Smoke and Pets: What You Need to Know

Whether or not you're a smoker, you've no doubt heard a lot about the dangers of secondhand smoke to the people around you. But one thing you may not often hear about is secondhand smoke and pets. Your pets not only share your home, they also share the air you breathe.

Dangers of Secondhand Smoke and Pets

Secondhand and thirdhand smoke are as dangerous to pets as they are to humans. Secondhand smoke is any smoke released into the air that gets inhaled by non-smokers. Thirdhand smoke, which is the smoke residue that attaches to skin, fur and other surfaces, can be just as problematic, especially for cats. A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology links environmental tobacco smoke to oral cancer in cats, who lick the toxins contained in smoke residue off of the fur when grooming themselves. Cats exposed to secondhand smoke run a greater risk of developing malignant lymphoma. Actually, any exposure at all to secondhand smoke may make a cat two and a half times more likely to develop this type of cancer than cats in non-smoking households. That risk increases with prolonged exposure.

Dogs who breathe in secondhand smoke are more susceptible to certain types of cancers, including lung cancer and nose cancer. The type of cancer a dog is more likely to develop actually depends on the shape of his head. Dogs with long nasal passages are more likely to develop nose cancer, while dogs with short snouts are more likely to contract lung cancer. Secondhand smoke may cause respiratory illnesses in dogs, including chronic asthma and bronchitis. Vetstreet adds that dog skin conditions are exacerbated by exposure to second and thirdhand smoke.

Signs that Your Pets May Be Affected

If your pet has been exposed to secondhand smoke, you should watch them closely and consult your veterinarian immediately if you notice any of the following signs, says the American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation:

• Any type of breathing problems
• Excessive or unusual salivation
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Irregular heartbeat or other cardiac abnormalities

You should also check your pet regularly for any suspicious lumps or bumps, which could be signs of cancer. Nasal discharge or bleeding in your dog, or mouth sores in your cat, should be checked out immediately. Chronic itching and scratching, biting, chewing and licking, as well as sores and lesions, are signs of skin problems that might be caused by smoking around pets.

How to Help Your Pets

If you must smoke, doing so outside is better than nothing, although it's not a surefire solution. Research in the journal Tobacco Control found that in households where parents went outside to smoke, infants still received five to seven times more exposure to secondhand smoke than infants in non-smoking households. It stands to reason that the same may be true for your pets.

Still, you can take some steps to reduce your pets' exposure to secondhand smoke. In addition to smoking outside, bathe your pets regularly to remove smoke residue, as well as steam cleaning your carpets, furniture and drapes. And, of course, you should refrain from smoking around pets under any circumstances.

The best step you can take to protect your pets from the effects of secondhand smoke — not to mention protecting your own health in the process — is to stop smoking altogether. If you notice any signs that your pet has been affected my secondhand or thirdhand smoke, contact your veterinarian right away. Catching signs of cancer early can help drastically improve your pet's chances of recovering from the disease.