Supports lean muscle and beautiful coat for adult dogs
Supports healthy joints, lean muscle, and beautiful coat for large breed dogs
Supports lean muscle, for dogs who prefer smaller kibble
With delicious chunks in a decadent gravy
With delicious chunks in a decadent gravy
Grain free, easy-to-digest food that is gentle on the stomach. Nourishes skin & promotes lustrous fur.
Learn what a pet's microbiome is, how it contributes to your pet's gut & overall health, and why nutrition is important in maintaining healthy microbiomes.
Concerned about your pet's environmental impact? Learn how sustainable pet food can help you care for the planet without compromising pet nutrition.
Learn why nutrients like antioxidants & amino acids can help improve your pet's immune system, as well as top antioxidants to look for in pet food.
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.
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.
Young pets may need several visits in their first year for vaccinations. Adult pets generally benefit from annual check-ups, while senior or special-needs pets might require more frequent visits.
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:
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.
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.
Jean Marie Bauhaus is a pet parent, pet blogger, and novelist from Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she usually writes under the supervision of a lapful of fur babies.
Supports lean muscle, for dogs who prefer smaller kibble
Supports healthy joints, lean muscle, and beautiful coat for large breed dogs
Advanced nutrition to support hip & joint health from day 1
Supports lean muscle and beautiful coat for adult dogs
Learn why nutrients like antioxidants & amino acids can help improve your pet's immune system, as well as top antioxidants to look for in pet food.
Concerned about your pet's environmental impact? Learn how sustainable pet food can help you care for the planet without compromising pet nutrition.
Learn how the science of predictive biology plays a role in formulating your pet's food to interact and work with your pet's biological process.
Learn what a pet's microbiome is, how it contributes to your pet's gut & overall health, and why nutrition is important in maintaining healthy microbiomes.
Our low calorie formula helps you control your pet's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.
Our low calorie formula helps you control your pet's weight. It's packed with high-quality protein for building lean muscles, and made with purposeful ingredients for a flavorful, nutritious meal. Clinically proven antioxidants, Vitamin C+E, help promote a healthy immune system.