Pets and Cigarette Smoke

It is known that cigarette smokers are more likely to kick the habit if they know their smoking is endangering the health of their pets. Below you will find some new information to share with your cigarette smoking friends and loved ones. If they love animals, it may help them take the next step in nixing nicotine from their lives.

What we already know

We’ve known for some time that, compared to cats who live in smoke-free environments, cats who live in households with cigarette smokers are more than twice as likely to develop lymphoma , a life ending form of cancer. The risk increases by threefold for cats who live with smokers and are five years of age or older.

We also know that cigarette smoke is associated with an increased incidence of canine nasal cancer, particularly in long-nosed breeds of dogs such as Collies, Greyhounds, and German Shepherds. While such cancers are treatable, only rarely are they curable.

Dogs who are exposed to cigarette smoke are more likely to develop atopic dermatitis compared to dogs living in smoke-free environments. Atopic dermatitis is allergic skin disease, a common cause of itching, scratching, and secondary skin infections in dogs.

What we are learning

Researchers at the University of Glasgow are learning more about the deleterious effects of smoking on pets. Their study has not yet been published, but they have released some of their findings.

The researchers have learned that, compared to humans, pets are at significantly greater risk from second and third hand smoke. Second hand smoke is defined as that which is exhaled by the smoker and inhaled by others. Third hand smoke refers to the smoke residue that remains on surfaces such as skin, fur, clothing, furniture, and carpeting.

Why are pets at greater risk than humans? Clare Knottenbelt, researcher and Professor of Small Animal Medicine and Oncology at the University of Glasgow explains it as follows:

Pets are often in close proximity to their owners more so than many children who can be away at school all day and more so than other adults in the house. Furthermore as pets self-groom they will ingest the smoke particles from their fur. This is a big problem for cats as they are very fastidious and thorough about their self-grooming.

Dr. Knottenbelt and her colleagues examined the testicles of male dogs after they were neutered and found within them a gene that is a marker of cell damage and is associated with development of some canine cancers. The incidence of this gene was higher in dogs living in smoking homes compared to those from smoke free environments.

Interestingly, the researchers have also discovered that dogs from smoking homes who were neutered were more likely to become obese compared to those from smoke free homes who were neutered. The explanation for this is not clear.

The researchers have learned that when pet owners chose to smoke outside, the effect on their pets was reduced but not eradicated. When owners reduced the total numbers of tobacco products smoked in the home to less than 10 per day, the nicotine levels in their pets’ hair dropped significantly but were still higher than those in animals from nonsmoking homes.

Once Dr. Knottenbelt’s study has been published, I will fill you in on the details. I must admit, I cringe every time I examine an animal who literally reeks of cigarette smoke. Not only does their fur smell like cigarettes, it has a sticky feeling residue that I’m sure represents third hand smoke. Interestingly, these are usually cats or small dogs, and I picture them in a fog of cigarette smoke while sitting on the laps of the humans they adore.

Now that marijuana is becoming legalized, I’m wondering about the impact of its smoke on pets. States that have legalized marijuana are certainly seeing a rise in the number of toxicity cases in pets as a result of eating a marijuana containing product. And, now that vaping (inhalation of nicotine through a vaporizer) has become so popular, perhaps this will be studied as well.

Do you know a smoker you might be able to influence with this article?

Wishing you and your four-legged family members a very happy new  year,

Nancy Kay, DVM

Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine
Author of Speaking for Spot: Be the Advocate Your Dog Needs to Live a Happy, Healthy, Longer Life
Author of Your Dog’s Best Health: A Dozen Reasonable Things to Expect From Your Vet
Recipient, Leo K. Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year Award
Recipient, American Animal Hospital Association Animal Welfare and Humane Ethics Award
Recipient, Dog Writers Association of America Award for Best Blog
Recipient, Eukanuba Canine Health Award
Recipient, AKC Club Publication Excellence Award
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Please visit http://www.speakingforspot.com to read excerpts from Speaking for Spot and Your Dog’s Best Health.   There you will also find “Advocacy Aids”- helpful health forms you can download and use for your own dog, and a collection of published articles on advocating for your pet’s health. Speaking for Spot and Your Dog’s Best Health are available at www.speakingforspot.com, Amazon.com, local bookstores, and your favorite online book seller.