Second hand smoke?

Question

If second hand smoke is so harmful for humans, does it affect animals in the same way? If not, why doesn't it? My mom smokes like a chimney and we have a cat, so I was just curious as to whether the smoke affects animals...?

Answer 1

Hi there...as many others has noted, second-hand smoke affects pets just as it does humans and sometimes worse. Hopefully, you can share the following information with your mother so she can help minimize the health risks of second-hand smoking to the pets.

Here are two articles which discuss the dangers of second-hand smoke to pets.
Univ of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine:
http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/petcolumns/showarticle.cfm?id=473
Second-hand smoke, also known as environmental tobacco smoke or ETS, is clearly associated with cancer, respiratory and cardiovascular disease in humans. Several studies have shown that up to 20 different carcinogens contained in tobacco smoke can be inhaled by non-smoking bystanders.

Dr. Timothy Fan, veterinary oncologist at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, explains that although associations between ETS and diseases in animals have not been as extensively researched, a handful of studies show a correlation between ETS and certain forms of cancer in pets.

A Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine study found a strong correlation between ETS and an oral cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, in cats. Cats living with smokers had higher incidence of this type of cancer. Cats living with more than one smoker and cats exposed to ETS for longer than five years have an even higher incidence of this cancer.

Why mouth cancer? Since cats groom themselves quite diligently, cats in smoking households can lick up carcinogens that have been deposited on their fur. Daily grooming over a long period of time can expose the delicate skin in the mouth to hazardous amounts of carcinogens.

The University of Massachusetts in Amherst also found that cats exposed to ETS have a slightly elevated risk of developing malignant lymphoma, or cancer of the lymph nodes. Since the lymph nodes filter the blood, inhaled or ingested carcinogens can build up in these structures.

In dogs, ETS is significantly associated with nasal sinus cancer and weakly associated with lung cancer. A study at Colorado State found a higher incidence of nasal cavity tumors in dogs exposed to ETS than in dogs that live in non-smoking households. This higher incidence was specifically found amongst long-nosed breed dogs such as Collies, and there was no significant increase in nasal tumors amongst short- to medium-nosed dogs exposed to ETS.

Dr. Fan explains that longer-nosed dogs may have a higher incidence of ETS-induced tumors for two reasons. "Smokers inhale smoke through their mouths, and it ends up depositing in the lungs. Bystanders, on the other hand, usually inhale ETS through the nose." Long-nosed dogs' nasal passages have a greater surface area on which carcinogens may be deposited before reaching the lungs.

"In addition," says Dr. Fan, "since a longer nose has nasal passages with a greater number of cells, there is a greater chance that one of these cells can be mutated by carcinogens into a cancer cell."

Colorado State also found that although short- to medium-nosed dogs exposed to ETS dont have a greater incidence of nasal tumors than those unexposed, they do have a slightly higher incidence of lung cancer, possibly because their shorter nasal passages are less effective at filtering carcinogens out of inhaled air before it reaches the lungs.

Unlike humans, who can develop bladder cancer as a result of ETS exposure, dogs and cats generally don't run a higher risk of bladder cancer when exposed.

As the human-animal bond becomes stronger, we share more of our lives, our leisure time and our living space with our companion animals, and they become exposed to the same environmental hazards that we do. Many of our habits, including smoking, can affect our pets as they would affect any other member of our household.
Designating a smoking area outside or in a physically separate room of the house may be on way to minimize ETS exposure for pets and other non-smoking family members.

For more information about environmental tobacco smoke and your pet, consult your veterinarian.

Another article about lymphoma risks increased due to second-hand smoking: http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2002/07/31/smoke_cats020731.html

Answer 2

Of course it affects animals too.

But when you think about it, most of the time, the animals are lower to the ground than humans. And smoke rises, so chances are they're not breathing in the same amount SHS that family members might be breathing in.

Nonetheless, I imagine some animals can develop respiratory issues in a heavy-smoking household.

Answer 3

I try and keep my smoke away from all my animals, especially the birds. The thing to remember about cats is that they are perfect killing machines - poisons that would kill us in an instant are barely noticed by their highly evolved systems. The cats will keep themselves out of direct smoke, and as a rule, if you want you animals to live longer then dont compromise them at all, thats the reason I keep my smoke well away from all my animals, but cats are pretty tough. Keep a window open, and dont stress.

Answer 4

This Fall I attended the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) conference in Toronto. One of the seminars was on cancer in cats. This is directly from the notes...

"When the risk factors for various types of cancer were evaluated, it was found that exposure to second hand smoke resulted in an increased risk for lymphoma. Risk increased with both duration and quantity of exposure, with evidence of a linear trend. Cats with 5 or more years of environmental tobacco smoke exposure had a relative risk of 3.2 compared with those in nonsmoking households."

That is just cancer related. The irritants in smoke can also cause respiratory and ocular problems and allergies and exacerbate already existing problems.

Answer 5

I wouldn't know anything about that, I get all my smoke straight from the source. First hand. As far as the other folks go, just call them Bob and throw them in the pool. They'll appreciate the humour for a change, instead of people always trying to act phony.

Answer 6

Yes, smoking does affect our pets, just like it affects humans. Your pets can easily have breathing difficulties and lung problems, including lung cancer from the second hand smoke.

Answer 7

Yes, second hand smoke harms any living creature. Lungs soak it all inward and the body reacts eventually with disease. So, encourage your mom to stop and it will provide a healthier environment for all.

Answer 8

It has been shown that cats that live with smokers have higher instances of asthma and lymphoma. You can check out related article on the AAFP (American Association of Feline Practitioners) website. Likewise, small breed dogs that live with smokers are more likely to develop collapsing trachea.

Answer 9

sometimes i wonder myself. I smoke and have 4 cats. They seem to get colds in there eyes alot lately. I try and keep a window open so that doesn't happen.

Answer 10

my dad smokes and my cats are around him all the time or try to put your cats in a different place inside your house

Answer 11

well, a cat is a organism too, so I think its gunna b bad if ur cat breaths the smoke. its bad to even breath smoke.