The
detrimental effects smoking has on humans are well known, and
recent studies have shown that second-hand smoke affects our pets
just as badly, or worse.
The Reason Why Dinosaurs Became Extinct
1.
Dogs that inhale secondhand smoke are three times more likely to
develop lung or nasal cancer
than dogs living in smoke-free homes.
According to this article, another study done at Colorado
State University showed that dogs exposed to secondhand smoke had a
1.6 greater chance of getting cancer. In dogs with long noses, the
most common type of cancer associated with second hand smoke was
nasal cancer. This is thought to be due to the larger surface area
on which carcinogens may be deposited before reaching the lungs in
dogs with long noses. In short-nosed dogs, lung cancer was seen
most often. Shorter nasal passages mean more carcinogens make their
way to the lungs of short-nosed dogs.
2.
Dogs can experience allergic reactions to secondhand smoke. Common
symptoms of this allergic reaction are the scratching, biting, and
chewing of their skin. Owners often confuse this reaction with
fleas or food allergies.
3.
Cigarette butts can also be deadly. Two butts, if eaten by a puppy,
can cause death in a relatively short period of time.
4.
Birds can react badly to secondhand smoke and may develop eye
problems, as well as other respiratory problems like coughing and
wheezing.
According to this article, birds are especially susceptible to
the effects of smoke due to their sensitive respiratory systems.
Secondhand smoke causes lung irritations that may lead to pneumonia
and lung cancer, heart disease, infertility, and eye problems.
5.
Birds that sit on a smoker’s hand can experience contact dermatitis
from the nicotine that remains on the smoker’s hand. This can cause
them to pull out their feathers.
Credits to Cartoon Stock
6.
Cats exposed to secondhand smoke in the home have a higher rate of
an oral cancer called squamous cell carcinoma, which may be due to
the way cats groom themselves. When cats groom themselves they eat
the poisons from secondhand smoke that have settled on their
fur.
According to this article, research done at Tufts University
and the University of Massachusetts demonstrated a direct link
between the number of smokers living in a home and the incidence of
lymphoma, or lymph node cancer, in cats. Cats exposed to secondhand
smoke developed lymphoma twice as often as cats in smoke-free
homes. In cats who had lived with smokers for five years or more,
the risk was tripled. In houses with two smokers, the risk
increased four times. Three out of four cats that have lymphoma die
within the first year of diagnosis.
This
study also showed a strong correlation between smoke exposure and
an oral cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, in cats. Because cats
groom themselves often, they lick the carcinogens that have been
deposited on their fur. Daily grooming over a long period of time
exposes the mouth to a large number of carcinogens, making oral
cancer more likely. Squamous cell carcinoma is an aggressive and
painful disease.
7.
Cats exposed to secondhand smoke have a higher rate of feline
lymphoma, a deadly form of cancer, than cats not exposed to
secondhand smoke.
8.
Cats can develop respiratory problems, lung inflammation, and
asthma as a result of secondhand smoke. There are 4,000 chemicals
in secondhand smoke, and 43 are known to cause cancer.