We all know that smoking is harmful to human health. In fact, we know that smoking is not only harmful to the health of smokers, but also of passive smokers in the same environment. But did you know that smoking can also harm your pets? In this post, we will find out more about it. Let’s get started.

Smoking’s Impact On Pets

Pets are part of our family, and our lifestyle affects them as well as other family members. This includes smoking. When you smoke, you do serious harm not only to the health of your mother, father, spouse or children, but also to the health of your pets. 

Does smoking harm dogs?

Pets exposed to cigarette smoke have more eye infections, allergies, lung cancer, and other respiratory diseases. According to a study conducted at Colorado State University, it has been observed that dogs living in a smoking environment have an increased incidence of nose cancer. Long-nosed dogs are prone to nasal cancer, while short-nosed dogs are usually prone to lung cancer. 

Long-nosed dogs such as Collies, Labradors, Dobermans have more surface area in their nasal passages that they breathe in and trap particles. Toxins and carcinogens in cigarette smoke accumulate in these areas in the noses of dogs, and this causes those with this condition to get nose cancer. Long-nosed dogs living in smoke-filled environments are 250% more likely to develop tumors than other dogs.

Does smoking harm cats?

Because cats living in a smoky environment have short noses, they are more likely to develop lung cancer, just like dogs with short noses. Another disease that smoking increases but is not related to the length of the nose is lymphoma, which can be seen in felines. Toxic particles infiltrating the bodies of cats accumulate in their fur and lymph nodes and harm them. Cats exposed to cigarettes are 2 times more likely to develop lymphoma than other cats. This rate increases the longer the cat lives in a smoky house. In fact, it has been observed that the formation of tumours in the mouths of cats that lick the toxic parts accumulated in their fur.

Does smoking harm birds?

Pet birds are among other creatures affected by a smoking environment. Birds have extremely sensitive respiratory systems to pollutants in the air. This increases the likelihood of their exposure to respiratory diseases such as pneumonia and lung cancer, which they are exposed to due to smoking. In fact, this situation has increased skin, heart, eye and fertility problems in birds.

Can cats and dogs get nicotine poisoning?

While products containing nicotine indirectly poison people’s lives, they have effects that can result in death, while creating different results for pets. Eating cigarette butts by cats or dogs, drinking the water that the butts have fallen into can directly cause nicotine poisoning in your pets. Assuming 15 to 25 mg of nicotine in a cigarette, the amount of concentrated nicotine remaining in a butt is between 4 and 8 mg. For cats and dogs, taking 10 mg/kg of nicotine can end their lives.

Leaving the flavored liquids of electronic cigarettes, which have been used frequently recently, in the middle may cause nicotine poisoning to your pets. In addition, nicotine gums and nicotine patches used to quit smoking also pose a risk to your pets.

Symptoms of nicotine poisoning in cats and dogs

•   Twitches or stroke
•   Saliva flow
•   Constricted pupils
•   Visual and sound hallucinations
•   Rapid heartbeat
•   Vomiting and diarrhea

If your pet is showing these signs and there is a high probability that he has eaten something high in nicotine, we recommend that you have it examined by your veterinarian.

What can smoking pet owners do?

• Take care to smoke outside.
• Use air-filtered vents in your home.
• If you have the smell of cigarettes on you, change it with clean clothes when you come home.
• Wash your hands before touching your dog or cat.
• Don’t leave a full ashtray around.
• Do not leave nicotine products within reach of your pets.

So that was some info on the harmful effects of smoking on your pets. The harmful effects of smoking are very well documented among humans and now you have another reason to quit smoking, it might save your pet’s life.