The Unhealthy Habit That's Making Your Pets Sick, Too

Let's be honest: Humans have a plethora of unhealthy habits. Some can be harmful to only the person with the habit, like watching too much television or drinking too much coffee. However, others can negatively affect the person with the habit and everyone around them. Smoking cigarettes, for example, is linked to various health problems for humans and pets alike. Secondhand and thirdhand cigarette smoke can cause cancer and other issues in many animals, with some species and breeds being at an increased risk.

Many adults choose not to smoke around children, but many don't think to give the same consideration to their animals. Pets can come into contact with the carcinogens in cigarette smoke indirectly in one of two ways. The first, referred to as secondhand smoke, involves inhaling it in the air. The second, referred to as thirdhand smoke, consists of contacting an object that has smoke residue on it, such as a fetch toy for a dog, a ball toy for a cat, or even an animal's own fur. With these dangers in mind, it's important for both current and former smokers to take extra measures to protect their pets.

Animals don't have the luxury of being able to hop in a car and visit a new environment whenever they want to; they can't spend two hours dining in a smoke-free restaurant or eight hours in a smoke-free office for work. Most of their lives are spent within the walls of their homes, but if someone smokes in that home, it means the pet is being exposed to secondhand and thirdhand smoke constantly.

This round-the-clock exposure puts dogs at risk for developing nose cancer. It also increases the risk of oral cancer or malignant lymphoma for cats. Moreover, secondhand smoke poses the threat of lung cancer for both types of pets. If that weren't sad enough, cancer is the primary cause of death for older pets, with dogs developing it more often than cats. The disease isn't always preventable, but when it's the direct result of secondhand smoke in a home, it can be.

Just as with humans, cancer in pets can be treated with surgery, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, but sadly, some pet owners choose euthanasia instead due to the hefty cost of treatment. For example, multiple rounds of chemotherapy could cost thousands of dollars, and treating dogs tends to be more expensive than cats.

Unsurprisingly, cigarette smoke takes a toll on an animal's respiratory system over time, leading to excessive sneezing, coughing, and wheezing. Homeowners who smoke indoors put their canine and feline companions at risk for respiratory diseases like bronchitis and asthma. Although any dog or cat can develop these conditions, the chances are higher for the ones exposed to secondhand smoke.

Bronchitis involves a persistent and typically dry cough that coincides with shudders, but it might also include wheezing and labored breathing. In dogs, the coughing can "sound like a goose honk," according to Dr. Jerry Klein, the chief veterinary officer for the American Kennel Club. Asthma symptoms also include coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. What's more, dogs may pant heavily and develop blue gums due to not getting enough oxygen, while cats might experience open-mouthed breathing or vomiting.

Treatment options for both asthma and bronchitis in dogs and cats range from inhalers and medication to steroids. To help prevent future flare-ups, it's best to change the pet's environment by removing any smoke-related triggers.

You can find numerous resources about the dangers of cigarette smoke for dogs and cats, as they're the most-popular pets in the United States. However, less-common exotic pets, including birds, pocket pets, and fish, can be negatively affected by cigarette smoke just as much as dogs and cats can. For example, guinea pigs can develop emphysema, pulmonary hypertension, and high blood pressure, as well as experience weight loss, as a result of secondhand smoke exposure.

Birds can become exposed to secondhand smoke as well via secondhand and thirdhand smoke when they preen themselves or perch on cloth items in the home, such as their owner's shirts. This exposure puts them at risk for skin, eye, and heart problems; allergies; and lung cancer, among other health issues.

Since secondhand smoke exposure requires air inhalation, some people think fish are safe from danger, as they don't have lungs or breathe air, but this is a myth. The nicotine in cigarette smoke makes contact with the water surface of a nearby fish tank the way it does with everything else in the room. After dissolving, the nicotine contaminates the water, which then slowly poisons your fish. As a result, their fins may become rigid, they might experience muscle spasms, and their body color may change. Nicotine poisoning can even be fatal for fish.

Any dog can be affected by cigarette smoke, but specific breeds have an increased risk of developing certain types of cancer due to their skeletal structure. Borzois, Afghan hounds, greyhounds, Doberman pinschers, and other dogs with long snouts are twice as likely to develop nose cancer than breeds with shorter snouts. Unfortunately, though, brachycephalic (aka flat-faced or snub-nosed) breeds have an increased risk of lung cancer. Dogs in this category include Boston terriers, shih tzus, pugs, and bulldogs, among others.

Cats also have a higher likelihood of being afflicted by a specific type of cancer as the result of thirdhand smoke because of their grooming behaviors. Remember, thirdhand smoke refers to the residue on objects in a room that were exposed to the smoke, including a pet's fur. Cats instinctively spend up to half of every single day grooming themselves, but such excessive grooming isn't the norm for dogs. Licking their smoke-exposed fur essentially means licking smoke carcinogens. This puts cats at a greater risk of oral squamous cell, an aggressive mouth cancer and one of the most common types of cancers in cats.

Of course, one of the easiest ways to protect a pet from the dangers of cigarette smoke is to not expose them in the first place. However, many adults were smokers before becoming pet owners, and while they may want to quit, it can be challenging and time-consuming to completely break an addiction. The good news is that if you're a pet owner trying to kick the habit, you can start protecting your pet today.

One way to limit a pet's exposure to cigarette smoke is by not smoking inside of your home. Smoke outdoors instead, and make sure each cigarette is completely extinguished before returning inside to prevent smoke from wafting in. You can also thoroughly clean your home to remove any existing smoke residue. This includes floors, walls, furniture, curtains, bedding. You may even want to replace certain items, such as carpeting and HVAC filters.

Always consult your veterinarian before making changes to your pet's diet, exercise, or care. To find an accredited veterinarian in your area, you can search the American Animal Hospital Association's online database.