Just like humans, secondhand smoke is bad for your pet’s health! Today’s article will hopefully serve as a nice reminder that if you do smoke, it’s best to do it far away from your pets. If you have any questions about this, please reach out to our team immediately.
The short answer is yes, pets that inhale smoke are at risk for more health problems and cell damage. Secondhand smoke is the same for pets as it is for humans, even walking into another room within your home can cause issues for your pets.
According to Professor Clare Knottenbelt of the University of Glasgow, “Our findings show that exposure to smoke in the home is having a direct impact on pets. It risks ongoing cell damage, increasing weight gain after castration and has previously been shown to increase the risk of certain cancers.”
Victoria Smith, a veterinarian who is actively investigating the link between smoking and lymphoma in pets, says, “Our work so far has shown that cats take in significant amounts of smoke, and even having outdoor access makes very little difference.”
The same study from the University of Glasgow found that a gene that acts as a marker of cell damage was higher in dogs living in homes where people smoke than those in homes with no smokers.
Smoking is your decision but we do recommend that you continue doing it away from your pets. Please be sure to exit your home while smoking and wash your hands before coming back to pet your animals. You’ll be happy you did in the long run!