Fluffy and Fido
We’ve talked about the impact second-hand smoke has on infants and children. But have you ever considered what smoking does to your pets?
I confess to being a little over-the-top when it comes to my critters–all four of them. Yes…I said four. They are:
Zelda (for Zelda Fitzgerald)
Very fat tortoise-shell cat who has no clue that cats are supposed to be aloof.
Dickens
Old, ailing, ornery Cocker Spaniel who was the most adorable puppy of all time.
Dudley
Half Bassett Hound, half Schnauzer (truly!). We welcomed this traumatized, abandoned fellow into our lives a couple years ago. He has become my shadow and our love is mutual.
Harold “Harry”
We adopted this spunky little Cairn Terrier (think Toto) this winter from (warning: shameless plug) Cairn Rescue USA, a wonderful rescue organization that subsists solely on volunteer labor and donations. Following is a photo of this little guy at his foster mother’s home.
When Smoke Gets In Spike’s Eyes
Before this blog, I knew very little about the impact of second-hand smoke on pets. After looking up the facts, I don’t ever want to smoke around our furry family members again.
- Cats who live with smokers are three times more likely to develop malignant lymphoma that kitties in smoking-free homes.
- Dogs get lung cancer! They’re far more likely to get it in a smoking home.
- If your best friend has a long snout, he or she is two and a half times more likely to get nasal or sinus cancer.
- When pets in smoking households groom themselves, they ingest particulates from second-hand smoke that have accumulated in their fur.
- When exposed to second-hand smoke, birds are at risk for pneumonia, lung cancer, heart disease and infertility.
Consider, too, that the more you smoke and the more people in the household who smoke, the greater the risk to your critters.
If you’re as enamored of your pets as I am, I hope you’ll consider their well-being next time you’re about to light a cigarette.
