Heads Up, Pet Owners: Study Finds That Cigarette Smoke Can Cause Cancer in Dogs
3 min read
As it turns out, secondhand smoke doesn’t just affect people. Recently, this research from Purdue University has found that dogs exposed to cigarette smoke were six times more likely to develop bladder cancer than those who weren’t. The dogs who developed cancer had been exposed to ten pack-years of smoke—or a whopping 7,300 cigarettes—while those who did not develop cancer were exposed to only 1.5 pack-years.
This is in line with older research from Colorado State University, which determined that dogs who live in smoking environments are up to 2.5 times more likely to develop nasal cancer, reflecting findings from a study done in May 2023 involving pregnant dogs. Results demonstrated that cotinine, a converted version of nicotine, could be found in newborn puppies’ canine amniotic fluid and hair. Amniotic cotinine was significantly higher in pregnant dogs exposed to cigarette smoke compared to a control group.
This should be a warning sign to loving pet owners who smoke—and especially for those who are expecting new additions to their brood of furry friends. Of course, the best way to protect your pets (and yourself) from the harmful effects of cigarette smoke is to quit smoking entirely. Here are a few ways to keep your pets safe:
Consider cigarette alternatives
To protect your pets, you may instead choose to smoke in another room or the outdoor portions of your home. However, this is not necessarily enough to eliminate their risk of smoke exposure. According to the US FDA, third-hand smoke is smoke residue that can remain on your skin, clothes, furniture, carpets, and other surfaces. That means your dogs’ exposure to smoke is almost inevitable.
In this case, it may be wise to consider smoking alternatives that completely remove the risk of second- or even third-hand smoke for your pets. Nicotine can be taken orally in the form of nicotine pouches, which are available on this site in various flavors like coffee, citrus, mint, and cinnamon. Heavy smokers can start with a high-strength variant like ZEO Wintergreen Ice 12mg. Over time, one could transition to a milder-strength option in gum format, such as LUCY Gum Mango 4mg. Reports here indicate that such products can help curb cravings and aid overall cessation. Nicotine pouches and gums are also entirely smokeless and odorless, protecting your pets and preventing nasty residue from contaminating your home.
Once you’ve reached a point in your journey where you can go completely nicotine-free, you may still get cravings now and then. In this case, a nicotine-alternative drink may help. The Krave Kicker drink is a nicotine-free, sugar-free, and caffeine-free product that helps boost dopamine levels. Low dopamine levels can potentially cause former smokers to relapse, which this productcould help with. If you have cigarette alternatives in the home, be sure to store them in a cool, dry place—and far from where your pets’ paws can reach.
Keeping your pets safe
Quitting smoking is the only way to protect your pet completely. That said, be sure to do a thorough home clean-up when you commence your quit journey. Rid the home of any cigarette butts, ashtrays, and other paraphernalia. You’ll also need to give those sofa coverings, pillowcases, and carpets a good wash or cleaning. It will be helpful to enforce a smoke-free policy in your home for fellow residents and guests.
Sometimes, you’ll need to leave your dogs in the care of others. Find pet sitters or pet daycares with strict smoke-free policies inside and outside the premises. And when you take your pet out in public, be vigilant of those around you. Try to move tables or switch locations when you notice that someone nearby is lighting up. All this is especially crucial given the recent outbreak of a mysterious respiratory illness that saw dogs ill across the country. As noted in our previous post, even experts remain stumped on this virus but underscore the importance of proactive measures like those stated above.
While you can’t protect your pet from 100% of the cigarette smoke in the world, you can make great efforts to minimize their exposure. This way, they can live longer and healthier lives, and you get to enjoy more years of memories with your beloved furry friend.
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