Smoking, Vaping and Your Pets

Smoking, Vaping and Your Pets

Whether a dog, cat, hamster or snake, pets can help people defend against the symptoms of mental illness and physical ailments. Whether they’re being a friend in times of loneliness or a reason to get some exercise every day, pets are crucial to the wellbeing of humans. But when it comes to daily habits and household rituals like smoking or vaping, we need to be a little more careful with our pet care.

Whether you’re a smoker or have taken the less dangerous option of vaping as part of the Stoptober campaign, it’s important to know that animal bodies may be anatomically different to ours, but still exercise the same organ functions. This means that the effects of second-hand smoke and nicotine-infused vapours still have an impact on the health of your pets, especially if you regularly vape or smoke around them in your home. This blog will explore the different ways in which smoking can affect your pets, and how it’s still important to be careful vaping around them.

Smoking And Pets

Whilst there are no current laws specifically focused on animals and second-hand smoke, the fact that there are laws targeting its effects on humans should give people an indication of its effects on other living things. Below are some of the ways that tobacco smoke can harm your pets.

Dogs

Dogs with short snouts can be especially affected by second-hand smoke in that it increases their risk of developing lung cancer. For long-nosed dogs, the heightened risk of nose cancer is also a factor. All breeds of dogs however have a heightened chance of eye infections, respiratory illnesses, and aggravated allergies if they have prolonged indoor contact with tobacco smoke.

Cats

Not only can cats be negatively impacted by second-hand smoke, but third-hand smoke too! Cats groom themselves by licking, so even if they do not inhale second-hand smoke, it can still get into their fur which they can then ingest whilst cleaning themselves. Other risks for cats include blood cancer, bronchitis, and aggravated asthma.

Birds

Birds such as canaries and parrots are often household staples, they’re also very good at absorbing and processing oxygen in their bodies. Unfortunately, the advanced respiratory system of birds also means that they are very good at absorbing cigarette smoke toxins, leading to a heightened risk of skin and eye diseases.

Fish

Whether a goldfish or you own an aquarium, science dictates that water does not guard against smoke. In fact, tobacco smoke can be absorbed into the water, poisoning it and anything living within it.

Vaping And Pets

If that wasn’t enough to convince you to participate in the Stoptober 2021 campaign, it’s also worth noting that vaping is far less dangerous for animals, just as it is less damaging for humans. Studies have shown that second-hand vapour has little to no damaging effects on those who inhale it, as much of the e-liquid has been absorbed by the user.

Vape Liquid and Pets

You should still be cautious with vape liquids though. Even though Nicohit Manchester use child-proof squeeze bottles to hold e-liquids, curious pets can still bite through into the bottle, the contents of which can be poisonous, not only to animals but to humans too. Keep your e-liquids safe in places where your pets cannot reach them.