Our Pets
Studies Show Second Hand Smoke Leads to Cancer in Pets
By Dylan Vox

Sep 6, 2007

If you don’t quit smoking for yourself, you may want to quit to protect your pet. In recent studies leading veterinarians have discovered that second hand smoke doesn’t only affect other human beings but that it can also be associated with cancers occurring in pet birds, dogs and cats.  

The study conducted recently at Tuft College of Veterinary Medicine found that the incidence of mouth cancer was much higher for cats living with smokers. A similar study at Colorado State University echoed the finds suggesting that nasal, oral and lung cancer in dogs could be linked to the smoking habits of their owners.  

Recent surveys have shown that one third of males and nearly that many women smoke cigarettes regularly worldwide. About 4 million deaths a year are reported to be linked to cancer and other smoking related diseases, yet the rate of smoking increases globally each year.  

Dr. Carolynn MacAllister an Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Service veterinarian who put together the findings relayed in a press release that Americans who own pets are putting them at risk.  

"There have been a number of scientific papers recently that have reported the significant health threat secondhand smoke poses to pets. Secondhand smoke has been associated with oral cancer and lymphoma in cats, lung and nasal cancer in dogs, as well as lung cancer in birds," MacAllister stated in the release.  

It was also uncovered that animals that develop these deadly forms of cancer have a very small survival chance, and most die within a year of contracting the disease.  

So hide your butts and put the smokes away to help give Fido a long health life.