Tobacco smoke also negatively affects animals but to what extent? We all know the he alth consequences that tobacco can cause in smokers, however, are we aware of the damage it also causes in animals? Yes, our furry companions are also considered passive smokers, as is the case with children and people who do not smoke but associate with people who do.
Cigarette smoke contains around 4.7 thousand harmful substances, including nicotine and carbon monoxide, highly harmful to the body when inhaled. If you want to know all the information related to this problem and discover how tobacco smoke affects dogs and cats, and other pets, at we tell you about our site.
Animals as passive smokers
A passive smoker is considered to be any living being that can indirectly inhale or be in contact with tobacco smoke and, consequently,, with the harmful substances that compose it. Although they do not directly absorb cigarette smoke, a passive smoker can run the same risks as the smoker himself, so pets are exposed to the same he alth problems as their owners by smoking.
In general, pets tend to stay close to their human companions, dogs love to follow them around and cats love to lay on them, for example. For animals, there is nothing better than sharing every second with their best friend. For this reason, when living with smokers they are totally exposed to all its consequences.
If the smoker is used to smoking inside the home, the air in that environment can contain three times as much nicotine and carbon monoxide, and up to 50 times more carcinogenic substances than the tobacco smoke that the smoker inhales. own smoker. This is so due to the action of the cigarette filter, which stores a large part of the harmful compounds. Thus, we see how tobacco smoke affects animals indirectly, but it is just as harmful.
Consequences of tobacco smoke on animals
If we analyze the respiratory system of animals, we see that it is very similar to ours and, therefore, it is not difficult to understand that they can suffer from the same he alth problems as a human passive smoker and even, than the smoker himself. As with humans, when animals are exposed to an environment full of tobacco smoke, they end up inhaling it and their skin is in constant contact with all the harmful substances that make it up, which can generate serious damage to your body Next, we will detail how tobacco smoke affects dogs, cats, and other pets such as rabbits, guinea pigs, birds…
Irritations
Irritations are the most common signs shown by passive smokers like animals. In this way, we can observe cough, eye irritation, conjunctivitis in dogs and cats or itchy eyes. Likewise, it is not surprising that the same inhalation of tobacco smoke causes nausea in animals and a loss of appetite as a consequence. These symptoms can be aggravated when the animal lives in an environment in which the smoker is used to smoking at home, keeping the spaces closed, because the concentrations of toxic compounds are even higher.
Respiratory diseases
As it happens with humans, animals considered passive smokers are more susceptible than the rest to suffering from respiratory problems due to the accumulation of toxic substances in their lungs, a fact that produces an alteration in the functioning normal respiratory organs. Bronchitis and asthma are the most common long-term complications in companion animals, pathologies that if not treated properly can become serious and even deadly. For more information, see our article on the symptoms and treatment of asthma in cats.
Lung cancer
This fatal disease that also affects animals can develop as a result of inhaling smoke over a prolonged period of time. Thus, when we see how tobacco affects animals, we see how cancer cases are becoming more and more noticeable.
When there is a accumulation of toxic compounds in the lungs, the genetic material of cells can be altered, causing disordered growth and uncontrolled of them, and leading to the formation of malignant tumors. In this way, we see how lung cancer is the most common, however, it is not the only one that can be generated.
Chronic sinusitis
Chronic sinusitis is one of the most frequent pathologies among smokers, due to the destruction of the cells of the respiratory mucosa as a consequence of inhaling the toxic compounds of tobacco, a fact that we also see reflected in pets considered passive smokers. As the respiratory mucosa of animals is more sensitive than ours, they are even more susceptible than smokers to developing it and experiencing the complications that this condition entails.
Cardiovascular disorders
In the same way that a smoker tends to develop cardiovascular diseases from tobacco use, your pets can too. Over time, the heart has more and more difficulty pumping blood correctly and the arteries become less elastic, producing alterations that can lead the animal to suffer from heart and/or gallbladder failure. These consequences can be complicated and favored by other factors such as the advanced age of the animal.
How to prevent tobacco from affecting animals
Now that you know how tobacco smoke affects dogs, cats, and other pets, you probably want to know how to avoid the onset of the he alth problems mentioned above. Well, the most appropriate thing would be to directly eliminate the cause by quitting smoking, since it will improve both the he alth of the animals and the smoker himself. However, if this alternative cannot be carried out, it is best to keep the animals as far away as possible from tobacco smoke, as well as smoking in open and ventilated spaces, avoiding doing it inside the home.
Another important factor to take into account to prevent tobacco from affecting dogs and cats is Proper maintenance of furniture The Toxic substances from smoke can accumulate on surfaces such as carpets or the sofa, with which animals have direct contact through skin and licking, so keeping them completely clean and free of smoke is essential to prevent the development of the aforementioned problems in the previous section.
If you are a smoker, don't hesitate and protect your best friend by offering him the best care and, above all, making sure that he inhales as little or no tobacco as possible. Remember that their he alth is at stake, and yours too.
