Butt Out for Your Pet
By 250 News
Sunday, November 27, 2005 03:30 AM
Second Hand Smoke
Lately there has been much controversy about second hand smoke or passive inhalation. While we know it affects humans what does it also affect our pets?
-Kathi Travers
Second hand smoke is the smoke that is exhaled from smoking as well as from the direct burning of cigarettes pipes and cigars. Scientists have discovered, after some 30 years of research, that the chemicals, including carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, benzene, chromium, nickel, vinyl chloride and arsenic which are released from the burning tobacco are damaging to people exposed on a regular basis. These folks are more at risk to develop and die from heart problems, lung cancer and breathing problems.
When it comes to our pets, several studies have been done that show chronic exposure also increases the incidence of cancer and lung disease as well as eye irritations in our pets. The types of cancers differ among breeds. It also depends on where the particles are deposited. Breeds with long noses, such as Collies, Dachshunds, and Afghan Hounds are at a greater risk of nasal cancer because the long noses filter out the smoke. The shorter noses like Pekinese, Pugs and Bulldogs draw the smoke right into the lungs, therefore are at a greater risk of lung cancer.
There have also been a few studies which appear to indicate that cats living with smokers have a greater tendency to develop oral cancers than those who do not.
While secondary smoke alone has not been defined as the single reason for disease, the real culprit is poor ventilation. It takes hours to filter out the gases created by one single cigarette smoke.
Also, should a pet decide to munch down those cigarettes that you leave on the coffee table that is a bad thing. A whole pack can actually kill your pet. So please don’t leave your cigarettes around for a snack
If you have to smoke, save a loved one and do it outside where there is plenty of ventilation.
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A concern of the governments is the fact people are getting older and older and OLDER and just not dying off as they used to. Creating problems for society, to say the least.
Can we attribute this to fewer smokers???
Nah!!! That would be too easy!
Pets are living to be 14, 15, 16 and even upwards, where they used to be given a life span of 8 to 10.
Nah, we cannot be so bold as to contribute this change in longevity to less smokers.
I have yet to see an animal eat butts-or munch down a pack of cigarettes.
In all my years how did I miss that one? And I was a pretty good smoker in my day, and always had pets.
I quit-but only due to the fact I decided I did not want to smoke any longer.
I must have required that crutch for years, as I could not so much as drive a vehicle, or answer a phone without the aid of that smoke.
I avoid preaching to others about smoking.
Find it difficult to become a "holier than thou art" because I, personally, made the decision to stop smoking.
Now there are a few studies that indicate cats and dogs living with smokers are endangered!
What in hell will they come up with next???
Open a window a crack and blow your smoke outside-but for heaven's sake, do not become ill with the outside trips.
I would have had to move outside when I smoked.
Now that would have been an ordeal.
My pets always required attention-and how would I have convinced them to move outside with me??
Boy, now I'm getting stupid.
Must be catching!!