You know that secondhand smoke is harmful to humans, but have you ever thought about what your smoking habit could be doing to your pets?
NorthJersey.com asked veterinarians at the Oradell Animal Hospital in Paramus to answer questions about whether dogs and cats could get cancer from secondhand smoke. "Although it is difficult to establish a clear cause and effect between something such as secondhand smoke and cancer in pets, the evidence for environmental factors being involved is mounting in veterinary medicine," they reported.
Studies have shown that dogs can have an increased risk of certain types of cancers, while cats especially have been shown to develop lymphoma and cancer of the mouth, probably because cigarette smoke can settle on their fur and be ingested during grooming.
If you're concerned about the safety of your animals, you might want to switch to an electronic cigarette. With no tar, harmful chemicals or smoke, e-cigs are a viable alternative for smokers who want to protect their pets from the effects of carcinogens found in traditional cigarettes.
