Smoking Causes Cancer…In Your Pet!

It seems like a no-brainer: Smoking around your pet is bad news. But just how dangerous is it? Truth be told, it can be downright deadly.

A study conducted by the Tufts College of Veterinary Medicine shows that cats living in homes with smokers have a greater chance of being diagnosed with mouth cancer. Because of their grooming habits, cats continually lick and ingest cancer-causing carcinogens that build up on their fur. They are also twice as likely to develop malignant lymphoma—a cancer that occurs in the lymph nodes and is often fatal.

What about dogs? Well, research shows that dogs living in a smoking household are at a much greater risk of developing cancers of the nose and sinus area. Dogs with nasal cancer typically survive less than one year.

Make a Change
The best thing for a pet parent to do is designate an area outside the home to smoke…or better yet, give up the habit. Smoking is bad for you, too.