News: Secondhand smoke is harming your pet, too

According to studies done at the Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in Massachusetts and at Colorado State University, secondhand smoke can cause lung and nasal cancer in dogs, malignant lymphoma in cats and allergy and respiratory problems in both animals.

A report from Global News stated that one of the leading causes of death in cats is lymphoma and the research conducted at Tufts shows that, over time, exposure to smoke doubles a cat’s chance of getting cancer. If a cat is living with a smoker for more than five years, the risk increases fourfold. Secondhand smoke can also cause mouth cancer in animals.

According to Morris Animal foundation, a Denver-based company which has been funding pet research since the 60s, cancer kills more dogs and cats than any other disease.

And don’t think that e-cigarettes are any safer. The nicotine cartridges can be harmful to animals, so be sure to dispose of them safely and not just in the trash, says Dr. Liz Rozanski, Tufts veterinarian.

Worried about your furry friend? Symptoms of cancer in pets include coughing, trouble breathing, weight loss, trouble eating, nasal discharge, bleeding and sneezing.

-Jessica Harding, associate web editor