Secondhand Smoke and Pets

Secondhand smoke lingers in the air your animal breathes in and is harmful to pets.

Thirdhand smoke is a residue of harmful compounds that are left behind, such as nicotine, that can get  on skin and clothes, furniture, carpets, and other things where a smoker lives.

Like children, dogs and cats spend a lot of time on or near the floor, where tobacco smoke residue  concentrates in house dust, carpets, and rugs. It gets on their fur.

Dogs, cats, and children not only breathe these harmful substances in, but pets can also ingest them by  licking their owner’s hair, skin, and clothes.

And of course, if your dog or cat grooms itself or another animal, they are ingesting the residues as well.

• Dogs exposed to secondhand smoke have more eye infections, allergies, and respiratory issues,  including lung cancer, and a greater risk for nasal cancer.
• Cats who live with people who smoke more than a pack of cigarettes a day have three times the  risk of developing lymphoma, a cancer of the immune system.
• Secondhand smoke can endanger your pet bird, guinea pig, and even your fish.

Source: Food and Drug Administration