Secondhand Cigarette Smoke and your Sheltie

[SheepOfBlue]

I think that there is some examples of neglect and abuse of pets that are horrific and need to be stopped. If you get all the way down the list to second hand smoke, in most cases I think you need to be quiet and tend to your own business. You likely have habits that are just as bad or worse.

 

[Smudge]

Scaring people about giving their pets cancer is nothing more than anti-smoking scare tactics.

I don't know about how smoking actually impacts a dog. I don't like the phrase "anti-smoking scare tactics". You make it sound like there is no danger in smoking at all. I don't know about pets but there is absolutely a threat to humans. It's facts and not "scare tactics".

Turn your cigarette box over and read the warning.

 

[take4roll10]

Thankfully, no one in my household smokes cigarettes, so I can't comment on the effects.

My cousin's cocker spaniel passed away from nasal cancer and no one in their house smoked.

I don't think a rescue should deny someone a dog because they smoke. Every year, there are thousands of great dogs who are put down because of over crowded shelters. I'd much rather see a dog go to a good home, even if the owner smokes.

 

[ClantyreSheltie]

I don't know about how smoking actually impacts a dog. I don't like the phrase "anti-smoking scare tactics". You make it sound like there is no danger in smoking at all. I don't know about pets but there is absolutely a threat to humans. It's facts and not "scare tactics".

Turn your cigarette box over and read the warning.

Sure, we know there are dangers to people. That is well and proven and not disputed. But when they can't get people to quit by showing them the human harm, they try the "it will harm your animals, too", like someone who is not going to quit for their own health is going to quit for the dog? And like someone has done long term studies on the risk of second hand smoke to dogs? I live a tenth of a mile from the Baltimore Beltway, I think the exhaust from that is worse than any second hand smoke.

And no, I don't smoke. It was an easy decision, because if Dad did it, it was obviously not cool, right? And if mom offers to light the cigarette for you, it's even less cool! It was a very effective parenting method.

 

[OntarioSheltie]

The rescue that we're adopting Toby from gives preference to non-smoking families.

My parent's smoked until I was 10 and it made me extremely ill. As a result I have never had even the slightest interest in lighting up anything and I have trouble tolerating being in the same room with most people who smoke, the smell bothers me so much.

I also just watched my grandfather die of lung cancer. While he did not smoke very often, my Grandmother smoked for years and was the likely source of his cancer.

I would never smoke just for the fact that I wouldn't want to put others and risk around me, whether they be people or animals.

Do I feel better knowing that the rescue group likely doesn't contain any smokers? Absolutely. Even though I could remove the smoke smell by bathing the dog, I'd always wonder what harm it would have caused him. I suppose he could have come from the home of smokers before I got him, but if he didn't and the foster smoked around him, I'd feel like he was put at unnecessary risk.

Apparently a study was done on the effects of cigarette smoke on cats and dogs. I haven't read all the way through it, but here are a couple of links to the study.

http://www.smalldogsparadise.com/hea...e-of-your-dog/

http://vetmed.illinois.edu/petcolumn...OLID=310&URL=0

 

[Calliesmom]

can't stand cig smoke- my mom was a smoker and it contributed to her death at age 63.
as far as animals not living long enough to be affected- I don't think that is necessarily true. There was an article in Top Notch Toys (early 2008- I think) about cigarette smoking and its effects on indoor pets. I don't have the magazine anymore but I think there was some info on shorter life spans etc.
funny thing- gave it to a smoker with pups and kids

 

[wjo53]

can't stand cig smoke- my mom was a smoker and it contributed to her death at age 63.

I've been a non-smoker since the heart attack, 5.5 years ago. I still love being downwind of someone lighting up, I stand there and get a nose full, and there are still times...I'd just about do anything for one. I guess it's an addiction that I'll have to deal with until I check out.

 

[tofu pup]

I still love being downwind of someone lighting up

When I was little, the only people in my life who smoked were my great-aunt and -uncle and my grandparents. To this day, I actually get kind of happy when I smell cigarette smoke, because it makes me think of them. (Sadly, the smoking almost certainly contributed to their poor health and eventual deaths.)

of course, all of my neighbors here are poor graduate students, and smoke awful-smelling cheap cigarettes (usually just outside my window).

 

[ClantyreSheltie]

I've been a non-smoker since the heart attack, 5.5 years ago. I still love being downwind of someone lighting up, I stand there and get a nose full, and there are still times...I'd just about do anything for one. I guess it's an addiction that I'll have to deal with until I check out.

I love the smell of a newly lit menthol. I usually don't get into people's business about smoking, but my landlord is starting to cough more persistently. I've started getting on her about it.

 

[The Quahog]

While I won't get into the controversy of whether rescue organizations should deny healthy dogs to people who smoke, ( at times rescue groups can seem to be a tad, shall we say, overzealous), I don't think that there is any question that cigarette smoking can be harmful to our pets. Not to step on toes, but the 'they don't live that long' argument is , to say the least, unconvincing.

I will see dogs come in for respiratory issues, and when I part their hairs and sniff the skin I start to gag and my eyes water because they reek of cigarette smoke. Sometimes I can hardly be in the exam room with them. I have seen Bichons who are yellow, Westies that look like Cairns, and when you pet them you might as well be wiping an ash tray.

No, I can't quote a study, but i can not believe that this would not be a serious problem for the respiratory system, and would not aggravate the very serious and very common allergic bronchitis, chronic bronchitis, tracheal collapse etc. which we treat every day. - Dr. Mac