Smoking

Pet health problems ranging from allergies to kidney and lung cancer are linked to living in conditions with nicotine smoke. 

Read more at: The Effects of Secondhand Smoke on Pets | PetMD

Not only do pets breath the air, but – worse - they inhale and ingest dangerous smoke particle residuals from carpeting, bedding, toys, and their own fur.   This exposure to their small bodies over time can result in costly health problems down the road.

Pets that self-groom (cats/kittens), small animals (kittens, puppies, birds, hamsters, guinea pigs) are at highest risk as they take in higher dose of the toxins per amount of body weight.

Puppies and kittens (pets under 1 year or age) have developing immune systems that will also be adversely affected by toxins in smoke.

What can you do? 

• If at all possible, quit smoking (for your own health as well as that of your pet!)  (If you can’t quit – please don’t bring a new a small or young pet into your home)

• If you have to smoke:  Take it outside/avoid bringing smoke indoors.

• If you must smoke inside: use HEPA filters, fans, windows to take smoke particles outside/clean the air.

• Routinely clean pet’s fur, clean/replace pet items contaminated by smoke particles ( concludes pet carriers, bedding, toys)