Second-Hand Smoke Causes Cancer in Your Pets

tags: cancer, smokers, pets

Maybe this will surprise you but, having worked in cancer research for a few years, it isn't surprising to me to learn that secondhand smoke can cause cancer in your pets as well as in people. I mean, this just makes sense, ya know?

However, according to a study study done by the Tufts College of Veterinary Medicine, some of the nuances of this cancer risk might be unexpected. For example, of all pets, cats living with smokers are three times more likely to develop oral cancers (also known as squamous cell carcinoma) because they lick carcinogens from their fur.

"One reason cats are so susceptible to secondhand smoke is because of their grooming habits," said veterinarian Carolynn MacAllister of Oklahoma State University. "Cats constantly lick themselves while grooming, therefore they lick up the cancer-causing carcinogens that accumulate on their fur. This grooming behavior exposes the mucous membranes of their mouth to the cancer-causing carcinogens."

Sadly, cats who live with smokers are twice as likely as those who live with nonsmokers to develop a cancer of the lymph nodes, known as malignant lymphoma. Malignant lymphoma kills three out of four cats within 12 months of developing it.

Even though dogs don't grrom themselves, they also experience an increased risk for cancers. Not suprisingly, according to a study that was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, dogs living with smokers had a 60 percent greater risk of lung cancer. Further, another study published in the same journal found that long-nosed breeds of dogs are twice as likely to develop nose and sinus cancers if they live with smokers, while the short- and medium-nosed breeds are more susceptible to lung cancer (as one would expect) because their nasal passages are less effective at collecting inhaled carcinogens before they reach the lungs.

Unfortunately, none of the articles go into detail about the incidences of cancers in pet birds, even though birds have very efficient respiratory systems and thus, are known to be quite susceptible to airborne poisons. But, as a lifelong birdowner and (nearly) lifelong bird breeder, I am certain that the risk of cancers, especially lung cancer, is elevated in those birds who are unfortunate enough to live with smokers.

So, the best thing to do to protect your pets' health is to quit smoking altogether. If you can't do that, the next best thing to do is to refrain from smoking when you are in an enclosed area with your pets, such as your home or apartment.

Read more about it:

Image: Southern Adirondack Tobacco Free Coalition.

"Passive Smoking and Canine Lung Cancer Risk" (1992) by John S. Reif, Kari Dunn, Gregory K. Ogilvie and Cheryl K. Harris. American Journal of Epidemiology 135 (3):234-239 [abstract]

LiveScience (quotes).

Newsclips from a smokefreesociety.org.

PhysOrg.

NYTimes.

Smokers Put Pets At Risk Tufts University story.