Lifestyle

Your Pet Has A Higher Risk Of Developing Cancer From Passive Smoking Than You Do

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We all knowthat secondhand smoke is bad for our health, but did you know that it's even more dangerous for our furry friends? Quit now, and save your dog and cat's life!

New research shows that animals develop worse health problems from passive smoking because they spend more time in the home and are closer to carpets where carcinogenic particles can linger. So if someone in your household smokes, your pet is more at risk of developing a host of health problems including cancer, cell damage and weight gain.

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Source: @DailyMail

Scientists at the University of Glasgow found that cats are particularly at risk from second-hand smoke, potentially due to extensive self-grooming, and that dogs who have been castrated are more likely to put on weight than those in a smoke-free home.

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Source: @Telegraph

Professor Clare Knottenbelt, Professor of Small Animal Medicine and Oncology at the university’s Small Animal Hospital, has been running the study for a few years now. She stated:

 We have already shown that dogs can take in significant amounts of smoke when living in a smoking household. Our current study in cats, (funded by BSAVA Petsavers) shows that cats are even more affected. This may be due to the extensive self-grooming that cats do, as this would increase the amount of smoke taken in to the body. As an incidental finding, we also observed that dogs living with a smoker owner gained more weight after neutering than those in a non-smoking household.
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Source: @VitalPetHealth

Pet owners often do not think about the impact that smoking could have on their pets. So with the New Year here, it's time we think about what's best for our health and our beloved pets'.Knottenbelt finished saying:

Whilst you can reduce the amount of smoke your pet is exposed to by smoking outdoors and by reducing the number of tobacco products smoked by the members of the household, stopping smoking completely is the best option for your pet’s future health and wellbeing.

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