Pets 'At Risk' from Home Smoking

A leading professor of animal medicine is warning dog and cat owners about the risk of smoking around their pets. Clare Knottenbelt, from the University of Glasgow's Small Animal Hospital, said there was mounting evidence of the effect of second-hand smoke on pets.

Professor Knottenbelt said studies had shown increased risk of lymphoma and oral cancer in cats and of lung, nasal and sinus cancer in dogs. "Currently I am writing a research paper looking at levels of nicotine in the fur of dogs which indicates they are as exposed to the same levels of nicotine as children in the household.

"This may be a useful way of indicating second-hand smoke exposure in a household in general."

"While veterinary medicine is advancing all the tie and we have the ability to treat some cancers in pets, it is expensive and provides no guarantees of long-term survival. The best way of avoiding damage to your pet's health is to not smoke around them - or better still, to give up."

-BBCmobile; 10/24/11