Second Hand Smoke
Effects on Dogs

Has it occurred to you that second hand smoke effects might be toxic for dogs and cause or worsen any canine health problems your dog has? Here's why you should smoke outside if you love your dog.

Notice I didn't say you should quit smoking? You're an adult and I'm not going to tell you what to do. Besides, I quit smoking five or six times myself so it would be pretty hypocritical to point a finger at you.

The effects of second hand smoke are worse on dogs than adult humans. Probably worse than on children and we know that kids who grow up in a smokers household suffer far more upper respiratory ailments.

Why is is worse for dogs? You know that nasty smell that gets in your clothes, the furniture, drapes, carpets and coats your walls with that antique-like color coating? Yes, I know you don't want to think about it, but it is a collection of toxins.

Dogs are made to use their nose. At birth they have a sense of smell. A week or so later, their ears open so they can hear. A week or so after that, their eyes open so they can see. It all happens in order of importance.

Now picture your dog snorting up all that residual cigarette stuff. Not only does he get it from the air, but from everything in nose reach.

And what about the stuff he licks off himself and the carpet during his cleaning ritual or crumb hunts?

Dogs that already have health issues are highly likely to get more living with an indoor smoker. Here's an example.

My first dog Gretchen. Gawd, that Great Dane was such a sweetheart! My gentle giant played with the cats, got along with the rabbit and followed the hamster around in his walking ball.

I was young. There was a lot I didn't know and there were things I should have thought about. A few months after we got our Woo from the breeder, she was diagnosed with mange.

I'd never heard of natural medicine back then and that poor puppy was given strong chemical dips every few weeks to kill the mange mites. It took months. By the time the mange was gone, she was scarred and 1/3 bald. We loved her just the same and felt lucky because she was the only pup from her litter to survive.

Being too dense to think about the second hand smoke effects on our dog, we puffed away on our cigarettes indoors. Gretchen died of lung cancer before her seventh birthday.

If your dog has runny eyes, a runny nose or any kind of allergy, please give her a break. Smoke outside. She'll be happy to keep you company, and the smoke will drift away so she won't have to inhale it or wear it.

Dedicated to Gretchen the Great Dane. . . my Woo

To read more about the antics of this incredibly friendly couch potato, you can read Gretchen's story at My Brindle Great Dane and second hand smoke.

Back from Second Hand Smoke Effects to Canine Health Problems

Back from Second Hand Smoke Effects to Home Page of
Three Little Pitties Dog Health

New! Comments