How Smoking Impacts Pet Health
Dogs and Cats are more at risk from passive smoking than humans. Having so many friends who still smoke, when I saw this article, I thought it was important to share.
Pets living in households where someone smokes are at greater risk of health problems. Scientists have established a direct link between family pets living in a smoking environment and animal illnesses. Pets are at greater risk from passive smoking than humans because they spend more time in the home and are closer to carpets where carcinogenic particles can linger. More than just breathing it in. Pets get a bigger dose of chemicals from smoking than you might think. Have you ever noticed the smoke stains that coat the furniture and walls of a smoker’s home? That smoker’s residue also gets into your dog or cat’s fur, and the smoke contains a lot of chemicals. Pets living in a smoker’s home not only inhale smoke. They also eat it every day when they groom themselves.
Scientists at the University of Glasgow have established that animals exposed to second-hand smoke go on to develop a host of health problems lare Knottenbelt, professor of small animal medicine and oncology at the university’s Small Animal Hospital, said: “Our findings show that exposure to smoke in the home is having a direct impact on pets. It risks ongoing cell damage, increasing weight gain after castration and has previously been shown to increase the risk of certain cancers.”
Dogs and Cats exposed to second hand smoke may be at greater risk of
Breathing problems in dogs and asthmatic-like symptoms in cats
Salivation
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Cardiac abnormalities
Respiratory difficulties and respiratory paralysis
Feline lymphoma in cats
Lung cancer in dogs
Nasal cancer in dogs
I am often asked whether there are any essential oils that can help one to stop smoking. The truth of the matter is that a number of people have found using aromatherapy with high quality essential oils to be very helpful when they want to quit smoking.
So which essential oils are the best to use? A study done at the VA Medical Center in North Carolina found Black Pepper essential oil helped people to quit smoking. I have clients who have found bergamot, Roman Chamomile, Clary Sage and Ylang Ylang to help them to quit smoking. Essential oils may help because they promote feelings of calmness and peace.
(Blog from Jan Jeremiah, MSC)
