Cats and dogs are hurt by tobacco smoking, too

William Atkins
Tuesday, 10 February 2009 20:24

Science - Health

The conclusions of the Michigan study involving adult human smokers and their pets, which breathe in their second-hand smoke are summarized in this article.

They are:

•    21% of the participants were current smokers
•    27% of the respondents lived with at least one smoker

•    28.4% of pet owners who smoke report that the dangers of pet exposure to second-hand smoke would motivate them to “try to quit smoking”
•    8.7% of pet owners who smoke report that the dangers of pet exposure to SHS would motivate them to “ask the people with whom they live to quit smoking”
•    14.2% of pet owners who smoke report that the dangers of pet exposure to SHS would motivate them to “not to smoke indoors”

•    (about) 40% of current smokers and 24% of non-smokers living with smokers indicated that they “would be interested in receiving information on smoking quitting or SHS”

According to the Reuters’ article Do it for Fido: smokers may quit to help a pet, “It's not necessarily that people love their pets more than they love themselves or their children, it's just another motivational factor for people to consider quitting smoking.”

The researchers concluded: “Educational campaigns informing pet owners of the risks of SHS exposure for pets could motivate some pet owners to quit smoking. It could also motivate these owners and non-smoking owners who cohabit with smokers make their homes smoke-free.“ [Abstract]

Thus, the researchers raise the interesting question that targeting campaigns to get people to stop smoking cigarettes may be best targeted to the health of their pets.

The researchers state within their paper, "Pet owners in the U.S. are very devoted to their pets."

Page three concludes with comments from Dr. Milberger, and additional information on how tobacco smoking harms your pets.