Second-hand Smoke & Your Dog

Medical research has found that tobacco smoke contains up to 20 different carcinogens that can be inhaled by nonsmokers. In humans, exposure to second hand smoke or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is positively associated with cancer, respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Today, we humans share more of our lives including our leisure time and living space with our pets. Our close bond means we may unwittingly expose them to environmental hazards like ETS that is now linked to certain forms of pet cancers. An investigation at Colorado State University reported a higher incidence of nasal cavity tumors in dogs exposed to second hand smoke than in dogs living in non-smoking households. This is especially true in long-nosed breeds like Greyhounds and Collies. Presumably their long nasal passages provide a greater area for carcinogens to be deposited so more cells are at risk to be affected and mutate into cancer cells.


Dogs with short noses like Pugs and dogs with medium length noses like Beagles, have a lower incidence of nasal cavity tumors than long nosed breeds. They do, however, have a higher incidence of lung cancer if they live in a household with smokers. It is presumed that in shorter nosed breeds, smoke passes through the shorter carcinogen-filtering nasal passages and quickly reaches their lungs. The lung cells of these breeds are greater risk of becoming cancerous.

If you live in a smoking environment, please consider safeguarding your pets and other non-smoking humans by designating a smoking area outside or in a physically separate room of the house to minimize their exposure to ETS.
A future blog will discuss the effects of ETS on cats.