Dec 07, 2016 08:40 AM EST By Audri Taylors, UniversityHerald Reporter

Do you have pets at home? Do you smoke? Have you thought about the adverse effects of second hand smoking to your pets?

According to scientists, just like humans, pets are also at risk of developing smoke-related illnesses due to second hand smoking. The same chemicals that harm human can also cause harm to the organs of your dogs, cats and even fish. And just like us, they can also develop cancer, lung and heart diseases.

Food and Drug Administration veterinarian Carmela Stamper said that smoking can also kill animals. 'Smoking's not only harmful to people; it's harmful to pets, too,'

'If 58 million non-smoking adults and children are exposed to tobacco smoke, imagine how many pets are exposed at the same time.

'Like children, dogs and cats spend a lot of time on or near the floor, where tobacco smoke residue concentrates in house dust, carpets and rugs.

'Then, it gets on their fur.

'Dogs, cats and children not only breathe these harmful substances in, but pets can also ingest them by licking their owner's hair, skin, and clothes.'

According to studies done at Tufts University's School of Veterinary Medicine in Massachusetts, and Colorado State University, second hand smoking can be the cause of lung and nasal cancer in dogs and malignant lymphoma in cats. In fact, malignant lymphoma is one major causes of death among cats.

Tobacco companies have already recognized the harmful effects that smoking entails to humans but have not acknowledged the same for animals.

If you wish to save your pets, you may want to think about quitting. Indications of cancer in animals include coughing, drooling, weight loss, difficulty in eating, vomiting, sneezing and bleeding. Among all smoke-related illness, it is cancer that is known to kill more dogs and cats than any disease.

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