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Researchers have recently made a discovery which links
the effects of second hand cigarette smoke to cats developing
feline lymphoma, a deadly cancerous condition of the
lymphatic system.
Published in the August 1 issue of the American Journal
of Epidemiology, the study included 180 cats treated
at Tufts Veterinary School's Foster Hospital between
the years 1993 and 2000. The results of their study
clearly indicate that cats exposed to second hand smoke
significantly increases their likelihood of developing
lymphoma.
Cats living in homes where humans smoked a pack or
more of cigarettes a day had more than three times the
risk of lymphoma than cats in nonsmoking homes. As well,
an increase in risk of lymphoma also seemed related
to the number of smokers living in the home. Cats living
with one smoker had nearly twice the risk, while cats
living with two or more smokers had nearly four times
the risk for lymphoma.
Cats kept indoors may be at greater risk of exposure
than their owners who leave home for extended periods
of time. Cats may inhale second hand smoke or ingest
it when they groom themselves licking particulate matter
off their fur.
While second hand smoke can adversely impact a pet's
health, so can ingestion of a cigarette. If ingested,
tobacco products can be deadly according to Jill Richardson
DVM, of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. More
commonly seen is dogs who ingest cigarettes, but cats
and pet birds can ingest them as well.
Signs of ingestion and nicotine poisoning can occur
within 15-45 minutes of ingestion and include excitation,
salivation, panting, vomiting and diarrhea. Signs of
advanced ingestion include muscle weakness, twitching,
depression, collapse, coma, increased heart rate and
cardiac arrest. Death can result from respiratory paralysis.
Recommendations for households with smokers, is to
go outside to smoke especially if you have cats in the
household. Keep cigarettes, cigars, nicotine patches
and nicotine gum out of pet's reach. Make sure ashtrays
are kept empty as the cigarette butts contain about
25% of the total nicotine content of a cigarette.
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