WASHINGTON, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Recent studies by
U.S. veterinarians show that secnodhand smoke not only threat the health of
nonsmokers, it can also hurt house pets such as dogs and cats, U.S. media
reported Tuesday.
"Secondhand smoke has been associated with oral
cancer and lymphoma in cats, lung and nasal cancer in dogs, as well as lung
cancer in birds," said Carolynn Mac Allister, a veterinarian of Oklahoma State
University.
There have been a number of scientific papers
recently that have reported the significant health threat secondhand smoke poses
to pets.
A study conducted recently at Tuft College of
Veterinary Medicine found a strong correlation between secondhand smoke and
certain forms of cancer in cats.
The number of cats with mouth cancer was higher for
those animals living in smoking environments versus those felines living in a
smoke-free home.
In addition, cats that lived with smokers for five or
more years had an even higher incidence of this type of oral cancer.
Malignant lymphoma is another type of cancer that
cats that live with smokers have a higher risk of getting. This cancer occurs in
the lymph nodes and cats are twice as likely to have this type of cancer
compared to cats living in a non-smoking home. This form of cancer is fatal to
three out of four cats within 12 months of developing the cancer.
Secondhand smoke is also greatly associated with the
increased occurrence of cancer in the nose and sinus area among dogs. Research
also indicates a slight association with lung cancer.
A recent study conducted at Colorado State University
shows that there is a higher incidence of nasal tumors in dogs living in a home
with secondhand smoke compared to dogs living in a smoke free environment. The
increased incidence was specifically found among the long nosed breed of dogs.
Shorter or medium nosed dogs showed higher rates for lung cancer.
Unfortunately, dogs affected with nasal cancer
normally do not survive more than one year.
Pet birds also are victims of secondhand smoke. A
bird's respiratory system is hypersensitive to any type of pollutant in the air.
The most serious consequences of secondhand smoke exposure in birds are
pneumonia or lung cancer. Other health risks include eye, skin, heart and
fertility problems.
