AVMA Urges Pet Lovers to Stop Smoking
Smokers: if you're considering taking part in The Great American Smokeout on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009, here's another nudge: do it for the good of your pets.
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has a new video encouraging pet owners to kick the habit, letting smokers know they're putting the health of their pets at risk. "We're all aware of the scientific research that shows that people who smoke are more likely to get certain types of cancer and other diseases, but a lot of people don't know that the same goes for the pets of smokers," said CEO Dr. Ron DeHaven.
The Risk to Pets: Lung cancer and nasal cancer are especially threatening to dogs. Dr. John Reif, professor at the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, says that dogs with short noses have double the risk of lung cancer and long-nosed dogs such as collies have two and half times greater risk of nasal cancer from secondhand smoke.
Cats that live with smokers are twice as likely to develop malignant lymphoma -- fatal to three out of four cats within a year -- and are more likely to get mouth cancer.
For more information:
- visit www.avma.org
- visit the Kick the Habit, for You and Your Pets podcast
- visit The Great American Smokeout video
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