From The Oregonian:
When Oregon’s bars went smoke-free on New Year’s Day, nonsmokers breathed a sigh of relief — and so can smokers’ pets…
The consequences can be significant. A study conducted about seven years ago showed that cats living with smokers are two to four times more at risk for intestinal lymphoma, said Kristi Ellis, a veterinarian at the Oregon Humane Society. This type of cancer usually kills the cat within one year of diagnosis. The reason cats end up with cancer in their bowels, not their lungs, is that smoke particles settle on their fur and are ingested when cats groom, Ellis said.
This, however, is a worst-case scenario, and some say secondhand smoke hasn’t been proved to directly cause cancer in cats.
“It’s important to note that there’s no absolute direct link between smoking and cancer in pets,” said Nancy Zimmermann, director of medical support at Banfield, the Pet Hospital, one of the world’s largest veterinary practices.
Fortunately, I don’t think anyone is seriously proposing banning smoking in bars for the sake of pets at home. And this article, written by Jaques Von Lunen, is actually far more level-headed in its coverage of tobacco science than The New York Times or Scientific American have been lately. If only reporters could be this balanced when it comes to humans.
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Jacob Grier is a freelance writer, barista, mixologist, and magician in Portland, OR. He writes, eats, and drinks a lot. His articles have appeared in The Washington Post, Reason Online, The Oregonian, and other publications.
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