We have been hearing a lot of news recently about how vaping can negatively affect people's respiratory system. In fact, several people have died from vaping! But did you know that vaping may also have negative effects on our dogs (and cats)?
There are two potential risks of vaping around our pets.
Just like smoking cigarettes, vaping around pets forces them to breathe in contaminated air (second-hand inhalation of the vapor). While the vapor contains lesser amounts of nicotine and other chemicals than cigarette smoke, such harmful substances are still in the vapor and can be harmful to dogs and cats through constant exposure.
The second and more dangerous risk is the ingestion of the nicotine present in the vaping juice, or - if you have a large-breed dog that gulps down everything - ingestion of the vape pens themselves.
Let's consider each risk in more detail.
INHALATION OF VAPOR
Back in 2014, a study (1) stated that substantial amounts of nicotine and several carcinogenic substances were found in the vapor. The study found that some ultra-fine particles could find their way into the lungs and deposit themselves there. This study confirms that "e-cigarettes are not emission-free and their pollutants could be of health concern for users and secondhand smokers."
In an article by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2017 (2), it stated that "passive exposure to e-cigarette vapour might lead to adverse health effects according to a systematic review of 16 studies." Another report from the WHO (3) also concluded that "second-hand aerosols from e-cigarettes are a new
air contamination source for hazardous particulate matter (PM). The levels of some metals, such as nickel and chromium, in second-hand aerosols are not only higher than background air, but also higher than second-hand smoke."
If a person vapes around his dog/cat, therefore, the pet is forced to inhale polluted air, which may cause respiratory distress or even lung disease in the long run. More damagingly, such air-borne particles may land on the pet's fur, and may eventually be ingested by the pet through self-grooming.
INGESTION OF VAPING JUICE/VAPE PEN
According to the US Pet Poison Center, there has been an increase in incidents in which dogs have ingested some vaping juice or even a whole pen!
It's not actually surprising considering the numerous "flavors" of the juice on the market, some of which may be very appealing to our dogs!
Since vaping juice contains concentrated amount of nicotine, ingesting the juice could have serious or even fatal consequence on dogs. Nicotine is toxic to pets and can cause difficulty breathing, rapid breathing, drooling, vomiting, weakness, cardiac arrest, and in large amounts, collapse and death.
Not to mention if a dog ingests a whole vape pen, s/he could suffer from fatal intestinal blockage.
Although there really is not much research on the impact of second-hand vaping on pets' health, it doesn't take much imagination to understand the potential negative effects on them. Heck, even people are getting sick and dying from vaping, it shouldn't be doing any good to our pets, should it?
If you vape (please consider quitting) and have a dog (or cat), please remember to:
- keep your vaping juice and pen out of the reach of your pet;
- vape outside away from your pet;
- call your vet or Pet Poison Center if you suspect your pet has ingested some vaping juice or pen.
References:
1) https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1438463913001533
2) https://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/95/7/16-186536/en/
3) https://www.who.int/fctc/cop/cop7/FCTC_COP_7_11_EN.pdf?ua=1&ua=1
