Pets Face Greater Health Risks With Advent Of Smoking Ban

Article Title: Pets Face Greater Health Risks With Advent Of
Smoking Ban
Author: Jason Hulott1

Britons' pets face health risks associated with passive
smoking, and says shocking research from pet insurer More Than,
the risks will increase when the ban on smoking in bars and
restaurants comes in to force shortly in the UK.

With over a million smokers in the UK saying that they'll go
out less because of the ban and now stay in and smoke because
of the ban, this is putting the nation's pet cats, dogs, birds
and other `small furries' at serious health risks.

The research says that British pet owners enjoy a smoke, with
nearly a quarter of them smoking every day. And 44 per cent of
these admit that they do smoke indoors, often in the same room
as their pet.

The effects of this smoking on pets can be the same as what
humans can suffer from, such as respiratory problems, coughing,
watery eyes and even life threatening diseases such as lung
cancer and chronic bronchitis.

And in households where here are more than one smoker, the
effects on animals are actually increased four-fold, says the
research. Yet, despite the massive publicity about the ill
affects of passive smoking, still many smokers continue to out
the health of others – including their pets – at risk.

When asked, 38 per cent of pet owners who smoke said that they
had not realised that passive smoking could endanger their
pet's health. Yet only 11 per cent of the respondents to the
survey said that they would stop smoking if they knew it could
make their pets ill.

Sadly, three-quarters of a million smokers said that they would
still continue smoking as normal, despite the warnings of the
ill effects it could have on their animals.

If you are a smoker and you aren't prepared to quit, then do
consider the health of your pet or pets. Try smoking out in the
garden, or in a room where your pet doesn't go. Keep any
communal areas well ventilated.

If they could speak, your pet would thank you for it.

About The Author: Jason Hulott is the animal-loving Business
Development Director of Protection Insurance
(http://www.protection-insurance.com), an internet based
insurance business dedicated to getting consumers the best
rates and the best products.

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