As a smoker, you may be trying your best to keep your home free of smoke smells. But smoke leaves behind much more than just a smell. According to research carried out in 2018, third-hand smoke (the carcinogenic toxins deposited by cigarette smoke) not only lingers on carpets, walls and furniture but can be recirculated around a building over and over again.

This not only causes ongoing damage to your health, but puts your pet at risk too. Dogs living with smokers are 60% more likely to develop cancers, including lung cancer and nasal cancer, among numerous other health complications – and could die younger as a result. One in five pets belonging to smokers have even eaten a cigarette in the last year. Millions of us share our homes with a four-legged companion, and the average dog-owning smoker exposes their canine friend to 3,285 cigarettes every year of their life.

With National No Smoking Day set to highlight the many benefits of quitting smoking on Wednesday 11th March, now’s the perfect time to think about how ditching the cigarettes could benefit both you and your pooch. There are plenty of proactive steps you can take to reduce the dangers to your dog posed by both third-hand and second-hand smoke.

Why is passive smoking dangerous for dogs?

80% of cigarette smoke is invisible, so there are many ways it can harm your dog. Even moving into the home of a former smoker can have serious consequences when a dog starts breathing in the smoke particles that linger. Dogs have a far stronger sense of smell than us, with over 300 million receptors in their noses compared to six million in humans. This not only means that we can sometimes be oblivious to third-hand smoke, but means that breathing in second-hand smoke is many times more unpleasant for a dog.

Most dogs spend the vast majority of their days in your home – around 23 hours on average when you subtract walks. Unless you take them to work with you every day, then they’re spending far more time in your home environment than you are, exposing them to the dangers of third-hand smoke. On top of this, dogs love to be as close to their owners as possible. Spending hours in the immediate vicinity of your body means they’re breathing in the smoke particles on your clothes at close range.

These aren’t the only reasons that second and third-hand smoke have serious health implications for your dog. Because smoke particles settle on their fur, they come into constant direct contact with them by grooming themselves. Inhaling smoke also exacerbates existing conditions in dogs, such as bronchitis and asthma.

How can I protect my dog from second-hand smoke at home?

The only way to ensure complete protection from smoke for your dog is to stop smoking. There are just too many ways that smoke can linger and cling to the insides of your home, only to be breathed in by your dog.





However, there are ways that you can significantly lessen the impact of your smoke.



Ensure that you only smoke outside. This will reduce the danger indoors, but the smoke particles will still settle on the fibres of your clothes.

Properly ventilate the inside of your home. Make sure that windows are opened wide (not just when you’re smoking), and during the colder months use an effective extractor fan system. Devices like air purifiers and air fresheners will do nothing but mask the smell.

Vacuum your home regularly. Getting into every nook and cranny of your fittings and furnishings with a powerful vacuum cleaner will reduce the impact of second-hand smoke, but again, it far from solves the problem.

Make sure ashtrays are emptied and not left uncovered, in order to prevent your dog from eating their contents.

Dust all surfaces regularly, as the presence of dust can help to trap third-hand smoke and increase the dangers it poses.

Get your carpets professionally cleaned. This will not remove all the dangerous particles from your floors but it will do significantly more than a regular vacuum cleaner can.

Consider vaping as an alternative to quit cigarettes as this will help to drastically reduce the health risks of nicotine poisoning to your dog. However, ensure that all vaping equipment is kept well out of reach as, if any elements are swallowed, the consequences can be life-threatening. While vaping is an effective smoking cessation tool it shouldn’t be shared with our pets says Dan Marchant, owner of Vape Club . Anyone who vapes should consider their pet’s health and wellbeing and take all necessary precautions to protect them.

What are the signs of nicotine poisoning in dogs?

Nicotine poisoning becomes a very serious risk when dogs are over-exposed to smoke particles at home. The amount of nicotine which could be considered over-exposure depends upon the size of your dog – but no amount of exposure is without danger.

Here are the signs of nicotine poisoning to look out for in your dog.



Suddenly becoming hyperactive. If your dog behaves in an over-excited manner without something prompting it, this is a sign that something isn’t quite right.

Excessive drooling. In most dog breeds this is not normal, and while there can be many reasons for it, it should be treated as a red flag.

Vomiting or diarrhea. These indicate that your dog has ingested something they shouldn’t, and could suggest nicotine consumption if other symptoms are present.

Incoordination and weakness. Is your dog stumbling? If they are suddenly unable to stay upright or avoid bumping into furniture, examine them for other symptoms.

Abnormal breathing patterns. Some dog breeds have more trouble breathing than others, but any change to normal patterns should be closely monitored.

Constricted pupils. If your dog’s pupils have become smaller without the presence of bright light, then keep a close eye out for other symptoms.

Twitches, tremors or seizures. These will be visibly obvious and should all be treated as symptoms of an immediate and serious health problem.

Elevated heart rate. Has your dog’s pulse become faster without taking part in any exercise? This could be a response to a serious internal problem.

If your dog displays one or more of these symptoms, you should get them to a vet for emergency treatment as quickly as possible.



Making a smoking household safe for a dog is not as simple as an overnight spring clean. It will take long-term changes, as well as increased awareness of the dangers of second and third-hand smoke, to really make a difference.



Of course, quitting smoking is the safest option of all for your dog, but there are many other positive steps you can take towards having a much healthier canine companion that will benefit both of you for years to come.