Ban 'better for pets'

Humans will not be the only ones to benefit from the newly-introduced smoking ban, according to a veterinary charity.

PSDA research shows cats living in smoky households are twice as likely to develop feline lymphoma, a potentially fatal blood cancer.

Dogs are also susceptible to passive smoking and their exposure to tobacco smoke has been linked to nasal and sinus cancers.

In hamsters and guinea pigs, inhaling second-hand smoke could even contribute to hair loss, said the PSDA.

The charity's senior veterinary surgeon Elaine Pendlebury said: "The effects of passive smoking on humans are well documented but pets are also affected by breathing in second-hand cigarette smoke, so it's another good reason to quit."

She added cats are especially sensitive to cigarette smoke, likely to suffer from sneezes, coughs and wheezes as a result of smoke exposure.

Andrew Hayes, programme director of SmokeFree London, said: "As PDSA has highlighted, smoking poses a real danger to pets as well as people. Second-hand smoke is a significant hazard, risking the health of all exposed to other people's smoke. This is bad news for pets, as well as humans. As a nation of animal lovers, we hope PDSA's warning will give people even more of an incentive to quit smoking for good."

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