Smoke in the house with pets?

Chinchilla & Hedgehog Pet Forum

Help Support Chinchilla & Hedgehog Pet Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Bethany said:
See my best friend had nightmares while taking that. She also thought it made her mad all the time, but I think that was the not smoking. She never succesfully quit.
Click to expand...

I had horrible, horrible nightmares while on the patch. They said if the dreams were too crazy to stop wearing one at night, so I did. I still had the dreams. I eventually went off the patch...

Chantix is actually something I was thinking about trying. Unfortunately my insurance doesn't cover it, but with the price of cigarettes lately, it may actually cost me less per month while I am on it.

Edit: Unless of course it was taken off the market.
 
Last edited:
I just seen a commercial for it. And It can cause depression, in those prone to depression or chemical imbalances. My boyfriend is one such person, I would never recommend it.

Yes, the "angry all the time" is from quitting, not chantix. My worst side effect was a terrible stomach ache for an hour after taking it. I only took it for like 4 weeks, and then I got the flu and it hurt too much to smoke anyway, so I quit smoking and the CHantix.

But, more on topic, I just dont see the need to make other living creatures sit in all the filfth and smoke. I did used to smoke inside, and my mom has cats, but I never gave it much thought.

BUT, now I look back on it, and feel bad for the kitties.
 
I don't smoke but I do work in a casino where there is heavy smoke. We have two small non smoking areas and they are still open to the smoking areas. I smell like a hard core 3packs a day smoker. It gets so bad sometimes that I let my hair down after work and my own smokey hair grosses me out. When I come home I head straight for the shower and scrub down and hang my clothes high so the dogs don't smell it. Even after washing my hair 3 times my hair still smells like smoke. When the pup lay next to me koa digs his face in my hair and breathes deep I always worry if it still smells to him or if the smell is in my nose. A couple of times I have left my bathroom door open and koa has pulled my work clothes off the hanger brought them out to the living room and snuggled up to them. He does it with my dirty socks too. But anyways he enjoys the residual smell but I still try hard to not allow them to smell the smoke.
 
My husband and I don't smoke but we have friends that do. No one is allowed to smoke in our home. I have a lot of animals, and I if I don't want to be exposed to cigarrette smoke, I then also shouldn't subject my animals to it either. I think it is harmful to breathe it in, whether human or animal. I think people have the right to smoke, but they should think about the 2nd hand exposure to anyone nearby and shouldn't expose their animals to it.
 
Tillygizmo said:
It is not a secret that animals develop upper respitory issues as well as having strong links to certain cancers (like lung cancer). We had a black lab of ours die from lung cancer because my idiot parents are huge chain smokers and never even opened the windows.... The vet basically told them that was probably why. Thank god me and my babies dont live in an environment with smoke! never ever for my littles ones
Click to expand...

Right with ya on that Tilly! :thumbsup:

My ex-partner was also a smoking idiot. :hair: If it weren't for the fact I take my kids in for regular screening, my Gretchen (13 yo Shepherd mixed rescue) would have been gone years ago had it not been for the cancerous lung tumor they found and were able to treat! :wink2: :wink2:

Of equal importance is NOT habitating animals like chins in basements because of radon exposure. Their accelerated respiration causes more of these heavy cancerous molecules to accumulate in their lungs, and their tiny lung sacs are not able to expel radon efficiently. Although most parents focus on smoke (which is a good thing for sure), the radon issue is a hidden killer because it is so silent and invisible. KEEP AN EYE ON RADON!

Take your kids in for regular screening. Good vets like the ones in Texas will use MRI imaging to look for problems. It is expensive but well worth the investment in detecting problems early. Some vets are embarrassed they don't spend money on good equipment, but the ones who REALLY CARE do whatever it takes!

Thank you for reminding me how lucky I am with Gretchen! :dance3:
 
I'm not a smoker and no one is allowed to smoke in the house or around it or around my child or animals..... I just dont think its very responsible to smoke around your pets.
 
I am a smoker, but I do not smoke inside the house. I do not think that people should smoke in their house. I mean how hard is it to walk outside??? Even in the winter, it's not that big of a deal.

On the chantix, I took that and tried to quit. I had horrible dreams and started to sleep walk again. I sleep walk when I get stressed, but not that often... Luckily when I was trying to quit, I still lived at home with my parents. I had to give them my keys to my car so that I wouldn't try to drive and get a pack of cigs in my sleep. I hated that stuff... It made me nauseous too. I am still a smoker... but I will not put everyone else through having to deal with it. I will never smoke in my house nor will I let anyone else smoke in my house...
 
My chin lives nextdoor with granny so that's no problem.
My mom smokes, I don't smell it anymore, only if she's next to me and my dog, cat is fine.

I only smoked few cigars and that is on holiday camps.
I'd never smoke anytime else!
 
ChinchillaSteve said:
My chin lives nextdoor with granny so that's no problem.
My mom smokes, I don't smell it anymore, only if she's next to me and my dog, cat is fine.

I only smoked few cigars and that is on holiday camps.
I'd never smoke anytime else!
Click to expand...

You should check out some of the other posts and animals getting cancer from the smoke. Cats and Dogs alike, not to mention it is bad for YOUR health for your mother to smoke around you.
 
Quinley said:
Right with ya on that Tilly! :thumbsup:

My ex-partner was also a smoking idiot. :hair: If it weren't for the fact I take my kids in for regular screening, my Gretchen (13 yo Shepherd mixed rescue) would have been gone years ago had it not been for the cancerous lung tumor they found and were able to treat! :wink2: :wink2:

Of equal importance is NOT habitating animals like chins in basements because of radon exposure. Their accelerated respiration causes more of these heavy cancerous molecules to accumulate in their lungs, and their tiny lung sacs are not able to expel radon efficiently. Although most parents focus on smoke (which is a good thing for sure), the radon issue is a hidden killer because it is so silent and invisible. KEEP AN EYE ON RADON!

Take your kids in for regular screening. Good vets like the ones in Texas will use MRI imaging to look for problems. It is expensive but well worth the investment in detecting problems early. Some vets are embarrassed they don't spend money on good equipment, but the ones who REALLY CARE do whatever it takes!

Thank you for reminding me how lucky I am with Gretchen! :dance3:
Click to expand...

I keep my kids in an unfinished basement. Heard from a few people that radon is really bad for chins but never thought much about it until hearing that in most areas of the US radon is a serious issue with basements. They even have to pass a test for it when you sell your house! So, just how bad is radon for chins?

best, rich
 
It is bad for anyone at high levels. They sell Radon detectors, that you plug in and will go off if the levels are unsafe.
 
richschins said:
I keep my kids in an unfinished basement. Heard from a few people that radon is really bad for chins but never thought much about it until hearing that in most areas of the US radon is a serious issue with basements. They even have to pass a test for it when you sell your house! So, just how bad is radon for chins?

best, rich
Click to expand...

Rich,

Welcome to the board!

You need to know that RADON IS AN INVISIBLE KILLER! :cry3:

Unlike tobacco smoke which you can smell, radon is a colorless and odorless carcinogenic element that permeates all basements. It is especially bad in unfinished basements and tends to "settle" like a liquid due to its heavy molecular weight. In that regard, chins take up an inordinate amount of radon/kg bodyweight due to their natural accelerated respiration rate. Their tiny lungs cannot possibly expel radon at enough of a rate to undo the half life damage radon does to mammal lung tissue. :cry3:

So, - PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do NOT keep your kids in an unfinished basement (or ideally ANY basement of ANY construction status). If YOU MUST, then consider radon filtration, radon monitoring as mentioned earlier, and something you may wish to do regardless is periodic cancer screening by a vet WHO REALLY CARES about chins!

I am getting prepared to do advocacy for regular chin screening to get more people to put pressure on their vets to invest in MRI monitoring tools to do screening. It may be expensive, but consider how many frivolous expenditures we make that do not benefit anyone.

IF YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT CHINS, then you will bring them into your living space from basements and underground garages. I recall someone on the board had this same problem and was successful in mitigating the situation. I will take a look to see what they did and give you that info.

Please send me a private message if you want more on radon or if you wish to assist me put something together to advocate regular cancer screening for chins. I could really use some support in creating awareness and getting the message out!

Good luck and keep us posted!

:thumbsup:
 
Not to get off topic, but you want a chin to be sedated for a routine MRI screening? I work in a radiology dept of a hospital, and I can tell you, you do not want to just do a screening with out any indicators first. :D

Otherwise you are exposing the animal to the radiation and risking sedation.

But the rest of the post is very interesting. I am sure many people do not give that a second thought. Good post!
 
Quinley said:
IF YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT CHINS, then you will bring them into your living space from basements and underground garages. I recall someone on the board had this same problem and was successful in mitigating the situation. I will take a look to see what they did and give you that info.
Click to expand...

I know you mean good by your advice but the above statement is offensive to those of us who do keep our chins in the basement. It doesn't mean we care any less than someone who has their chins on the main floor etc.
I have birds, and very noisy house. It would stress my chins out to no end if I had them anywhere else other than my basement.
I also have 2 children who also have bedrooms in our basement. I care a great deal about all creatures (and said children) I think the right advice would be to TEST TEST TEST which is the first thing we did!

Other than that great info on the dangers of radon. :)
 
On the subject of smoking, both of my parents are heavy smokers, and have been my whole life. My mom never smoked when she was pregnant and when we were small my parents wouldn't smoke with us in the room, but when we were older they did. Amazingly, none of us have asthma or anything, but I always hated that they didn't consider their children, especially since my brother and I are musicians and we really need healthy lungs to play. We also have 4 inside cats who have been around smoke their whole lives (one of them just turned 15) and they've never once had a lung issue, besides a sneeze now and then. I guess it just depends on the luck of the draw in my opinion, but I also think that people shouldn't force their habits on others, especially when it can be hazardous to their health and their animal's.
 
Twilight Chinchillas said:
I know you mean good by your advice but the above statement is offensive to those of us who do keep our chins in the basement. It doesn't mean we care any less than someone who has their chins on the main floor etc.
I have birds, and very noisy house. It would stress my chins out to no end if I had them anywhere else other than my basement.
I also have 2 children who also have bedrooms in our basement. I care a great deal about all creatures (and said children) I think the right advice would be to TEST TEST TEST which is the first thing we did!

Other than that great info on the dangers of radon. :)
Click to expand...


Hi TC,

My apologies if the tone and substance of my message was offensive. I should have been more careful in stating that the information was really directed at those folks (and I think they are a small group) who do NOT put the kind of care and love into their pets like you and many others do. I am just SO DARN MAD at folks who take the easy way out and do not think through all the implications of taking care of pets with special needs like chins. You are right, TESTING is the key and taking appropriate action as needed. With responsible care, all things are possible. In a few rescues I did, it was obvious that a few folks gave very little thought to their pet care. Including banishing them to filthy cages in dark wet basements with no interaction. It just breaks my heart.

Thank you for your post and I am glad that in some small way at least a part of my technical information is helpful for some folks.

I have been getting a few pm's from individuals and I know this board makes all the difference in the world to many chins.

Q
 
Personally, I don't smoke, and I try not to purchase animals from people who smoke around their chins. I've gotten a few chins in the past from people who "don't smoke around their herd" but when I got them, they reaked of cigarette smoke. One of tem said they smoked in the car on the way to meet me, but "all the smoke was going out the window".

To me, it is a health risk for them just as much as it is for us.
 
I have sat in the back seat of a car, windows open or not, it does not all go out, and when I smoked you should have seen my backseat, always covered in ashes.
 
I refuse to smoke in the car if I have to take my chin anywhere. I don't know why it would be so hard to not smoke for that time. It's unfair to the pet. I also do not smoke around or in the car when there are non-smokers. I don't want people to have to deal with my bad habit. It is mine and only mine and others should not have to deal with it. So I try to just be considerate. It's not that hard to do. :)
 
I have never smoked and would never allow anyone to smoke in my apartment. My personal opinion is that it is not okay to smoke inside just for the people living with you, animals and of course yourself.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top