Is My Dog an Addict?
April 13, 2012 9:31 AM
Is my dog addicted to second hand smoke?
My dog lives in the suburbs with my mom and only comes to the city to visit 4 times a year for a few days at a time. I'd have him more but without a car its hard to get him here.
He is used to living with a chain smoker who smokes indoors with no windows open and I wonder how much this affects him. I hated living in smoke den growing up and know it isn't good for him but he's good for her and keeps her company. When he's with me I wash all of his things to get the smoke out and he gets lots of fresh air but I often wonder if he goes through withdrawal. Does he have the same symptoms an addict might have (headache, anxiety etc.) and how can I make him comfortable when he's living in fresh air? He already has separation anxiety so I never leave him alone when he's visiting me but I don't want him to be in pain.
He's most likely a cockapoo and weighs 13-14 pounds. Obligatory pictures of how cute his is.
My dog lives in the suburbs with my mom and only comes to the city to visit 4 times a year for a few days at a time. I'd have him more but without a car its hard to get him here.
He is used to living with a chain smoker who smokes indoors with no windows open and I wonder how much this affects him. I hated living in smoke den growing up and know it isn't good for him but he's good for her and keeps her company. When he's with me I wash all of his things to get the smoke out and he gets lots of fresh air but I often wonder if he goes through withdrawal. Does he have the same symptoms an addict might have (headache, anxiety etc.) and how can I make him comfortable when he's living in fresh air? He already has separation anxiety so I never leave him alone when he's visiting me but I don't want him to be in pain.
He's most likely a cockapoo and weighs 13-14 pounds. Obligatory pictures of how cute his is.
One of our parakeets likes to come along when someone is having a smoke outside. I have always wondered if he just getting a nicotine fix or if he enjoys the experience otherwise. He will chirp and rattle around if he sees the cues for a cigarette break, but not if you are leaving the house to check the mail so I don't think that it is just going outside. We always make sure he is upwind of any smoke though.
I think that is it more likely that your dog experiences the same effects that children exposed to second hand smoke have, such as increased respiratory problems and cancer risk, but isn't addicted to cigarettes. He probably enjoys the fresh air treat!
You could gift your mom with an air purifier for the rooms that the dog goes in to fix the problem the other way around.
posted by cakebatter at 9:44 AM on April 13, 2012
I think that is it more likely that your dog experiences the same effects that children exposed to second hand smoke have, such as increased respiratory problems and cancer risk, but isn't addicted to cigarettes. He probably enjoys the fresh air treat!
You could gift your mom with an air purifier for the rooms that the dog goes in to fix the problem the other way around.
posted by cakebatter at 9:44 AM on April 13, 2012
Okay, I'm not really a floofy white dog type of person but holy crap! That dog is ADORABLE!
I grew up with two chain smokers (literal chain smokers, the butt of one smoke lighting the next) in a house where the windows were never open, and I don't think I had withdrawal when I was in the fresh air, and I definitely never had that nicotine rush feeling when I got back home. I'm sure he'd feel a lot better in general if he were living in clean air, but I wouldn't worry about withdrawal when he's visiting you. You could always send him to live with me!
posted by HotToddy at 10:39 AM on April 13, 2012
I grew up with two chain smokers (literal chain smokers, the butt of one smoke lighting the next) in a house where the windows were never open, and I don't think I had withdrawal when I was in the fresh air, and I definitely never had that nicotine rush feeling when I got back home. I'm sure he'd feel a lot better in general if he were living in clean air, but I wouldn't worry about withdrawal when he's visiting you. You could always send him to live with me!
posted by HotToddy at 10:39 AM on April 13, 2012
My gods, that dog is adorable! And stylish!
supercres & cakebatter are right: cancer and respiratory affect would be a bigger worry than addiction.
posted by batmonkey at 11:09 AM on April 13, 2012
supercres & cakebatter are right: cancer and respiratory affect would be a bigger worry than addiction.
posted by batmonkey at 11:09 AM on April 13, 2012
What an awesome looking buddy you have there! Gosh I miss my dogs from over the years. I would guess you're doing the dog a favor by getting him away from the smoke whenever you do. As long as he doesn't seem stressed, I don't think you need to worry. Just a guess. Sorry I don't have a definitive answer for you.
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 6:23 PM on April 13, 2012
posted by InsertNiftyNameHere at 6:23 PM on April 13, 2012
I am concerned with carcinogens and cancer but there's nothing I can do to take him completely out of the environment. If mom won't quit for the kids or after her husband dies of lung cancer she's not going to quit for the dog. Seriously—I've been asking her for 26 years or so.
On the bright side, he doesn't react to her lighting a cigarette at all, doesn't follow her or try to be closer. I would take him out completely if my building allowed dogs and, more importantly, if he wasn't best friend to my mom in her big, empty house.
My gods, that dog is adorable! And stylish!
Thanks! He loves wearing clothes (no, really, it's weird how excited when I show him a new sweater) and doesn't complain about his Halloween costumes.
Thanks, you've reassured me a little bit. I do worry about his tiny lungs but can't do much about it. He does get time outside to frog hunt and play ball so maybe I'll make more of an effort to get him away for clean air vacations.
posted by Bunglegirl at 7:37 PM on April 13, 2012
On the bright side, he doesn't react to her lighting a cigarette at all, doesn't follow her or try to be closer. I would take him out completely if my building allowed dogs and, more importantly, if he wasn't best friend to my mom in her big, empty house.
My gods, that dog is adorable! And stylish!
Thanks! He loves wearing clothes (no, really, it's weird how excited when I show him a new sweater) and doesn't complain about his Halloween costumes.
Thanks, you've reassured me a little bit. I do worry about his tiny lungs but can't do much about it. He does get time outside to frog hunt and play ball so maybe I'll make more of an effort to get him away for clean air vacations.
posted by Bunglegirl at 7:37 PM on April 13, 2012
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Is he showing any signs of addiction? Does he run up to your mom when she lights a cigarette? Is he more likely to hang out close to her when she's smoking?
Are you just worried about addiction, like it seems above the fold? Because the carcinogens are probably a much bigger concern than increased headaches or anxiety from the drugs.
posted by supercres at 9:41 AM on April 13, 2012