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Pets Safety

They Trust Us To
Keep Them Safe

Pets are exposed to dangers that many people don’t realize—especially when it comes to nicotine and vaping products. These products aren’t just harmful to humans; they pose a serious threat to your loyal companions. Nicotine poisoning, secondhand tobacco smoke and vape aerosol, and improper disposal of tobacco and vaping products are risks many pet owners don’t consider, including serious injury or even death. The best way to protect your pets is to quit or reduce use, and ensure proper disposal of tobacco and vape products.

 

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Nicotine Toxicity

Pets can be poisoned by nicotine which is found in the liquid component of vape devices (known as e-liquid). Even a small amount of e-liquid can be fatal. Because of the rapid onset and severity of illness once ingested, home care is generally not possible with nicotine exposure and veterinary care is needed.

Symptoms of Nicotine Toxicity:

  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Excessive Salivation
  • Agitation
  • Nervousness
  • Tremors
  • Seizures

Exposure

Secondhand

Secondhand exposure happens when pets breathe in the toxic fumes from tobacco and e-cigarette products. Pets are more sensitive to inhaled irritants than humans and they breathe faster, so they inhale the aerosol from vaping and the smoke from cigarettes more quickly.

Secondhand

Secondhand exposure happens when pets breathe in the toxic fumes from cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or vapes. Pets are more sensitive to inhaled irritants than humans and they breathe faster, so they inhale the aerosol from vaping and the smoke from cigarettes more quickly.

Thirdhand

Thirdhand exposure happens when toxic residues from tobacco and e-cigarette products settle on surfaces, fabrics, or pet fur. Pets often come into contact with these residues when they lick their paws, groom themselves, or lie on contaminated surfaces, increasing their risk of health problems.

Thirdhand

Thirdhand exposure happens when toxic residues from cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or vapes settle on surfaces, fabrics, or pet fur. Pets often come into contact with these residues when they lick their paws, groom themselves, or lie on contaminated surfaces, increasing their risk of health problems.

Pets’ natural curiosity and the sweet taste of some of the chemicals in e-liquid can lead them to explore areas where nicotine products are stored or disposed of.

Garbage Raids

Pets rummaging through trash may find and ingest nicotine products like vape cartridges, Zyn pouches, or discarded e-liquid containers.

Unattended Products

Unattended nicotine products, such as vape devices or pouches, can be ingested if left within a pet’s reach

Spilled
E-Liquid

Pets might lick spilled e-liquid from surfaces, leading to nicotine toxicity

Battery Ingestion

Pets may chew on e-cigarette batteries, which can cause severe internal injuries or poisoning.

Proper disposal of vaping devices is essential to protecting the environment and preventing hazardous waste contamination. E-cigarettes and vape pods contain nicotine, heavy metals, and lithium-ion batteries, all of which can be harmful if not handled correctly. These materials should never be thrown in regular trash or flushed down the drain, as they can leach toxins into soil and water. Instead, used devices should be taken to designated hazardous waste facilities or electronic recycling programs to ensure safe and responsible disposal. Learn more at deq.idaho.gov.

For more information on managing e-cigarette waste, download this fact sheet.

Download

Statistics

30%

of dogs exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke or vape aerosol develop respiratory issues.

 

4 mg

of nicotine per pound of a pet’s body weight can be lethal.

75%

of cats exposed to secondhand smoke are at increased risk of lymphoma.

 

1 in 3

pets that ingest nicotine products need emergency treatment.

$500-$3,000

is the range for a vet bill for nicotine toxicity emergency treatment.

 

50%

of untreated nicotine poisonings in pets are fatal.

You Can Quit

Central District Health offers in-person and virtual classes to help you quit smoking, vaping, or using nicotine products. Make the choice to quit today—for your health, for your loved ones, and for the pets who rely on you. Take the first step toward a cleaner, safer home.

Learn More