Secondhand smoke also affects our four-legged friends: traces of a nicotine derivative have in fact been found in the serum and hair of dogs with smoking owners, thanks to a study conducted by researchers at the University of Milan coordinated by Debora Groppetti, professor of Veterinary Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences.
The results are published in the journal Animals.
The study examined 32 healthy dogs, of which 16 were exposed to secondhand smoke.
A hair and blood sample was taken from each specimen, which was necessary as part of routine checks: part of the serum was used to verify the presence of a nicotine by-product (called cotinine) through the 'Elisa' method, a test based on the use of an enzyme linked to an antibody to detect and quantify the presence of a specific antigen in a biological sample.
The results showed an increase in cotinine in the serum and hair of subjects exposed to secondhand smoke compared to those not exposed.
"Up until now, it had not yet been shown in dogs that cohabitation with smoking owners induces the presence of cotinine in the organism of these animals", explains Silvia Mazzola, professor of Veterinary Physiology in the same Department and co-author of the study.
"As with children, even for pets, exposure to smoke can occur not only through environmental inhalation, but also through transdermal absorption."
"Making smoker pet owners aware of the potential damage that secondhand smoke could cause to their pet dogs is not a negligible factor, not only in terms of preventing smoking-related diseases, but also in terms of protecting animal welfare". adds Mazzola "The published results represent the first part of a larger study, of which we are processing more results right now, which is aimed at evaluating the possible effects of exposure to secondhand smoke on canine reproduction".
