Cigarette

What are cigarettes?

Cigarettes are thin rolls of paper filled with dried leaves of the tobacco plant. The tobacco plant contains a substance called nicotine, which acts on the nervous system and has a stimulating and calming effect on people. Many people smoke cigarettes to relieve stress or relax. However, nicotine is also very addictive and harmful to health.

How does nicotine affect dogs?

Nicotine is not only toxic to humans, but also to dogs. Even small amounts can lead to poisoning in dogs, which can be life-threatening. The symptoms of nicotine poisoning in dogs are

• Muscle tremors
• vomiting
• salivation
• Rise in temperature
• unsteady gait
• Cardiac arrhythmia
• Cardiovascular failure

The severity of the poisoning depends on the amount of nicotine ingested, the dog's body weight and the time until treatment. The lethal dose of nicotine for dogs is around 4 mg per kilogram of body weight. This means that just one cigarette or cigarette butt can be fatal for a small dog.

How can my dog eat cigarettes?

You may be wondering how your dog can get hold of cigarettes. After all, you know that they are not suitable for eating. But your dog doesn't know that and is curious about everything he finds. Especially if the cigarettes have a tasty smell, such as flavored or moist tobacco varieties, your dog may mistake them for food and eat them.

Cigarettes can also be accidentally eaten by your dog if you don't dispose of them properly or if you leave them within his reach. Even if you don't smoke yourself, you should make sure that your dog doesn't have access to cigarettes or other nicotine products, such as chewing tobacco, snuff, nicotine gum, nicotine patches or e-cigarettes.

What can I do if my dog has eaten a cigarette?

If you notice that your dog has eaten a cigarette or a cigarette butt, you should act immediately. The quicker you react, the better the chances are for your dog.

• Call your vet or take your dog to the nearest veterinary clinic.
• Try to find out how much nicotine your dog has ingested and when it happened.
• Do not give your dog vomiting medication or activated charcoal without consulting your vet.
• Follow the vet's instructions exactly.

The vet will initiate the appropriate treatment depending on your dog's condition. This may consist of gastric lavage, infusions, medication or oxygen therapy, for example.

How can I protect my dog from nicotine poisoning?

The best way to prevent nicotine poisoning in dogs is to prevent them from eating cigarettes or other nicotine products in the first place. You can do this by taking the following measures:

• Keep your cigarettes or other nicotine products out of your dog's reach, for example in a locked cupboard or high drawer.
• Always dispose of your cigarette butts or other nicotine residues in a garbage can with a lid or take them with you until you find one.
• Watch out for cigarette butts or other nicotine products lying around when you go for a walk and keep your dog away from them.
• Don't smoke near your dog or in enclosed spaces where he spends time. This is not only good for his health, but also for yours.