Second hand smoke harmful to snakes?

[Jay_Bunny]

I have lived around smokers my entire life. I occasionally smoke cloves (on rare occasions) or hookah (also on rare occasions) but every smoker I have ever lived with that has pets does the same exact thing. They smoke OUTSIDE! It is simple! Just because someone smokes doesn't mean they shouldn't be allowed to have pets. It just means they need to make changes in the way they smoke as in only smoking outside, smoking out an open window, etc.

[Ash]

I don't think anybody has the right to say who should and who should not own anything based only on their lifestyle or habits (as long as it isn't dangerous to anybody else, of course.) Animals are considered property in this country. If somebody wants to smoke in the presence of their own property, it's their own business. It's their choice to risk damaging their own property if they want to.

Some people might say that we shouldn't be allowed to own snakes because it inherently involves harming a rodent. But they're ours, and it's our decision to do what we want with them.

But anyway, I haven't heard of a snake ever getting an RI from second-hand smoke. I know lots of smokers who have had snakes for years and have never had a medical issue with their animal.

[Herp_Herp_hooray]

I was wondering that when I watched youtube videos and would see an ashtray in the snakeroom??? Have you guys heard of 3rd hand smoke? The wife was reading about it in a pregnancy mag. It talks about the smoke that is on your cloths? First time I heard of it thought I would throw it out there...

[JLC]

I know a few people that smoke and keep snakes. The snakes are thriving and perfectly healthy. No RI's or any other issues. One person in particular keeps their snakes in their main living area and does not go outside to smoke. Their snakes are better cared for and healthier than most....because they take good care of them.

I'd be far more concerned about whether or not someone is willing to put in the effort to learn and DO the necessary chores it takes to maintain optimal husbandry than whether or not they smoke.

[rabernet]

Yes everyone, of course smoking is bad for me, you, and everything alive.
I think that I have not asked this very well since I don't think anyone has really answered as I had hoped. Yes, I realize the medical implications of smoking. The question IS, should someone who smokes not own any pets? As I said, I am helping this guy set up a tank for a snake. Should he have one at all? Is the snake just going to get an RI in a week and die? That is why I am asking for people who smoke who own snakes. Do they all die? Do people who own other pets just have sick dogs and cats or what? I'm not a vet so I don't really know the degree of damage it can do.
If anyone has any experience with this, please comment.

I'm a smoker. My college kitties lived to be 14 (died of cancer caused by his vaccinations called Fibro Sarcoma, none of my cats now are given yearly vaccinations past their first 2 years - a plan that both my vet and I have agreed to based on the cases of Fibro Sarcoma popping up at injection sites now and many pets lost to it). The other two were 15 and 16 and neither developed cancer.

My current dog is 10 years old and is a large breed dog and is still very active. I keep a collection of about 50 snakes, none of which have ever had an RI's in my care.

Edit - I also have retired breeder rats that are over 3 years old (average lifespan is 2 years).

I do smoke in my home, mainly when I'm on the computer.

[kellysballs]

Forgive me guys this is gonna be long.

I read an article in a veterinary journal a year or so ago and it was talking about snakes lungs and how they work. Snakes don't have a diaphragm so they breathe in and out differently than we do. A lot of their lung tissue does not absorb oxygen. Their lungs are a lot like a turkey baster the front part nearest their heat would be the open end and the "bulb" would be towards their tail. The only part that is used in oxygen exchange is the part near their head. The other 2/3 (or so) of their lungs are used to push the air in and out.

Given the fact that their lungs are not as good at oxygen exchange as ours I would say that smoke (of any kind) or chemicals/aerosols in the air is worse for them than us. However on the other hand their metabolic need for oxygen is MUCH lower than ours so it may even out?

Another thing that was in the article (what they where actually testing) was that ball pythons lungs have the ability to heal just as ours do. They where taking biopsies of the lungs and going back to check the area where they removed tissue a year later. What they found was that the area healed entirely and was doing oxygen exchange again.

For me personally, if I still smoked I would not do so around my snakes. I even trained my cat to go outside and use the potty like the dogs so the ammonia smell from her urine would not effect the snakes. But I still firmly believe that you have the right to smoke in your home around your animals if so wish.

[ballpythonluvr]

I am a smoker but I do not smoke around my snakes, dog, or cat. I go outside on the balcony to smoke because my boyfriend hates smoke and I just do not like smoking in my house in general.

[BigBlue56]

I don't think anybody has the right to say who should and who should not own anything based only on their lifestyle or habits (as long as it isn't dangerous to anybody else, of course.) Animals are considered property in this country. If somebody wants to smoke in the presence of their own property, it's their own business. It's their choice to risk damaging their own property if they want to.

Some people might say that we shouldn't be allowed to own snakes because it inherently involves harming a rodent. But they're ours, and it's our decision to do what we want with them.

But anyway, I haven't heard of a snake ever getting an RI from second-hand smoke. I know lots of smokers who have had snakes for years and have never had a medical issue with their animal.

I will never agree with the school of thought that even suggests that animals are nothing more then property. That is wrong on multiple lvls. My pets are part of my life and family.. Not part of my "estate"..

[Lovelyluna69]

I am also curious because me and my boyfriend just got a ball python and the cage is our room we both smoke and our snake will pole her head out then go back in her hide could smoking be the reason she won't come out???

[Coluber42]

There are much worse things people do to pet snakes than smoke near them. But that said, I would think it both possible and wise to avoid smoking in the room where the snake lives. Even compared to a dog, cat, or human family member, a snake can't so much as leave the room to avoid the smoke.
Not to mention that snakes have a sensitive sense of smell, and are much more olfactorily-oriented than we are (actually, that could be said about many of the animals we keep as pets). Maybe the constant smell of smoke doesn't overwhelm their sensory experience and maybe it does, but they can't tell us.

The actual effects of smoking vary; there are chain smokers who make it to 90 without getting lung cancer. But if you can keep the snake in a smoke free room it can't hurt.