A small request from Fido and Fifi

If you won’t quit smoking for yourself, do it for your four-legged pals.

That’s the message from the county’s Department of Public Health, which says that second-hand smoke is more hazardous to your pets than you might realize. Animals who live with smokers get a chemical-laden residue in their fur or feathers and suffer higher cancer rates as a result, public health officials said.

“Pets living in a smoker’s home not only inhale smoke. They also eat it every day when they groom their fur or feathers,” the department said in a public service announcement. Smokers’ pets also may develop problems with breathing and irritation of the eyes and skin.

If you’re ready to quit smoking, check out this list of frequently asked questions on the Public Health website. Your pet will lick you for it.

Posted 1/13/11