Vaping and Pets

It’s well-known that we’re a nation of animal lovers, with recent studies confirming that over 40% of UK households own at least one pet. Almost 25% of us own a faithful hound, with 17% opting for a cat, and of course we can’t forget the 1% who share their home with a tortoise.

As over half of us share our home with a beloved family pet, it’s no surprise that one of the most common questions we receive is whether or not it’s safe to vape around animals.

In today’s blog post we’re going to discuss any harm that vaping could cause to your pet, what you can do to prevent it and how you, your pet and your vaping equipment can co-exist in perfect harmony.

Is Vaping Harmful to Pets?

The short answer is no, as long as you take precautions and vape responsibly. Now, for the longer answer…

There’s a reason that you’re always warned to keep your e-liquid away from pets (and children) and that’s because nicotine poisoning can be fatal for animals both large and small. Very little nicotine is required to be extremely harmful to your pet so it’s always best to err on the side of caution and keep your pets well away from your e-liquid. Investing in a secure storage solution for your e-liquids might seem overzealous but if you share your house with children or inquisitive pets then you can never be too careful.

It’s worth noting that cats are particularly sensitive to propylene glycol, which is one of the main ingredients in most e-liquids. The ingredient can, over time, damage red blood cells and lead to an illness called Heinz body.

So now we know exposure to e-liquid can be harmful, what about vaping itself?

There hasn’t been a definitive study that proves once and for all whether vaping around your pets could cause them

harm but the general consensus is that no harm is likely to be caused by vaping in the same area as your animals. It is always preferable to vape away from your pets, if possible, but if they are going to be around you while you vape it’s strongly advised that you keep the area well-ventilated.

What is Nicotine Poisoning?

Even if you have a robust system in place to ensure your pets never come into contact with your e-liquid, it’s still a good idea to be able to recognise nicotine poisoning and know what to do in case an accident ever happens. A fast response is key and it’s imperative that you seek veterinary help immediately if you think your pet might have been exposed to any harmful ingredients.

Nicotine poisoning in animals can manifest itself in a variety of ways, so if you see your pet exhibiting any of the following symptoms then an immediate trip to the vets is required: excessive panting, seizures, diarrhoea, vomiting, high temperature, nosebleeds, higher than usual pulse, loss of appetitive, discoloured gums or tongue.

If any accidents occur out of hours and you require emergency assistance then services like PetGP+ are available around the clock to advise you on any potential issues. It’s always worth having their number in your phone, just in case.

How Can I Keep my Pets Safe?

Luckily, owning a pet doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy all of the benefits of vaping, it just means you have to take precautions and vape responsibly. By making a couple of adjustments to the way you store and use your vaping equipment, you can carry on vaping and be content in the knowledge that your pets are safe.

• Keep all of your vaping equipment, not just your e-liquids, in a pet proof storage solution. Nothing they can chew through! All V2 Cigs Platinum e-liquids have secure child-proof caps. This extra precaution means you can rest easy, knowing your vaping goodies are secured.
• When charging your battery up, do it in a room away from your pets. Anybody who’s owned a teething puppy knows animals are attracted to cables of all shapes and sizes!
• When possible, don’t have your pets in the room with you while you’re vaping. If that’s not possible, make sure the area is well-ventilated and your pets have plenty of fresh water to enjoy.
• After handling e-liquid, always wash your hands before feeding, stroking or grooming your pet. Although it’s very rare that residual juice could cause your pet harm, it’s a risk that you don’t need to take.

As you can see, it’s simple to put precautions in place that will ensure both you and your pets are happy and healthy. We hope the information above answers any questions you have about vaping and pets but please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us on Facebook or Twitter if you have any further queries, or if you have any suggestions of tips or tricks we might have missed.