Yes, Vaping can kill your hamster mainly due to the high quantity of nicotine in vapes which is highly toxic and poisonous to hamsters. It’s not advisable to smoke vapes anywhere near hamsters or any other pets for that matter. Hamsters are small animals with small delicate respiratory systems that can be damaged easily by smoke and nicotine.
Can I Vape Around My Hamster?
With the increase in the popularity of vaping many pet owners find themselves asking this question. The answer unfortunately for some is no, vaping in the presence of any pet at all can be dangerous and sometimes life-threatening. If your hamster manages to ingest some of the second-hand smoke from the vape there’s a high probability they will receive nicotine poison. Nicotine is severely poisonous. Animals in general are way more sensitive to the effects of nicotine especially smaller ones with tiny respiratory systems such as hamsters.
Second-Hand Smoke Around Pets
second-hand smoke around pets is already known to be dangerous and the nicotine from vaping is no different. Nicotine poisoning in animals will lead to symptoms such as vomiting, excessive salivation, difficulty breathing, tremors, and even seizures. In extreme cases it can lead to death if not treated in a timely manner.
Therefore it is best for people who do vape to keep their devices away from small animals like hamsters and discourage them from being around any kind of second-hand smoke. It may be small but the cartridges of e-cigarettes contain anywhere from 6 to 24 mg of nicotine which is much more than an average cigarette contains (12 mg).
Are Hamsters Sensitive to Smoke?
Regardless of the type, animals like hamsters are extremely sensitive to smoke. In fact, research has shown that cigarette smoke affected the immune system of the animals, resulting in retardation of amyloidosis, a frequent cause of death in hamsters exposed to cigarette smoke. Therefore it is best for pet owners who vape to keep their devices away from small animals like hamsters and discourage them from being around any kind of second-hand smoke.
How Long Does Vape Smoke Stay in the Air?
Even in a poorly ventilated area with windows shut, any smells from vaping should be gone in only ten minutes or so, instead of lasting for hours as smoking does. When one is vaping outdoors in comparison, the smell from your vape will hardly be noticeable at all and will disappear almost immediately.
What Happens if My Hamster Consumes Vape Juice?
Vape juice can contain high psychoactive levels of nicotine and when consumed by pets can cause severe poisoning. Symptoms of nicotine poisoning in hamsters include: gastrointestinal (vomiting, hypersalivation, diarrhea, abdominal pain/discomfort), cardiovascular (hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias), neurologic (ataxia, weakness, mydriasis, seizures), and pulmonary (initial tachypnea followed by respiratory depression). It is vital that if you suspect your pet has consumed vape juice seek medical attention immediately.
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Conclusion
The bottom line is: If you care about your hamster and want to be a responsible owner and an ethically good human being make sure to never smoke around any of your pets especially smaller ones such as hamsters. Take precautions and be aware of the risks involved with vaping and make sure you put your vape juice in a location where it cannot be eaten. Any animal that consumes vape juice will most likely die.
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) at Nation Taiwan University,Master of Science (M.S.) in Biomedical Engineering at National Taiwan University of Science and Technology
