Vapers tend to think about the people around them: holding off in a crowd, aiming a cloud at the ground, exhaling to the side on a busy pavement. Animals get far less attention, even though plenty of vapers share a home with a dog, a cat or a bird. This guide covers what your pet is exposed to when you vape indoors, what can happen when an animal gets into a bottle of e-liquid, and the household habits that keep both from becoming a problem.
What your pet is actually exposed to
Bottled e-juice is made of vegetable glycerin (VG), propylene glycol (PG) and flavoring, as we explained in our piece on PG and VG. Most of it also carries nicotine, in amounts that vary a lot between nic-salt and free-base liquids. Nicotine is addictive, and too much of it causes nicotine poisoning, which we wrote about in a separate article. That risk is not limited to people. Dogs, cats, birds and other animals can be harmed by nicotine too. Research into the long-term effects of vaping and nicotine is still incomplete, so treat what follows as basics, not as the final word.
Clouds settle where pets live
Here is a quick test. Take a big puff, hold your head level and breathe out slowly. The cloud may rise a little to begin with, then it drops toward the floor before it disappears. Floor level is where your pets spend their time, so they are taking in secondhand vapor, a subject we cover here. Some nicotine residue stays behind once the cloud is gone. For that reason, never exhale into an animal’s face or in its direction. Flavored vapor also smells sweet, and a dog may try to lick at a cloud and swallow some of it before you notice.
Watch how your pet behaves when you vape nearby. An animal that looks uneasy or keeps away from you should be able to get to another room with fresh air moving through it. That applies to cats, dogs and birds alike.
Birds need extra care
A bird may seem less bothered by vapor than a cat or dog, yet its small lungs are far more sensitive to irritants, pollutants and toxins in the air. Vapor can hang in a room, so a bird can suffer pulmonary distress even after you have stopped and walked out. Try to vape in a different room. If that is not possible, exhale toward an open window or a stovetop hood, or cover the cage for the length of your session.
E-liquid is a bigger hazard than vapor
People know better than to drink e-liquid. A pet only knows that the bottle smells like something tasty. Dogs in particular grab things they should not have and chew plastic for fun, so a bottle left on a table can turn into a toy. Store bottles and devices where no animal can get at them.
Signs of nicotine poisoning
A pet that gets hold of nicotine e-liquid can be poisoned by it, and an animal can swallow a dangerous quantity before you realize anything has happened. If you think yours has swallowed any, look for:
- vomiting
- tremors or shaking
- lethargy
- sudden weakness
- a faster heart rate
If any of these appear and you are concerned, get to a veterinarian as fast as you can.
Cats and propylene glycol
Cats are more likely than other pets to get sick from e-liquid, and that includes nicotine-free juice. The PG in it can bring on a dangerous anemia in some cats. Signs to check for are a lost appetite, discolored urine or skin, paleness (mostly around the mouth) and fever.
At the vet
Even when the amount was small, tell the vet how much your pet took in and when. Take the bottle along as well, so the vet can read the ingredients and treat the animal accordingly.
Household habits that help
- Store it like you would around a small child. Keep juice and hardware out of reach, ideally inside a sturdy container your pet cannot open. If a bottle arrives with its seal broken or feels flimsy, move the liquid into glass or hard plastic.
- Wipe up spills. Messy refills and RDAs that need frequent dripping leave juice behind. Clean it with a paper towel you throw out, or with a rag, soap and water. If your pet raids the trash, take the towel or rag straight to the outdoor bin or seal it in a strong plastic storage bag.
- Give the vapor somewhere to go. When you share a room with your pet, make sure there is an exit the animal can reach easily or ventilation that carries the vapor away. An air purifier is worth considering for a poorly ventilated room.
- Stay clear of food and water bowls. Nicotine that settles can be absorbed by food and water. The same goes for the moments when you refill the bowls or pour food from the bag into its storage container.
- Act quickly after any ingestion. Whether you saw it happen or only suspect it, go to the vet right away and keep watching for the poisoning and anemia signs listed above.
The short version
Most of this is common sense. A pet goes after whatever smells good and cannot judge what will hurt it, so the judgment has to be yours. Keep clouds out of your animal’s face, keep liquid and devices locked away, and vape responsibly whenever a pet is in the room.