Your pet’s safety is paramount, but it can be compromised during home improvement projects. Whether you’re refinishing furniture or repainting a room, it’s important to know the potential dangers that paints and varnishes pose to your animal companion. Explore common hazards, toxic ingredients to avoid and tips for keeping your furry friend safe.
Are Paints and Varnishes Safe for Pets?
Paints and varnishes are essential in home design, offering protective surfaces for walls, wood and other surfaces. However, what enhances your interiors might be harmful to your pet. Your furry friend may walk through freshly varnished or painted areas, lick supplies or products, or inhale fumes in poorly ventilated rooms. During a painting or varnishing project, your pet may wander around and cause an accident that may result in injury.
Moreover, most paints contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) — carcinogenic chemicals that emit fumes. Varnishes contain polyurethane, which includes VOCs that can cause health issues in humans and animals. Since pets are smaller, a lower concentration of this toxic vapor can make them ill.
Harmful Ingredients to Avoid
You must know which products may harm your pet. Watch out for the following toxic ingredients:
- Ammonia
- Acetone
- Polyurethane
- Formaldehyde
- Biocide
- Mercury
- Fungicides
Not all products have a “pet-safe” label. However, you can choose which paint or varnish to use better by looking at the ingredients.
Signs of Paint or Varnish Poisoning
The symptoms vary depending on the type and volume of product ingested. Some common signs include:
- Gastrointestinal upset
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Hair loss
- Loss of coordination
- Dizziness
Inhaling paint or varnish can cause breathing difficulties, coughs, and lung inflammation and infection.
Signs of lead toxicity include:
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Weakness or difficulty walking
- Depression
- Abdominal pain
How Much Can Be Toxic to Dogs and Cats?
Just a little exposure can be detrimental to your pet’s health. For instance, ingesting a chip of lead-based paint as small as a thumbnail can lead to poisoning in dogs weighing up to 20 pounds. Consuming several paint chips can instantly cause toxicity in larger breeds like Labrador retrievers.
Pregnant animals are at a higher risk of lead poisoning. Lead is also present in other common household items, like batteries, drinking water, food and other consumer products. Since most pets often explore their surroundings with their nose and mouth, taking precautions is essential to reduce their risk of poisoning. Even after the painting project, it’s best to keep your pet out of the room.
5 Tips for Choosing and Applying Paint or Varnish at Home
Fortunately, there are ways to keep your animal companion safe during a painting or varnishing project. Apply the following strategies.
- Choose Pet-Friendly Products
Buying pet-safe paint is one of the easiest ways to prevent toxicity. Many products don’t specifically say they’re pet-friendly, requiring you to check the ingredients and labels. Look for this wording:
- Nontoxic: This ensures the item has been tested to be safe for use around pets.
- Carcinogen-free: Carcinogens refer to substances that can cause cancer.
- Water-based: Compared to oil, water-based paints have less odor and emit fewer VOCs.
- Free of heavy metals: Some natural elements carry health risks in humans and animals. Cadmium and chromium are both carcinogens, whereas mercury can cause neurological damage.
- Petrochemical-free: Petrochemicals are products derived from petroleum or natural gas. Exposure can contribute to chronic diseases. They are also present in fertilizers and may cause vomiting and diarrhea.
- VOC-free or low-VOC: Paints with these labels are less likely to produce harmful chemicals.
Consider durability when selecting pet-friendly varnish. Animals can be rough on floors and furniture, so choose a product that can withstand their paws or claws. Additionally, opt for an easy-to-clean option. That way, you can wipe stains without damaging the coating.
- Relocate Pets
Keep them in a separate room where they cannot breathe in the fumes. Consider pet-sitting options for major home renovations. Keep your animal companion inside if you are painting outdoors.
Various products pose health risks when painting a car. Some require extended drying times before adding additional layers, potentially heightening your and your pet’s risk of exposure. Wax and grease removers can lead to skin irritation and breathing difficulties. A 60-minute interval is recommended before applying epoxy, which can also cause breathing issues.
- Ventilate Rooms
If relocation isn’t possible, open your windows and doors to ensure proper air circulation. After painting or varnishing, go outside while waiting for the coating to completely dry — walk to a nearby park so you and your pet can get fresh air and a bit of physical activity.
- Keep Open Products Away From Pets
Painting or varnishing demands your full attention, which may cause you to overlook your pet’s curiosity about toxic materials. Always keep these products securely closed, especially when you cannot monitor your animal companion closely.
- Wash Off Immediately
If your pet gets paint on their paws, claws or fur, wash it off immediately. There shouldn’t be any adverse effects if your furry friend gets pet-friendly paint or varnish on them, but you must prevent them from licking the affected spot. You can use a dog shampoo to remove the paint, being sure to thoroughly rinse and dry your pet afterward.
Trim dried paint off your pet’s fur. Use clippers that emit minimal vibrations and noise to ensure their safety. If your furry friend gets significant amounts of paint on its body, consider visiting a groomer.
If your pet has licked paint or varnish, contact your veterinarian immediately. Describe the material’s ingredients and how much coating was ingested.
How Should a Pet With Paint or Varnish Poisoning or Exposure Be Treated?
Veterinarians may require X-rays and bloodwork to determine toxicity levels and evaluate organ function. Animals with diarrhea or vomiting symptoms may need medications to protect the gastrointestinal tract. Hospitalization may be necessary for severe cases.
Pets can fully recover following paint or varnish exposures in most cases if they acquire prompt and proper treatment.
Keep Your Pet Safe Around Paints and Varnishes
Ensuring your pet’s safety requires planning and awareness. Following these tips can help minimize the risks associated with toxic paints and varnishes and maintain a safe environment for you and your furry companion.
