My Dog Ate Paint What Should I Do?

Are you working on a home DIY project such as painting the rooms in your home? Or are you an artist who uses acrylic or oil paints? If so, then your fur baby could accidentally swallow or eat some paint.  

You’d be surprised at how often dogs and paints mix; however, the issue is that they shouldn’t mix. Accidents do happen, however, so it’s important to know what to do if your canine companion eats paint.

Paints May Be Poisonous

Paints used for homes, art, etc. can be dangerous to dogs if ingested. Some paints are water-based, such as latex, tempera, and paints used for posters, while other paints are solvent-based or oil-based. And if you live in an older building, it’s possible that the paint could include lead.

What Type of Paint Did Your Dog Eat?

This is an important question, as paint ingredients do vary, as noted in the last section. Let’s take a look:

• Paints without lead: these tend to be safer and a little bit may cause your fur baby to have an upset tummy accompanied by diarrhea and vomiting. However, paints with a low concentration of glycols can be very dangerous if swallowed.
• Water-based paints: may irritate your canine companion’s skin or mucous membranes (such as in his mouth or throat), but they’re not usually toxic. Even so, if your pup swallows a large amount of paint, he could develop nausea and vomiting.
• Latex paints: most of these are non-toxic, however, if your fur baby eats a large amount of this type of paint if it contains glycol. In this case, the paint could cause trouble breathing, acidosis (too much acid), and crystals in your pup’s urine. Your fur baby could suffer kidney failure if he doesn’t receive treatment.
• Oil-based paints: these may contain solvents that can cause lung issues if inhaled. If swallowed, they may cause diarrhea. If the paint contains heavy metals (lead, cadmium, etc.) your dog could become poisoned.

My Dog Ate Paint – What to Do?

First, do not induce vomiting or give anything to your fur baby, unless advised to do so by the vet. This could make things worse.

Next, see what type of paint your dog has eaten, and then call your vet or a pet poison hotline as soon as possible. They’ll give you guidance on what to do and if treatment is necessary.

Symptoms of paint poisoning may include:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Difficult walking/standing
• Depression
• Lethargy
• Tremors
• Difficulty breathing

If you notice any of these signs, then call the vet as soon as possible. Quick treatment could save your fur baby’s life!