House Painting Experts in Fairfield, CT

Is House Painting Safe for Pets? Here’s What Experts Have to Say

Painting your interior living spaces may be a cost-effective way to beautify your home, but it can also harbor problems for your pets. The typical paint offered in the market today contains harmful chemicals that will put your health at risk and your pets. Dogs have a strong sense of smell, and their curious nature is more likely to get them close to the paint and smell it.

Here’s the thing: paint and pets aren’t an ideal combination. They are highly susceptible to the harmful effects of paint – either by inhaling the fumes or swallowing them. Not to mention how your pets can topple over the paint and make a wild mess. Whether you decide to go the DIY route or hire a painting company, you need to ensure the safety of your pets during house painting.

How Can Paint Harm Your Pets?

Fairfield Pet Friendly Painting

Most of the paint sold in the market these days contains volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These toxic chemicals are both detrimental to you and your pet’s health. These chemicals vaporize at room temperature and mix with the air inside your home. VOCs can take months before it dispels completely off your space.

Some of the most common signs your pets have been exposed to VOCs include:

  • Difficulty in walking
  • Depression
  • Lethargy
 

The toxic gasses emitted by dried paint can negatively affect your pets in ways such as:

  • Irritations (skin, eyes, and respiratory system)
  • Lung inflammation and infection
  • Dizziness
  • Loss of coordination
  • Hair loss
  • Tremors 
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Upset stomach
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea

Paints are not the only ones that are harmful to your pets – other products like varnishes are paint removers are too! Do your best to keep your pets away from these products. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you notice your pets afflicted with the symptoms mentioned above.

What Types of Paint are Harmful to Pets?

Before you purchase paint for your next interior or exterior painting project, be sure to check them for the following ingredients:

  • Biocides
  • Fungicides
  • Polyurethane
  • Ammonia
  • Acetone
  • Formaldehyde
 

These chemicals damage your pet’s health, and you should avoid problematic paints with these chemicals at all costs.

If you still want to continue your house painting project but want to keep your pets safe, choose the right type of paint. Paint products are labeled with “No VOC” or “Low VOC.” Be sure to pick paint that is free from heavy metals as well. You should also know that while some base paints claim to be VOC-free, some of them still use VOC pigments, so watch out.

Keep your eye out for paint with labels that include the following terms, as they are the safest options for your pets:

  • Non-toxic
  • Carcinogen-free
  • Low-VOC or No VOC
  • Free of heavy metals
  • Water-based 
  • Petrochemical free

Here’s How You Can Keep Your Pets Safe During a Paint Job

Interior painting in Fairfield, CT

There are several ways to keep your pet safe while your house painting project is ongoing. House painters in Fairfield, CT, suggest you do the following to ensure your pet’s safety during a paint job:

  • Placed them far away from the room where the painting project was taking place. Be sure to keep their things (food, water, toys, etc.) in safe and accessible locations.
  • Board your pets into a pet boarding facility to ensure they’re well cared for during your painting project.
  • If you’re planning to do short-term painting projects, take your pets to an animal daycare in the meantime.
  • Send them over to a relative or a friend until the paint job is done.
  • Keep your pets away from the working area.
 

Sending your pets over somewhere safe and secure is much better than letting them stay in your house during an ongoing painting project.

The Bottomline

As a responsible pet owner, you must ensure your pet’s safety during home improvement projects like house painting. If you’re unsure what pet-friendly paint to choose, contact a painting company in Fairfield, CT, like Fairfield Painting Contractors, to help you out. Not only can they do an impressive paint job, but they can also assist you in choosing a non-harmful paint for your fur babies.