You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.

Cats and dogs frequently get wet paint on their haircoat - but what can be used safely to remove it ?

Paints and solvents commonly used to remove them can be toxic to pets ...particularly cats and dogs which lick themselves clean. Some of the toxic substances in these materials include :

• Acetone - potent solvent, paint remover, nail polish remover
• Alkalis - cleaning preparations, paint removers, grease removers
• Arsenic - paints
• Benzene - solvent in cleaning agents
• Carbon tetrachloride - in cleaning solutions and dry shampoos
• Kerosene - cleaning agent
• Lead - in paints
• Methyl alcohol - in paints 
• Turpentine - solvents
• Turpentine substitutes -paint strippers

In contact they may cause local skin irritation and injury, if eaten they can cause serious gastrointestinal and other effects. They can even be fatal.

Provet Advice

Use a cloth or paper to remove as much of the paint as possible. 

Then clip the hair off with the remainder of paint 

Get the advice of your veterinarian and if chemical solvent of some sort has to be used wash off as much as possible with water.

Stop the pet from licking the paint off - put a bandage over it or use an elizabethan collar.

Get the pet to a veterinarian as soon as possible because other treatment may be needed.

Updated October 2013