Dogs Susceptible To Lead Poisoning From Paint

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28782, 31 December 1958, Page 6

Dogs Susceptible To Lead Poisoning From Paint

The danger of lead and its compounds to livestock has been emphasised many times, but only in recent years has the high incidence of lead poisoning in dogs been recognised. In the last five years the Department of Agriculture’s Wallaceville animal research station has diagnosed numerous cases of lead poisoning in dogs, and the department warns both town and country dog owners of the danger of letting dogs have access to lead in any form.

Lead is a cumulative poison and a sudden attack may occur after a long period of administration of small doses. This attack is similar to an acute attack caused by the eating of large amounts. There is little doubt that in the past lead poisoning has been confused with the virus diseases distemper and contagious hepatitis, the department says. Symptons shown by animals infected with these diseases may be very similar. There is little doubt that paint has been responsible for most of the cases of lead poisoning diagnosed at Wallaceville, the department says, but it seems that lead in any form could be a possible hazard to dogs, which may develop a depraved appetite similar to that of cattle for lead and its compounds. Dogs probably have a greater opportunity than most animals to eat lead in the form of paint because of their habit of chewing

all manner of foreign objects Puppies are the worst offender! in this respect.

Illness after Painting In many of the cases diagnosed at Wallaceville, painting had been done about the house before the dog’s illness. Several of the dogi were owned by painters, and one animal was seen drinking from a pot of white paint Another dog was seen eating the flakes of paint as they were burnt and scraped from woodwork. Empty paint tins left lyinj. about to fill with water froij which an animal may drink are another possible source. The lead in the paint does not dissolve in the water, but dogs probably dislodge and swallow particles of paint as they drink from the tint Sticks used for stirring paint should not be thrown into the yard, where the dog may chew them. If the kennel or pen requires painting, many brands of non-lead paint are available. Paint adhering to the hair was the source of lead in at least two instances. The dogs had evidently brushed against freshly painted surfaces and had lickM themselves afterwards. The dog's food should not be placed on a painted surface, as loose flakes of paint will cling to the food and be eaten with it Overseas workers have reported » cases of lead poisoning in dogs after they had swallowed lead 4 foil and a lead drapery weight In two cases investigated at Wallaceville, metallic lead was suspected—in one a lead door stop which the dog continually ’ chewed in attempting to open a ’ door, and in the other an old leadlight. Veterinarians have reported the successful treatment of lead poisoning in dogs, but speed beginning treatment is usually necessary. However, prevention is better than cure, and a little care and thought in the use of lead paints and the disposal of '. empty paint tins may save the life of your dog.