pigs and paint fumes

[Craig David]

hi people

we are having the pig room decorated. the pigs are in the living room with us (the pig room is just next to the kitchen and very near to the living room). however, i was a bit concerned about paint fumes coming through to the pigs?

does anyone know if it can cause them any harm? sorry if this sounds silly, its just iv heard about smoke before doing damage and i know paint smells quite strong x

 

[doglovinpiggylover]

I'm not sure sorry, but i will be interested in the answer, i always worry about different smells ie nail varnish and remover

 

[helenbun2005]

we are currently painting the piggies new home in the room they are in at the mo. we are using water based primer and paints and they really have no scent and are animal friendly/safe. so i think it depends on what type of paint you're using and if you are using normal paints then can you keep the room well ventilated whilst you paint?

 

[Craig David]

hi the paints already been bought it wont be a special paint its just normal paint plus the room isnt ventiliated i am getting rather worried as the painting is going to be starting tomorrow.

not sure what to do with the pigs now and they are in huge cc cages so i couldnt take them upstairs

 

[Sarah from Chucklebunnies]

The only thing that might give them real trouble is floor paint - that has really nasty fumes.

Water based gloss paint isn't as good a finish as solvent based, but no fumes. Normal wall paint has fumes that won't interfere. Even the rather stronger kitchen/bathroom wall paint is non fume.

Solvent based gloss paint will only cause a problem if you have asthmatic piggies. Once the paint is starting to go on, pick your piggies up and listen to their breathing by putting your ear to their side. It is a good idea to do this tonight so that you know what breathing easy should sound like - and can tell the breathing apart from the teeth grinding, tummy rumbling and general excited squeebling (I'm on your shoulder! I'm on your shoulder!)

If there is a problem, the worst of the fumes will be gone in the time it takes to touch dry - it will say on the tin. I think this is about two hours for gloss. During this time the window in the room being painted must be open anyhow. You may wish to open the window in the piggies room for this time and give them somewhere warm to huddle.

Any piggie that shows real difficulty breathing from the fumes will need to be taken to a far away room - a box or washing basket will do, and allowed to breathe clean air.

I doubt very much your piggies will be affected, only if there are genuine underlying breathing problems. But it is as well to be sure and do please check their breathing.

I know about all this through being a chemist and a school teacher - sorry if this comes across as a bit 'lecturing'! All the best, Sarah

PS If there any piggy owners on here who have not yet listened to their piggies sides to hear good breathing and what a happy tummy should sound like then please do. You will have a good reference in case of problems later on then! And it's fun!

 

[Craig David]

hi sarah thanks for your informative post. x

i have cancelled the painting for tomorrow i cant take the risk, david has always had dodgy sneezing and been quite irritable. if anything happened to them i *** just never forgive myself.

i am going to try and get somewere for them to stay or possible put them upstairs in my bedroom which isnt ideal considering they are both in a 2x4 cc each but i dont think i have a choice. xx

 

[Pebble]

Well here is my personal take on this: I have just lost another of my piggies this weekend and the PM shows chronic long term pneumonia (again) - thus reducing the tribe from the original 15 to 5...and this means we are back to considering some type of environmental exposure that occurred to the Tribe in or around Aug 08 8....this could be concrete dust, diesel fumes, paint, room spray freshener, cooking smoke or permethrin fly spray (despite the fact i took steps to minimise their exposure to any and all these things at the time and since). We still don;t know - but they are all possible candidates (as is an unknown respiratory virus still)

Piggies lungs are tiny compared to ours..it won;t take much exposure to cause them harm..Also piggies immune systems are highly sensitive re allergies compared to say cats/dogs.... (hence why they have been used for so long for testing cosmetics/drugs etc) so they should be regarded as being extra sensitive.

So, regardless of the paint you are using..I personally think you should do everything you can to minimise their exposure to airborne chemicals/fumes..(including scented candles.....one little-known brand I bought actually gave ME such a bad reaction I ended up in A & E one night completely unable to breathe...and I have never had asthma/breathing issues before or since...thankfully piggies weren;t exposed to it on that occasion)..

So, Keep the window open and the door shut to the piggie room while it is being painted and for 48 hours afterwards...and keep the door shut to the living room...you can also cover their cages with a damp fleece or towel while the paint is actually being applied.

As long as you take the above precautions to minimise exposure they should be fine.

PS Got yor PM Hun - give it a couple more days with no (or little) veggies then give me a ring about the zantac...

HTH
x

 

[Craig David]

I'm sorry to hear you have lost one of your piggys xx

thanks pebble, i am taking no risks, the cc cage is going in the bedroom and the pigs are staying there for a few days, we have cancelled the painting for now until we sort the bedroom out. the pigs wont be going back in the pig room until there is no sign of paint smell at all. thanks for your help x

I'm keeping dave off the veggies for now, hes pooed a lot today so thats good! they went quite mushy again yesterday (after the carrot). ill speak to you soon xx