The Surprising Reason You Shouldn’t Paint Pumpkins on Halloween
When it comes to decorating for Halloween, you either gourd big or go home. Which is why you’ll find so many porches brimming with pumpkins this time of year. There are big pumpkins and little pumpkins. Smiling jack-o’-lanterns and menacing monster gourds.But there is one kind of pumpkin you shouldn’t set outside as a decoration this Halloween season: a painted one. And the reason may surprise you. Read on to find out why you need to be extra careful with these types of Halloween decorationsand maybe even skip them altogether.GetReader’s DigestsRead Up newsletter for more holiday tips, humor, cleaning, travel, tech and fun facts all week long.What’s wrong with painted pumpkins?While painting is a great way to decorate a pumpkin without carving it, painted pumpkins can pose a serious danger to animals. So if you’re going to keep that pumpkin outdoors or where a curious dog or cat might nibble on it, think twice before you paint. “Certain pigments in artists paint include lead and other metals that can be a concern if ingested,” says Renee D. Schmid, DVM, the director of veterinary medicine at the Pet Poison Helpline. If an animal eats paint, it can cause gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea, and can sometimes even be fatal.The same is true for wildlife, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which recently reposted its annual PSA warning about the dangers painted pumpkins can pose. “Squirrels, raccoons, deer, moose, foxes, mice and insects might feast on the delicious orange porch snack you leave near your front door,” officials said in the post. “However, a painted pumpkin can potentially be toxic to wildlife if they eat it.”Is all paint toxic to animals?It’s complicated. “No paint is completely safe,” says Kara Nelsen, DVM, medical director of Allied Veterinary Services. But certainly, some are more dangerous than others. As Dr. Schmid notes, “pigments in artists and oil paints are the most concerning. Depending on the pigment, ingredients can include lead, cadmium, manganese, mercury and other metals.” Ingesting a small amount of an oil-based paint can cause vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and weakness; larger amounts can be fatal if left untreated.Paints labeled nontoxiclike many general craft acrylic and watercolor paints, as well as those designed for kids to useare less problematic, but they can still cause stomach upset, vomiting and diarrhea in pets and wildlife if ingested. And the more an animal eats, the sicker it could become. “If an animal were to ingest a small amount from one painted pumpkin, it isn’t likely to cause a significant concern,” says Dr. Schmid. “However, when a squirrel goes from one painted pumpkin to the next, it is ingesting larger concentrations, which can be problematic.”“Small” and “large” are also relative concepts, of course. A small amount to, say, a German shepherd would be a very large amount to a squirrel.What should you do if you want to paint pumpkins?If you have your heart set on a painted pumpkin, of course you can still have one. Just keep it inside and away from wildlifeas well as out of reach of any pets who might try to turn it into a chew toy.And be careful while painting too! While a pet nibbling on a pumpkin decorated with acrylic or latex paint likely won’t suffer any lasting harm, “the biggest concern would be if the pet ingested the paint in a larger quantity, such as by chewing the container or drinking from the paint bowl,” says Dr. Schmid. So make sure to keep pets out of the room while you’re working, and store paints in sealed containers that your furry friends can’t access.Is pumpkin itself toxic for pets?No. Both dogs and cats can eat pumpkin. In fact, the squash is high in fiber and packed with vitamins and minerals. Vets often prescribe a dollop of pureed pumpkin to help pets with constipation and diarrhea. Just be careful to give them only pure pumpkin puree (either the kind that comes in a can or pumpkin flesh you roast yourself). The cans labeled “pumpkin-pie filling” contain sugar, spices and other additives that are not good for pets.And if your dog wants to join the neighborhood squirrels in gnawing on your non-painted porch pumpkin, you still need to keep an eye on him. “I have seen petsusually dogswith GI upset from eating pumpkins, especially after they start rotting,” says Dr. Nelsen. “There’s also the potential for a choking hazard or GI obstruction when the rind is eaten in large chunks.”What other common Halloween items are toxic for animals?Most pet parents are aware that Halloween candy shouldn’t be shared with their pets, with chocolate being a particular danger. But there are other Halloween hazards to watch out for as well. “Candy wrappers can clump and cause gastrointestinal obstruction,” says Dr. Nelsen. And those gauzy spiderweb decorations you can drape across your lawn? If swallowed, they can get tangled up in a dog’s or cat’s digestive system and cause serious internal injuries. “It can be life-threatening,” says Dr. Schmid. It’s also important to make sure pets don’t gnaw on electrical cords or chew snaps and buttons off costumes.And if you’re thinking of using one of those DIY tricks to make your carved pumpkin last longer, like spraying it with bleach or WD-40 to delay decomposition, you’ll want to keep your pet away from it too. “Standard household bleach sprayed on a pumpkin may cause stomach upset if ingested,” says Dr. Schmid. “If a more professional-grade bleach is applied undiluted, corrosive effectsincluding ulcers to the mouth and tonguecan develop.”Are there any other issues with painted pumpkins?When Halloween is over, you may be tempted to toss your painted pumpkin in the compost pile. Not so fast. The paint won’t decompose, and it will contaminate your compost with whatever metals or chemicals are in the paint. But that doesn’t mean it has to go to the landfill. If you’ve used craft paint, you may be able to scrub the paint off with water or vegetable oil. If only a portion of the pumpkin is painted, you can also just cut away that area and compost the rest.About the expertsRenee D. Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT, is the director of veterinary medicine at the Pet Poison Helpline.Kara Nelsen, DVM, MPH, is the founder and medical director of Allied Veterinary Services, an emergency veterinary clinic chain in Wisconsin and Minnesota.Why trust usAtReaders Digest, were committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. For this story on the dangers of painted pumpkins, Cynthia Sanz Carstens tapped her experience as a longtime journalist and editor covering pets to make sure all information is accurate and offers the best possible advice to readers. Read more about our team, ourcontributorsand oureditorial policies.Sources:Renee D. Schmid, DVM, director of veterinary medicine at the Pet Poison Helpline; email interview, Oct. 15, 2024Kara Nelsen, DVM, owner and medical director of Allied Veterinary Services, a group of five emergency veterinary centers in Wisconsin and Minnesota; email interview, Oct. 16, 2024U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: “How to Keep Pumpkins Safe for Wildlife”Dalton-Whitfield (GA) Solid Waste Authority: “How to Compost Your Halloween Pumpkins”Free Pumpkin-Carving TemplatesThe History of Jack-o'-LanternsAdorable Dog Halloween CostumesThe post The Surprising Reason You Shouldn’t Paint Pumpkins on Halloween appeared first on Reader's Digest.
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