Similar to children, puppies are the most vulnerable to lead poisoning because their innate and indiscriminate habits of putting objects in their mouths. Licking their fur makes them most susceptible to ingesting lead dust or paint chips. Their proportionally smaller body mass allows dangerously high concentrations of lead to develop more easily with minimal exposure.

A puppy’s metabolism, just like babies absorb calcium and transport it to the bones. Unfortunately, the puppy’s body can’t distinguish between lead and calcium. This means if a puppy eats some lead, then it becomes concentrated in their bones to act as a long-term reservoir. Lead more easily passes into the brain and causes neurological disease such as staggering, seizures and blindness.

It’s not just puppies that are vulnerable. Cats are also prone to the adverse effects of lead paint, and they are often exposed to cracking or peeling paint on windowsills and other areas in older homes.

If your home was built prior to 1978, then there’s a good chance for lead being present in some areas. To learn more about protecting all your pets of all ages from the dangers of lead, visit our Lead Free Pets page at Environmental Testing Services, LLC.