Is Acetone / nail polish remover toxic to dogs & cats?
Also known as: nail polish remover / acetone
🚑 What to do right after ingestion
Clean contact areas and observe; obvious sleepiness or vomiting gets supportive care. Store nail products away.
Toxicity notes
Licking nail-polish remover causes neurologic depression and chemical skin burns — cats grooming themselves ingest more than you'd think.
Poisoning symptoms
- • Drooling
- • Sleepiness
- • Wobbliness
- • Vomiting
Symptoms can be delayed (e.g. onion/garlic-induced hemolysis may take days) — a pet looking fine right now is no reason to relax.
FAQ
How much causes poisoning?
Licking nail-polish remover causes neurologic depression and chemical skin burns — cats grooming themselves ingest more than you'd think.
Can I make my pet vomit at home?
Home-induced vomiting is not advised: corrosive cleaners, sharp bones or existing neurological signs make it dangerous, and improper technique risks aspiration pneumonia. Vomiting should be induced by a vet with proper drugs at the right moment — most effective within 1-2 hours. So “head to the clinic as soon as you know” beats “try to induce vomiting first”.
Even without symptoms, use the symptom checker to review what to watch for
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