How do I get superglue off my dog?

Our question this week was:

My dog got superglue on his fur – how can I get it off? I'm not even sure how he did it. The glue must have fallen on the floor and he rolled in it. I have no idea! He is a 28 pound mixed breed and he seems to have a talent for doing silly or strange things!

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Dan H. Boulder, CO

Answer

Hi Dan – thanks for your email. Your question was "how to remove superglue from your dogs fur". I'm not sure why but we get a number of calls about dogs and cats that get superglue on their fur. A lot of dogs will chew on the tube as well.

The good thing about superglue on the fur is that it generally is not as big deal. How you deal with it will depend on how much is there, where it is, if it is on the tips of the hair or on the skin and how much/if it is bothering your dog.

We have a good article that deals with this exact problem. I'll give you some information from that article:

Your options are: if it is on the tip of the hairs – you can use clippers to remove that bit if hair. I don't recommend scissors as it is possible to cut your dogs skin. You may also be able to get the blue off with a good combing or brushing.

For glue that is in a glob – it might help to loosen the glue bond. To help loosen the bond, you may soak the area in warm soapy water. Acetone, often found in nail polish remover, will often dissolve the super glue bond without damage to the skin. Apply small amounts of acetone with a cotton swab and gently peel the skin apart. Margarine, petroleum jelly and/or mineral oil can also be used to help separate tissue and loosen glue. Apply these products and wait 20 to 30 minutes. Gently massage the area and gently peel or separate the tissues. Do not force tissues apart or the skin may rip. Tissues may be separated under sedation if necessary. If you apply any products, gently wash area with soap and water when you are done.

Most adhered tissues separate in about 1 to 3 ½ days. There may be a small residue of glue that remains on the skin that may be difficult to remove. In many cases, it is a matter of the skin shedding its top layer that will allow complete removal of the glue.

An article that might be helpful to you is Super Glue Exposure in Dogs.

Best of luck!

Dr. Debra

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