How to Fix Damaged Walls from Pets

Has your favorite pet made a mess of your walls or cabinets? These tips show you how to fix damaged walls from pets so they look brand new!

We all love our pets but I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who freaks out when said pet basically eats a door frame! Some dogs like to chew on walls and some cats like to use walls as a scratching post!

Usually animal scratches are pretty localized and easy to fix. These steps would also apply to any other damage you might encounter in your home. (For an even greater in-depth post you can read how to repair drywall damage.)

Materials you’ll need

Instructions

Step 1. Sand any raised and damaged spots on the drywall.

Take a coarse sanding block (or sandpaper) and go over the piece of drywall just to get rid of any high spots and debris. The goal is to make your wall as smooth as possible.

Step 2. Use wood filler or Bondo to fill in the holes.

If you use a product like Bondo All Purpose Putty you mix the two products included. The fix has to be used immediately before it hardens to fix the small holes.

If you use something like Wall Repair Spackling and Primer you use the product straight out of the container. Use spackle if you have a smaller area and are more familiar with the product. A kid that includes drywall compound may work for you as well.

Use a scraper or putty knife to spread the compound into and immediately around the hole. Make sure and use enough of the product to overfill until it becomes a flatter surface. You want the drywall patch to have as few imperfections as well.

Step 3. Let dry.

Depending on the product used the dry time varies. If you want to you can cheat with a hair dryer if but NO HEAT GUN and it has to be dry before moving on.

Step 4. Sand the repaired spot.

Make sure and don’t over sand. The desired result is a patch that will hide the previous damage. The better the spackling job the easier sanding.

Sand until you can neither see nor feel bumps or valleys.

Step 5. Prime and Paint.

You can prime if you want with an aerosol Kilz or Zinser product, but protect the floor from over-spray. You can also brush on primer with a good interior brand such as KILZ Adhesion Primer, Ideally, you should always have a small container of interior paint saved for touchups like these. Make sure and blend into the rest of the wall so you won’t have seams or evidence of the joint compound.

FAQs about Pet Damage

It depends on the size of the hole. I think dog scratches are easier to cover up and spackle can do the job well. Sanding will help smooth out the rough edges before touching up with paint. If there are large holes make sure and follow the tutorial above.

Every pet is different but my problem was with dogs that wanted to get into a room that was locked up. There were fireworks going on and I wasn’t home so they just chewed their way through the door. So in that instance separation anxiety was a real thing.

Make sure your dog has chew toys to keep them engaged so boredom isn’t the problem!

I also think keeping to a routine when you leave your house is a good idea. In my new home my dog stays in the bedroom and he’s happy as can be. If I let him roam the house he eats all the paper. Figure out what works for your own dog!

I have friends who have smaller dogs and use a pet door so the dog is free to roam. My dog is 91 pounds so that’s not an option! I think it depends on how safe you feel at home and whether this option is the best for you and your pet.