painting metal

[Windy_jem]

I have a metal dog crate that's in great shape but it's starting to rust. I really hate to spend more money on a new one so I want to paint the one I have.
What brand of paint do I use so my dogs won't get sick/dead if they chew on the bars? Do I need to seal it after I paint it? And what do I use to do that?
Thanks

[watcher]

I wouldn't worry about any modern paint bothering the dogs after its dried. What paint depends on how bad the rust is. If it isn't too bad you can get paint which will bond with the rust, just spray it on. If the rust is bad you are going to have to remove the rust, prime then paint it.

[Windy_jem]

The rust is just in spots and the on the tray that goes underneath. Can I use "Rustolium" in the spray cans? Would that be safe?

[bruce2288]

If it is bare metal rustoleum should work. If it is chromed I don't think it will stick. Grab a can off the store shelf and read the label, probably no one who works in the store even knows but would probably tell it would work great.

[SirDude]

A thought for the tray, my Akita use to scratch / claw at the tray before laying down, and then it would get all rusty, which made a mess of her coat. So I installed 12X12 stick-down tiles. It was quitter under her nails and still easy to clean.

[watcher]

Personally I'd take a wire brush (hand or powered) to the rust spots then prime and paint them. SirDude has an idea on the tray. Putting something down over it to prevent scratches from claws would help but I'd want something I could pull out in case of an 'accident'. Urine is fairly caustic, the least little bit left will speed up rusting.

[orangehen]

Perhaps you could find something out of a beekeeping catalog. I've seen (can't remember which catalog) a food-safe paint for painting the inside of honey extractors.