by Ashley Demers Icy roads and walkways are slippery! Salt is arguably one of the biggest winter weather helpers- and yet one of the most insidious parts of dealing with ice.
Many of us go so far as to oil spray our cars because rock salt can corrode metal, yet it is used for human safety where wildlife and pets walk as well. This is understandable- it is the most efficient and effective way to melt ice and snow to allow for mobility of all citizens. Road salt however is an environmental concern to many, and for most of us with dogs, it's also a health and safety issue.
Paw Burns
If you want an idea of how it feels for dogs to walk on salt and snow: fill a plastic baggie half way with water, add some rock salt, and seal. (Carefully) hold the bag and see how warm it gets. It should get quite hot, which burns paw pads and in between toes where pieces of salt get stuck. The salt can heat up to 170 degrees F (76 C), a high enough temperature to burn tissue! Other kinds, depending on the ingredients, may not heat up but can still cause chemical burns or cuts due to jagged edges.
If your dog licks their paws due to pain or for salty flavour after a walk, the chemicals can get on their lips and tongue too, irritating mucous membranes. It may also cause an upset stomach. Boots & Paw Protection
Training your dog to get used to wearing booties is the most effective way to prevent burns or irritation from salt, hot pavement in summer, and other hazards. (If you need help encouraging your dog to wear booties, this is something I can offer you tips on. Or your dog and I can work on this together during our enrichment time!)
The drawbacks are that dog boots can fall off, and can be expensive. Using a generous application of paw protector balm/wax before leaving can be a helpful alternative. I currently use Invisible Boot or Dr. Maggie's Paw Protector, and have found them both to be the most helpful for my own dogs. Ideally, upon arriving home, we should rinse paws in a bucket or wipe well with a warm, wet towel at the door to remove excess balm and salt residue.
What About "Pet Safe" Salt?
"Safe T Pet" and other brands of pet safe ice melters are definitely more gentle, but are also still salt. There's still a risk that it can be overly drying, can cut or chemically irritate paw pads, and it often is not effective at temperatures below -10C. While it may sound silly, yes, some dogs do find it appealing and have made themselves quite ill getting into salt buckets or trying to gobble up what's on the walkways, so keep it out of reach and be aware of what ingredients are in there. If your dog gets into ice salt, look at the ingredients and call your vet right away to ask how to proceed.
Commonly used chemicals in ice melts:
• Magnesium Chloride: If ingested via paw licking or direct eating, may cause gastrointestinal upset. May be dangerous for dogs with kidney problems.
• Potassium Chloride: May cause more severe gastrointestinal upset and mucosal membrane/tissue irritation. Potassium chloride can cause hemorrhagic vomiting and/or bloody diarrhea which may become very serious. Requires urgent vet care if ingested in large amounts, consult veterinarian immediately if you know your dog has ingested any at all.
• Sodium Chloride:
If dog eats large enough amounts, it can lead to sodium toxicosis and can be fatal. Smaller amounts will cause stomach upset like vomiting and diarrhea. Allow dog access to lots of drinking water.
• Calcium salts (calcium carbonate, calcium chloride, and calcium magnesium acetate):
Calcium salts are the most dangerous to people and animals. Burns and irritation to skin tissues are a high risk, they are the most severe skin irritants of all listed here. If ingested, the dog is likely to vomit severely and have diarrhea. Consult your vet immediately if your dog ingests anything containing calcium salts!
• Glycols: Glycols are highly effective ice melters. Ethylene glycol based ice melts however contain the same active ingredient as antifreeze. This smells appealingly sweet to pets and is highly toxic. Ingestion can quickly become fatal for your dog (or cat or wildlife), avoid ethylene glycol based products around animals.
Propylene glycol as a base is much safer. Propylene glycol ice melts usually contain urea as the active ingredient. This is generally recognized as relatively pet-safe. Ingestion usually only causes mild stomach upset that should pass, but contact your veterinarian if it continues or worsens. A word of caution: while propylene glycol is quite safe for dogs, it can damage a cat’s red blood cells when licked or eaten.
Points to Consider
If you must use ice melters, pricing should not be a limiting factor if safety is a concern.
If there are warnings on the label of any kind, it isn't safe for humans- therefore not truly pet safe. Look for salt and chloride free melters if you can. Research ingredients not listed here or that you want to know more about.
There is no truly pet or environmentally friendly ice melt. The only perfectly dog safe way is prevention of ice build up by shoveling, manual removal with ice chippers etc. For traction at home, you can also use a gritty sand or wood ash. It is messier and dirties up the snow, but it's more environmentally friendly and truly pet safe. Stay safe and enjoy your wintry walks!
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