Taking your dog for a walk in the winter can feel like a challenge for a lot of us. Not only does it get dark earlier, but there are all sorts of added hazards to contend with. And if you live in an area that gets a lot of snow and ice, one such hazard is actually the rock salt that is used to melt the ice.
Did you know that they actually sell an ice melt that is dog safe? After learning about how rock salt can be a hazard to dogs, we learned more about the melt that is safe for them and we were rather impressed.
But instead of focusing on the ice melt that doesn't create a problem for our dogs, we wanted to do a bit of a deep dive into why rock salt is problematic. And that meant asking veterinarians and other animal experts what rock salt does to our dogs. Specifically, we asked about how rock salt impacts our dog's paws.
What does rock salt do to a dog's paws?
Up first we have Lorraine Rhoads from Dogtopia who explained that, "It can cause dryness, cracking, and irritation, and if licked off, it can upset their tummy. Protect their paws with snow booties or a paw balm, and don’t forget that post-walk clean-up—it’s a small step that makes a big difference!"
Dr. Jessica Apted of Sploot Veterinary Care also shared insight into what rock salt does to our dog's paws, stating that, "Rock salt can be irritating to your dog’s paws, causing dryness, cracking, and soreness. Ingesting small amounts when they lick their paws can lead to gastrointestinal upset. It can also cause burns if it gets stuck in between their toes or pads, so be sure to clean their paws after walks and use booties for protection if needed. There are pet safe products to help with deicing walkways and sidewalks that are less irritating or harmful."
Honestly, we hate the idea of our dogs walking on something that can be dangerous, so we will definitely be paying attention to the ground when taking our dogs for a walk. And for our own sidewalk and other areas where we want to keep the ice away, we will definitely opt for the pet safe ice melt options.