Road Salt Can Come Home on Your Dog's Paws

A cleared sidewalk can still leave a dog with ice-melt residue between their toes. The exposure can continue indoors if they settle down to lick their feet. Some deicers irritate the skin on contact, and licking can carry the residue into the mouth.

From the sidewalk to the mouth

Paw licking is one route. Dogs can also swallow ice melt straight off the ground or eat slush that contains it. Give piles of granules and slush along salted curbs a wide berth when you can. If your dog tends to scoop up snow as they walk, keep them away from snow pushed aside from treated surfaces. At home, store the deicer bag where your dog can't reach it.

According to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, swallowing ice melt can cause vomiting or diarrhea. The formulation, the amount swallowed and the dog's size all affect the risk. Even a product marketed as pet-friendly can upset a dog's stomach. Keep the packaging if you use ice melt at home. The ingredient list can help the veterinary team identify what your dog got into.

Clean paws at the door

Keep a cloth and a towel where you come in. Wipe the pads and between the toes with a damp cloth as soon as you get home, and keep your dog from licking until the paws are clean. If you know they've walked through salt, VCA Animal Hospitals suggests rinsing their paws in lukewarm water and drying them with a towel. If you find irritated skin or cracked pads, call your veterinarian for advice.

Boots can reduce contact with the treated ground if your dog tolerates them. Use the maker's sizing guide and try them indoors first. If one slides off in the hallway, adjust the fit before heading out. Once you're back, take the boots off and check the paws, especially if a boot slipped or came off.

If you can choose where your dog goes out at home, VCA suggests shoveling a small area and keeping it free of salt. For a slippery step, ASPCA Poison Control lists sand as a way to add grip. The sand provides traction while any remaining ice stays in place.

When to call a vet

If you think your dog swallowed ice melt, call your veterinarian or an animal poison service right away, even if your dog seems fine. Have the bag handy if you can. If your dog is having seizures, struggling to breathe or is unconscious, go straight to an emergency veterinary clinic.

If the exposure happened on a public sidewalk, say so when you call. Tell the veterinary team whether you saw your dog lick their feet, eat treated slush or take granules straight from the ground. Say when it happened and how much they may have swallowed, if you know. Those details help the team assess the exposure when the product is unknown.

References

Keeping Pets Safe during Winter: The Dangers of Ice Melts, ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, 2018.

Four strategies for cold weather paw protection, VCA Animal Hospitals.

Ice Melt Toxicity in Pets, ASPCA Poison Control.

What to Do if Your Pet Is Poisoned, ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, 2019.