When it comes to snow, ice, and dogs, we dog lovers have two questions: Is rock salt safe for dogs, and if not, what talc can we use that’s safe for pets? After all, there’s nothing worse than letting our dogs — excited and ready for a walk — rush out of the house, drag you with them, and then slip on the icy stairs, causing you to slip too. foot. It’s imperative that we don’t even go down that icy, slippery slope using pet-safe thawed ice.
Is rock salt safe for dogs?
No, rock salt is not safe for dogs. It is also not safe for humans to put such high amounts of salt on bare skin. For dogs, it sticks to their paws and the next thing you know, they scratch themselves with those salted paws or lick and swallow rock salt. Dogs can suffer from anything from skin and mouth irritation to burns. Follow ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, if a dog ingests rock salt, it can cause everything from an upset stomach to vomiting and diarrhea. And, if it raises sodium levels enough, it can cause tremors and seizures.
What is rock salt? It’s the same as what you’d use to put in your french fries but not refined for human consumption.
Victoria Mack, Customer Service Specialist at natural alternative, a gardening and lawn product manufacturer that prioritizes safety, helps defrost pets safely. “It’s not uniform, which means you’ll need more product to thaw the snow. Coupled with a high salt ratio and using more products, you are putting your pet at greater risk of internal and external burns.”
Is thawed ice safe for dogs?
Traditional ice melt is not safe for dogs because it uses many ingredients, often – but not always – one of several salts: sodium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, and potassium chloride.
Victoria tells Dogster, “Ice melt can consist of a number of different raw materials. Traditionally, thaw has been a blend of chlorides to produce a product that melts snow and ice to make winter driving and walking safer. Melt machines are now also available in a chloride-free form, such as calcium magnesium acetate (CMA). And, those 100% CMA ice machines work completely differently than traditional ice machines.”
Just like with rock salt, your dog can experience similar health problems with thawed ice that is not safe for pets.
“Choosing a melting iceberg is not a pet friendly can cause your pet internal and external burns, vomiting, stomach upset and more,” says Victoria. “This is because the defrost devices are heated up rapidly to create a melting effect on the snow and ice. Choosing a product that is not pet-safe could heat up to temperatures that cause problems with our furry family members.”
What is pet-safe thawing?
Essentially, pet-safe or pet-friendly thaws contain safer ingredients and/or lower chloride levels. This doesn’t mean your dog can come to town to eat them, as they can still cause problems like colic.
Victoria says that “there are many types of ingredients that can be used in a pet-friendly melt ice machine, but the way it is made and the percentages of the ingredients that make the real difference.”
She explains that her company’s natural alternative is a four-way blend of powerful thawing chloride, but it’s blended with a pet-friendly percentage. The shape of the granules also helps it cover more square footage, so you use less product when compared to a traditional defrost machine.
Her company also has a 100% CMA product for a chloride-free option. This product is not a blend. “It’s a bio-based activator treated CMA pellet for faster melting and lower freezing temperature,” she said. “It is less corrosive than tap water and melts up to 15oDegrees F. CMA will dehydrate the snow and ice, turning it into an oatmeal-like consistency that is easy to remove from the walkway.”
How to use pet-safe thawing tape?
First, store pet-safe talc in an area your dog can’t get in, in a box or on a high shelf in the garage. Follow ASPCA Animal Poison Control CenterSome pets like the taste.
Read the instructions on the label before using any melt ice. Victoria says if ice or snow is forecast, apply before it snows and then reapply if needed. For her company’s products, more is not necessary and she says there’s no need to apply too much. She cautions that you should avoid applying too much of any defrosting product.
What to do if your dog ingests talc or rock salt?
First of all, prevention is key here. Don’t let your dog eat rock salt or melted rock. To keep your dog’s paws away during the winter months, you can:
- put your dog’s paw in dog boots or booties
- use dog paw wax, which acts as a barrier between the dog’s paws
- Clean your dog’s paws after going outside in areas with rock salt or melting ice
Victoria says: “For the safety of your pet walking through towns or areas where you don’t know what defrosting product was used, we always recommend rinsing their paws to prevent further damage. make sure the defrost devices are removed from their gaskets,” said Victoria. “If rinsing is not possible, check their foot pads to make sure there are no particles in the middle of their pads. It is normal for dogs to want to lick their paws after walking over an area that has been treated with a de-icing agent. Rinsing will remove the salt from their paws, keeping them from getting licked. With our product, even though it’s pet-friendly, we still recommend checking their paws for any particles that might get in between their paw pads. Trapped particles can cause excessive licking due to irritation if trapped and unable to be removed by the dog.”
If your dog has any of the following symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately or you can call ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888) 426-4435.
- neurological signs, such as tremors or seizures
- more than mild diarrhea
- more than mild vomiting
How to get pet-safe thawing
You can find pet-safe thaws online or at lawn and garden supply stores. Read the label and make sure it says pet safe. Pet-safe doesn’t mean your pet should eat a larger amount than we humans should, so take precautions.
