Dogtopia of Danvers, MA Blog

After the snow that got dumped on the North Shore this weekend we are living in a winter wonderland.  And unfortunately that winter wonderland brings along ice!  Of course the trucks come along with sand and salt to make the roads safer for drivers, but that makes it more dangerous for our dogs.

Road salt can cause anything from slight irritation to severe chemical burning of a dog’s paws.  In addition to this, if a dog gets home and licks their paws they can get rather ill.  A friend’s dog went into seziures a couple of years ago as a result of licking her paws after a nice winter walk.  They were lucky that she was saved.  Some other dogs have not been as lucky.

So take precautions with your dogs when you bring them out in this weather.  There is a product called Musher’s Secret which can be used to coat the paw pads and that can prevent much of the irritation.  You can also use herbal products with a beeswax base that has been deemed safe for dogs.  After you come in from a walk, immediately rinse off your dog’s paws so that you prevent them from licking and injesting the salt.

As far as what you can use at home, they do have sand that does not contain salt so keep your eyes open for that (though most road sands do contain road salt).  You can also buy pet safe de-icing products such as Safe Paw to use on your walkway and steps.

So please keep your dog safe during your winter walks, and have fun in the snow!!