Salt may be great for melting snow and ice, but it poses a danger to pets. Ice melting salt is harmful if your furry friends ingest it.”Salivation, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, things like that. It would take large amounts, but seizures, things could be pretty serious,” said Dr. Robert Bartlett, a veterinarian at Columbia Animal Hospital in Lancaster County.Pet owners should take precautions.”Definitely rinse that off and dry the pads (of the feet). You could use wipes. Just basic soap and water type wipes,” he said.Aicardo Zapata makes sure his 2-year-old pup Rosie has clean paws.”After taking her out to the park and out on the street in the winter, usually on the walks, when we get back to the house, my wife and I take the wipes that are specially made for dogs,” he said.It's a quick fix for Zapata to keep his canine healthy.”Make sure they get all the salt off their paws and dig in pretty deep,” he said.It's crucial to be meticulous to help prevent a future visit to the vet.”You should be thorough because pets will definitely lick their paws – sometimes more than they should. You want to get all the nooks and crannies and all the fur on the paws,” Bartlett said.But if your pet is showing symptoms of ingesting the salt, it's important to seek medical attention immediately.”Any that come in contact with it, with that chemical,” Bartlett said.
Salt may be great for melting snow and ice, but it poses a danger to pets.
Ice melting salt is harmful if your furry friends ingest it.
“Salivation, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, things like that. It would take large amounts, but seizures, things could be pretty serious,” said Dr. Robert Bartlett, a veterinarian at Columbia Animal Hospital in Lancaster County.
Pet owners should take precautions.
“Definitely rinse that off and dry the pads (of the feet). You could use wipes. Just basic soap and water type wipes,” he said.
Aicardo Zapata makes sure his 2-year-old pup Rosie has clean paws.
“After taking her out to the park and out on the street in the winter, usually on the walks, when we get back to the house, my wife and I take the wipes that are specially made for dogs,” he said.
It's a quick fix for Zapata to keep his canine healthy.
“Make sure they get all the salt off their paws and dig in pretty deep,” he said.
It's crucial to be meticulous to help prevent a future visit to the vet.
“You should be thorough because pets will definitely lick their paws – sometimes more than they should. You want to get all the nooks and crannies and all the fur on the paws,” Bartlett said.
But if your pet is showing symptoms of ingesting the salt, it's important to seek medical attention immediately.
“Any that come in contact with it, with that chemical,” Bartlett said.
