The Importance of Pet-Friendly Salt in the Winter

The winter months bring about a huge demand for ice and snow melters, especially in the northern states. You have likely used these products at some point in your life to clear your driveway, sidewalk, and walkway, or at least make them easier to walk on. No matter how convenient these products are, many of them are dangerous to your pets. Let’s take a look at the importance of pet-friendly salt in the winter.

 

Why Pet-Friendly Salt Matters

Most ice melters are designed to be harsh. That’s what makes them effective at melting snow and ice. The same harsh chemicals that make the products effective though are the ones that cause harm to your pet’s paws and health conditions as a whole.

Think about what happens when you take your dog outside. Does he walk to a designated area, do his business, and then come right back in? No. Chances are he runs around the yard exploring every new piece of snow on the ground. All that exploration could be hazardous to his health if you have non-pet-friendly salt all over the place. This will eat away at the soft pads on his paws, in between his toes, and more.

If your dog has a tendency to eat anything he sees outside, he would be even more at risk of hurting himself if you do not use pet-friendly products to melt your ice and snow. Keep all of this in mind when you are trying to clear your property this winter.

 

Where to Find Pet-Friendly Salt

You can order pet-friendly salt online, or you may be able to purchase it through your local home improvement store. As a general rule of thumb, try to look for products that are specifically labeled “pet-friendly” or “pet safe.” This may not be the key selling point advertised, but it should be listed somewhere on the back.

Avoid all products with hygroscopic chemicals, like magnesium chloride and calcium chloride. These salts are dangerous for pets and they are used on a number of melters on the market. Some “all natural” salts are inherently pet-friendly, but that is not always the case. Be careful of the products you use around your home.

Now that you understand the importance of pet-friendly salt in the winter, you can protect your furry family members from man-made health hazards this year.