Protecting Your Pup in Winter

With recent wind chills well below zero, as humans we have been bundled and covered up to protect against frostbite, so what about our canine companions? In dangerous winter weather, it's equally important to keep our pets warm and safe when they have to be outside, from both the temperatures and from chemicals used to treat roads and sidewalks. The DC Ladies share tips on how to keep your dog safe for the duration of winter:

Salt and other ice melting products can be damaging to your pet’s paws.  Contact with these products can cause chemical burns to their paw pads if you take them on a long walk and they are exposed to the harsh chemicals. Ingesting these ice melting products can also be harmful to your pet.  If your pet ingests a small amount of ice melt it can cause an upset stomach, nausea, and vomiting.  Larger amounts of ice melt ingestion can cause more serious side effects such as weakness and seizures.  In very severe cases, ingesting too much ice melt can be fatal.

There are pet friendly ice melt products on the market.  Safe Paw is a 100% salt free product that is not only safe for pets but for children as well.  It has been a vet and shelter recommended brand for years.  Safe Paw pellets are green so they are easily recognized when you are out with your pet.  Safe Paw can be found at Costco and other retailers.  Check their website for locations near you.   Morton, who you may know from your table salt, also has a pet friendly ice melt called Safe-T-Pet.  It is also 100% salt free to prevent irritation to your pets.  Safe-T-Pet can be found at Wal-Mart stores in the area.

Another chemical used frequently during the winter is antifreeze.  Antifreeze has a sweet flavor to pets and can be deadly if ingested.  Only a tablespoon of antifreeze can be deadly to an average-sized dog and fatality rates are around 88%.  Ethylene glycol-based antifreeze products can severely damage your pet’s liver, so make sure any antifreeze you use does not contain this chemical.  There is a less toxic chemical used in some antifreeze products that is propylene glycol-based.  Look for products containing this chemical when you are buying antifreeze for your car.

Since you cannot control what your neighbors use for winter chemicals, there are ways to help protect your pet.  If you are unsure of what a sidewalk is treated with, have your dog walk in the grass instead.  Wipe your pet’s paws with warm water and a clean cloth when they come in from the outside to remove any product that may be on their paws.  Also, be sure to wipe your shoes as well to prevent tracking anything inside.  If your pet is comfortable enough, there are booties available to protect your pet’s paws from snow and ice as well.  If your pet is not into boots, you can keep their paws protected by using pet balms on their pads to prevent cracking from cold exposure.

Hopefully these tips will not only help keep your pets safe, but help keep the pets in your neighborhood safe as well.