Does ice melt hurt dog paws?

It’s an early winter morning and you’ve just poured yourself a cup of coffee. After a few warming sips, you feel a gentle nudge at your hand. It’s from Shadow, your black Lab.

Smiling, you ask if he wants to go outside to get the newspaper. He agrees with a wagging tail as the two of you walk to the front door. You look at your shoes in the other room and then at the newspaper — it’s about a dozen steps closer than your shoes. You decide to make a quick run for it.

Your bare feet touch the concrete and the regret is instant. It’s so cold you might as well have walked right onto a glacier, in Antarctica, barefoot. But you’re committed now that you’ve tip-toed halfway to your morning news.

Tail still wagging with delight as he yips at slowly falling snowflakes, Shadow is completely unbothered by the freezing driveway.

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Does Shadow have bionic feet? No — although that would be pretty cool. The reason he didn’t notice the cold is that the pads on his feet can withstand the cold better than ours can. However, just because Shadow’s feet are conditioned for weather, that doesn’t mean his paws are immune to the winter conditions.

Ice-melting salt … a main culprit

While most of us know that ice-melting salt can be dangerous to our pets, many don’t know the full story.

The chemicals from the salt can leave a residue that can be harmful to your dog’s health. On the surface of their paw pads, the salt can cause chemical burns. These burns can make their paws red, itchy or appear rashy. If they lick the salt off their paws, it could lead to an upset tummy with symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea.

A few licks off their paws generally won’t harm your dog, but a significant ingestion of ice melt can lead to more serious issues. If you see your dog showing sudden lethargy, weakness, unsteadiness, or other behavior changes, contact your vet right away.

Now that we know why it’s important to protect your dog’s feet in the winter, let’s talk about how.

Prepping your dog’s paws before a walk

Check the temps. Did you know dogs are at risk of frostbite in temperatures lower than 32°F for more than 30 minutes? A good rule of thumb is if it’s too cold for you, it’s too cold for your dog.

Use safer salt. If you salt your driveway or sidewalk, be sure to get paw-friendly ice melt. You can find it at most stores that sell ice melt. While no ice melt is entirely pet-safe, it’s a friendlier version that also helps out other pups walking in your neighborhood.

Apply paw balm. Minimize dry skin and salt damage with dog paw balm. Rub it on their palms before walks and reapply when you get home. This also helps keep their paw pads soft and supple during the winter. Not unlike you needing extra lotion during the dry winter months. You can find dog paw balm in most pet stores or make it yourself at home.

Here’s a DIY recipe from American Kennel Club:

Try dog booties. Do they look silly? Depends on who you ask, but dog booties are the best defense against snow, ice, salt and sand. To find the right size, measure your dog’s paw from the heel to the tip of the toenail. Your dog may resist them at first, so give them time to adjust. Have your dog wear them around the house and reward them with treats after you put them on. This will help your dog associate the booties with a positive experience. If your dog just doesn’t want to wear them, don’t force it.

Caring for your dog’s paws after a walk

Whenever you return home from your walks, towel off your dog’s paws to help clear them of salt and ice. If you walked over a lot of ice, you might consider dipping their paws in a bucket of warm water first and then towel drying. After their paws are dry, reapply paw balm.

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Take these few extra paw-protecting steps during the harsh winter months. Your furry best friend will thank you with all the tail-wagging enthusiasm and puppy kisses you can handle.

And next time — don’t skip the shoes.