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Ice Melt And Pets: Why You Should Choose A Pet Friendly Ice Melt

  • G&I Landscaping
  • Jan 3
  • 2 min read
A puppy walks on a trail of snow
A puppy walks on a trail of snow

Winter is on it's way! As winter blankets the landscape in a shimmering layer of ice and snow, many pet owners face the challenge of keeping their furry friends safe while managing slippery walkways and driveways. So, how can us pet owners protect our furry friends?


The need for pet friendly salt: Traditional ice melt products, while effective in preventing slips and falls, can pose significant risks to pets if they come into contact with their paws. The sharp ends of regular ice melt can be bothersome or even be strong enough to cut their paws while on the morning walk, leading to potential injuries while also being bothersome. Chemicals in the salt can also cause irritation.


The chemicals in traditional salts: Regular ice melt products can pose a serious health hazard to pets if the salt is mistaken for food or is otherwise accidentally ingested. These traditional products contain chemicals that help break down the ice faster and makes the salt more tolerable to extreme temperatures.


Here are some of the chemicals used in traditional ice melts that can pose a danger to pets:


  1. Sodium Chloride (Most common): Sodium Chloride can cause irritation, and causes dehydration if ingested. If ingested in large amounts, it can cause vomiting and even seizures.

  2. Calcium Chloride: This chemical causes burning and irritation on bare skin and paws. If ingested, it can lead to drooling and vomiting.

  3. Magnesium Chloride: While being less toxic, It can still cause an upset stomach or cardiovascular issues if heavily ingested.

  4. Potassium Chloride: Can cause severe irritation or gastrointestinal issues and may even cause heart problems.

  5. Ethylene glycol (Rare, but most dangerous): This chemical is highly toxic and deadly if consumed, even if it’s a small amount. This chemical can cause kidney failure and neurological issues.


What’s safe: So what is safe for pets? Safer ingredients in ice melts help protect pets and still melts ice or increases traction efficiency.

Some of these ingredients include:


  1. Calcium Magnesium Acetate: The safest option for pets, and G&I’s choice. This works great for lower temperatures while protecting the environment.

  2. Potassium Formate: This is less irritating than regular ice melts, while still being low toxic and environmentally friendly.

  3. Sand and Kitty Litter: While it’s not going to melt ice, it helps increase traction and isn’t as harmful as traditional salt.


Pet first aid: What if my pet ingests ice melt? Here’s what you should do if your pet comes into contact or ingests ice melts:


  1. Remove any remaining substance and rinse with water

  2. Give fresh water, Encouraging drinking water helps dilute chemicals inside the pets digestive system.

  3. Watch for symptoms, Watch for common symptoms such as drooling, vomiting, excessive thirst or seizures.

  4. Call your vet or the pet poison control hotline, ASPCA’s pet poison hotline is 888-426-4435.

  5. See a vet immediately if they ingested a large amount, the salt contained ethylene glycol, or if symptoms worsen.

Preventing injuries: You can always prevent injuries by wiping your pets paws after a walk, and storing ice melt safely. No ice melts on the market are guaranteed to be 100% safe for pets, but paying attention to pet friendly ice melt can help protect your pets and others!

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