This winter has certainly been a confusing one! January is normally one of our coldest times of the year. Yet it seems like winter and spring are taking turns every other day. Monday we get a snow storm, Tuesday a downpour of rain. When the weather is being this fickle, you may notice the sidewalks progressively getting more covered in salt. The rain constantly freezing is creating an ice rink on a regular basis. The result is home owners getting very concerned and slipping, and perhaps over doing the salt a little bit.

As dog owners, this can be very frustrating. Salt can be very harmful to a dog’s pads.

Winter can be brutal on our dog’s paw pads. Exposed to the elements and toxic chemicals, the paw pads are at risk for drying, cracking, trauma, frostbite and chemical burns. (Caesar’s Way)

We take many precautions to help protect our pets, big or small. Some owners invest in dog boots while other use an invisibly boot to help create an extra layer on their toes. It can be difficult to find the right way for each dog. Many dogs are very uncomfortable with the winter boots, and it can be time consuming to get their paws prepped with balm. It is time well spent, however, and important to help them get through the cold elements and salty sidewalks! Take a moment to put some balm on their pads, and wipe them with a warm cloth after to help get rid of any remaining salt. Your pups will appreciate the extra effort!

Another way to help with your dog’s paws, is by finding alternatives to putting salt down. In fact, Ontario is one of the only provinces to lay salt down at all. You can try dirt, or kitty litter as a couple of alternatives. These won’t melt the ice, but they will give a layer of traction for your feet! Salt is not only bad for your dogs toes, but also for the environment. Think about the spring and how long it takes to wash away the salty mess. Manitoba has interestingly found an alternative to melting ice through beet juice. This is being added to the usual mixture to reduce salt and other toxins. You can check out the article from Global News here, for more information.

Keep your pups paws safe, and let’s help reduce the salt on our sidewalks!