Keeping Pets Safe In The Snow.

If you live in an area that has harsh winters and are familiar with snow plowing trucks, you know just how vital they are to keeping the roads clear. After they clear the roads they spread salt and or a sand/salt mixture to prevent cars from loosing traction. Also you might treat your own walkways and driveway with salt as well to provide a safe walking area. The salt used in these areas is sodium chloride which does its job melting the snow but also can be a hazard to any pets that ingest it or come in contact with it. It can cause irritation on your dogs paws if they are walking through salt treated areas. If they lick their paws or enjoy eating the snow, the ingesting of the sodium chloride can possible cause vomiting, diarrhea and in some cases even death. There are things you can do to prevent this from happening, like keep them away from the snow by the roads where the salt will be the highest concentration. Once inside, rinsing them off wherever they might have come in contact with the salt treated areas. On your own walkways and driveway, using sand for traction, will not melt the snow but will provide a salt free, safe area for them to play. If you think that your pet has ingested the sodium chloride, and they have signs of sickness, seek medical attention right away. You can still have fun with your dog in the snow. Just know the facts, and keep a watchful eye on their surroundings and all should be fine.