Why is that? When salt dissolves in water it releases ions which allows the water to freeze at a higher temperature. When I repaired a sculpture, with no gloves on, it was quite painful. The freezing sting sits in the back of my mind from over 20 years ago.

Dogs can experience the same reaction while walking on salted roads and sidewalks, resulting in damaged paw pads. Salt is a skin irritant that can cause pad dryness, cracking, sores and burns. But that’s not all. The salt used to treat the roads also contains ice-melting chemicals that are toxic when ingested by dogs. Dogs cannot ingest rock salt. Even if they don’t directly eat the salt off the road or drink from a puddle, they can receive the toxins through licking their paws or other parts of their body.

Consider some of the following options when walking your dog:

Use paw covers / boots
They will most likely take some time to get use to, but it’s worth the frustration. Check out this AKC article about the best dog boots for cold weather. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/dog-boots-for-winter/

Wash paws in warm soapy water to get the salt and toxins off.
Wash other body parts if your dog sat down, lied down, or scaled a salty snow mound. Check this easy to use tool to quickly wash their paws. The Dexas MudBuster has good reviews: https://www.amazon.com/Dexas-MudBuster-Portable-Cleaner-Medium/dp/B01N64DCPR/ref=asc_df_B01N64DCPR/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167132165277&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11640130735401518278&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9002215&hvtargid=pla-305741449130&th=1

Hike a nature trail
Being rock salt is also toxic to plants, it will most likely be limited to the parking area. Be sure to check your area for hunting season guidelines. Have you and your dog wear the necessary hunter’s orange apparel. Here is one of many options available for dogs https://safetypupxd.com/collections/all

Its always great to follow up a good cleaning with a nice paw moisturizer. There are many types to choose from. However I found Musher’s Secret Dog Paw Wax to be a leader in dog paw balms. https://musherssecret.com/products/ If your are a DIY person, you can make your own. It’s easy to find recipes to make your own balm.

Enjoy your winter dog walks and be safe. If you cringe at the thought of walking your dog, contact us! We offer dog walking services. https://www.looksquirrelinn.com/services