Philadelphia, PA – With the first winter snows and icy mix expected across Pennsylvania this weekend, veterinarians are warning pet owners to protect their animals from more than just the cold. Road salt and chemical de-icers, used to clear streets and sidewalks, can burn paw pads, irritate skin, and cause salt poisoning if pets lick or ingest them.
Most road salt products contain sodium chloride, calcium chloride, or magnesium chloride, compounds that can quickly dry and crack paw pads. Once irritation begins, dogs often lick their paws to relieve the pain, ingesting salt and chemicals that can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, and lethargy. In more severe cases, veterinarians say exposure can trigger seizures, dehydration, or kidney damage.
Some de-icing products also contain heavy metals and industrial residues, increasing the risk of toxicity with repeated exposure over the winter months. Even brief contact can cause discomfort, and dogs that walk frequently on salted streets are most at risk.
Veterinarians recommend simple prevention steps: rinse paws with warm water after each walk, dry them thoroughly, and apply a paw balm or wax before heading outdoors. Keeping fur trimmed between the toes helps reduce salt buildup, and booties can offer reliable protection for dogs that tolerate them. At home, owners are urged to switch to chloride-free, pet-safe ice melt products and avoid walking pets on heavily treated surfaces.
With temperatures expected to fall into the 20s and 30s across much of the state by Monday, the risk of ice and salt exposure will rise. Experts urge owners to watch for signs of limping, paw licking, or reluctance to walk—early warnings that a pet’s paws are irritated or burned.
As Pennsylvania braces for its first taste of winter, veterinarians stress that the greatest threat to pets may not be the cold itself—but the toxic salt spread to fight it.
