Dog Walking Shouldn’t Be Hazardous
Wintertime in Colorado, while filled with fun recreational opportunities, is also filled with challenges for your dog. As a professional dog walking company, we encounter chemical ice melts every day in the wintertime. Ice melts are particularly prevalent if you live near town, where sidewalks and businesses are carpeted with it.
Surprised? You’re not alone. Many people are unaware of the health problems posed by exposure to these products. It’s just not something your think about. The fact is dogs and chemical ice melters don’t mix – for a lot of reasons.
A Dog Walking Company’s Duty of Care
As a professional pet sitting company, we have a duty of care to our clients. That duty of care also involves educating pet owners. A lot of people just don’t even consider that something as innocuous as ice melt can be dangerous. After all, they buy it at their grocery story, along with their dog food. Please educate yourself and then educate your clients.
Ice Melters Can Cause:
- Severe dermatitis, sores, infection or blistering
- Inflammation of paws
- Chemical burns of paws
- Chemical burns of the tongue and mouth and digestive tract
- Gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting
- Bloat
- Kidney Problems
- Pancreatitis
How This Happens:
Dogs who have access to walkways treated with salt-based or chemical ice melters frequently get the super-heated pellets (175◦) stuck to their paws. This can cause direct exterior damage to the paw, and result in further interior damage when your dog licks and ingests the pellets. Repeated ingestion can result in kidney problems or pancreatitis. Bloat (an emergency situation) is a greater threat in larger dogs who tend to drink large amounts of water.
What To Do:
- Make sure you hire a professional dog walking company for your dog walking needs
- Buy pet-friendly ice melting products
- Use Musher’s Secret Paw Protection
- Invest in doggie booties
- Keep your dog’s fur trimmed around his or her pads
- Avoid salted areas
- If exposed, wipe your dog’s paws liberally with a warm cloth to remove the salt
Are you looking for a loving, professional dog walking service? See what our clients are saying about our professional dog walking team and contact us today. Our mid-day dog walks and dog hiking program are perfect for professionals too busy to get home during the day!
If you suspect your dog has consumed a chemical ice melt, contact your vet immediately!