While many of us are currently experiencing some unseasonably warm weather, this is an important topic to make sure your aware of and you take precautions for.
Per daily mail.co.uk: “Hundreds of pets are becoming seriously ill and in some cases dying because of the rock salt and antifreeze being used during the cold snap, animal charities warned yesterday.”
“Dogs and cats are walking through the substances left by gritters trying to clear roads and car drivers defrosting their windscreens and then licking them off their paws.
Consuming rock salt can cause dehydration, liver failure and pancreatitis, while antifreeze contains the chemical ethylene glycol, which can be lethal when ingested.”
Thought I could not find any exact numbers on how many dogs are poisoned by rock sale or ant-freeze, one article which was written early winter last year suggest the number is quite high: “The RSPCA said it has received 248 calls about cases involving cats and dogs between January 1 and mid-November this year, compared to 259 for the whole of 2009”
What can you do to help keep your dogs safe?
1. When on walks in the city where salt may be used, watch where you are going and attempt to avoid areas that have been heavily salted.
2. Another option is that dog boots are available that your dog can wear that will protect their feet.
3. Never allow your dog to lick or drink from the street or sidewalk, even if it appear to be a fresh clean puddle. It is also best not to let you pet eat snow in a public area.
4. When you get home from a walk, use a warm wet wash cloth to thoroughly wash off your dogs pads to make sure there is nothing on them or stuck in their hair.
In some areas you may be able to find city or park trails that are not treated with salt and or other chemical ice melters. Many of these are the same park trails that you walk on in the summer, thought you initial thought may be that they are buried deep with snow, they are often well used and easy for small dogs to travel on.
Stay Safe!
Quotes from: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1341137/Hundreds-dogs-cats-die-rock-salt-scattered-gritters-big-freeze.html