Deicing Salt

[brooklyn_cairn]

The deicing salt that the city uses to melt the snow on our sidewalks seems to be bothering Mr. Bo

[jimnconnie]

I just wipe our dogs' paws off with a damp cloth if they've been through a lot of salt on the sidewalk. There are products available for their paws that you can use before and after walks. I use a cream that I got at Petsmart or Petco, but you could just use vaseline, or mineral oil too. There are some Disposable Boots available that sound good, but I haven't tried them yet, maybe next year.

[sheila and Misty]

The deicing salt that the city uses to melt the snow on our sidewalks seems to be bothering Mr. Bo

[Kramersmom]

Living in Chicago and all the salt the snow plows dump is a mess. I was told the salt burns there paws, I would think it stings.

I wash Kramers paws off with luke warm water. I let his paws soak for a few minutes so the salt washes out and do check in between the pads too.

Kramer and boots? Never. He would rather hurt than put those boots on.

[sanford]

I use an ointment called "Musher's Secret" , available in many pet supply stores. It doesn't stain carpets or floors and works very well to protect paws on the city streets.

[Karen]

My guys are in pain when they come into contact with the salt and they start limping or quit walking and sit down so I have to pick them up and carry them. Mac has screamed when I touched his foot trying to warm it up and wipe the salt off. I've felt the effect myself when cleaning gutters in the cold and getting salt on my wet hand. To say it hurts doesn't begin to describe how bad it feels.

I would rinse the paws off or use a wet cloth (not just dry) to clean their paws after the walk. They'll eventually wipe the salt residue on the carpets or lick it off.

I use boots on my guys and they understand that they help. They don't love wearing them, and I only use them for really cold days (below 15 or so) or at my previous house where the city heavily salted all the time. If a boot comes off, they'll usually slow down or raise a paw so I can put it on again.

Karen