Winter Road Salt

[Checkers]

Okay... I know the salt that is used on roads and sidewalks in the winter is bad for the dogs feet and makes them burn. I always stop to clean feet off before we come back in the house because of this. Gator has decided that is not nearly enough though. This morning when we went out for our early potty break, he only made it about 20 feet before he jumped off the sidewalk, laid down in the snow and started rotating holding each foot off the ground! I have never seen a dog THAT sensitive to the salt. I felt so bad for him....I climbed up in the snow with him and got him back up on his feet so that the clean snow could get the salt off his pads... then I made sure to only walk him in the snowy grass from then on. Anyone elses dog this sensitive to the salt? After I got him walking on the snow he quickly started walking normal again. This is the second time he has acted like this. Is he just extra sensitive, maybe because he's a puppy and his pads haven't thickened? Should I be looking into trying boots on him? What do you guys think?

[milles2]

Good luck with the boots Cheryl! Fortunately, I haven't yet experienced the dogs reacting so badly to the salt. I don't have sidewalks so I have to walk them on the shoulder of the road and this worries me a lot.

I ordered Muttluks for Tucker last year, they fit fine.... HE HATES THEM. He will walk around for a few seconds then sit down and chew on them to get them off. What I ended up doing was putting the muttluks away and usiing paw wax. I've read about Musher's Secret, a paw wax that helps keep snow and ice from collecting on the pads as well as protecting them from the salt and chemicals used on roads these days. The paw wax I have was picked up at a Petsmart.

I smear some on their paws before we head out then take a warm washcloth when we get back and wipe them off again.

** My puppy sitter sent me an E mail from an organization with cold weather pet tips. They mentioned that salt sometimes not only gets on their paws but, I'm sure all corgis get this too, on their bellies! My two go out for a walk and if it is slushy, it's on their tummies, chests, etc. I never thought of that.

The note said if dogs lick their tummies and underside, they can still ingest the chemicals.

My Vet had her Cavalier King Charles out Sunday for a walk and we ran into them. Her dog had Muttluks on. I asked her how he did and this particular dog didn;t like the cold on his feet and actually did better w/ the muttluks.

[Jespah]

I think it's because his feet haven't developed their thick skin yet. Jemma is one and her feet are still pretty smooth and soft and she is stopping every few feet as well. You can try boots - but the problem is most Corgi's have different size back and front feet - and hate anything on them!!!!

I wear a second pair of thin gloves under my mitts so I can clear the salt from their feet when they stop. It helps keep my fingers from getting too salty, wet and cold. Even then, my fingers are already splitting from the salt drying them out - I tend to go through hand cream like crazy this time of year!

[Dillydoodle]

ok, I am really glad this was posted. I had a situation on this morning's walk with Dillon where i ended up having to carry him home! ( not an easy task). We started our walk, and walked down our salt covered street ( it snowed a whopping 1/2 inch so they had to dump a ton of salt on it ..sigh) Well we got down the street and i picked him up to carry him across the main drag which had even more salt mixed with dirt and sand. I put him down gently on the grass on the otherside of the street. He took one step and his back thigh muscle contracted and cramped up. He could not walk, he started whimpering so i rubbed it and massaged it and he began to walk again just fine, so we continued i figured he was just cramped a bit becuase of the cold. Well we walked a little further and he started lifting his front paw up, and hobbling, then the back leg, then another front leg...it was really bad, so i carried him home, washed his feet, checked for salt or stones or cuts and then dried him off, gave him a full body massage and he was perfectly fine. I dont know if this is salt related or if this is that he was getting leg cramps - he did not drink a lot of water yesterday and i know in people low potassium or dehydration can cause cramping muscles, so i gave him a 1/3 of a banana and had him drink some water. What do you guys think? Dillon has tough toe pads from our daily walks so it cant be that...

oh and Susan, i got the muttluks and dillon hates them - he doesnt try to chew them, he just trips over his front feet ( he is a front foot dragger) so he never wears them, maybe i will try taking him for another walk with his boots on...
Emilie

[milles2]

Emilie:

That's interesting that you think he got a cramp.

On three differnt occasions since last summer, Tucker would be playing and suddenly be limping. The first time I thought maybe he stepped on a bee. I couldn't see anything anywhere. Usually he's running on grass. It passes within 20 miniutes to 1/2 hour. Then he's fine??????

I never thought of a cramp. Tuck does not drink enough water as compared to other dogs.

[Jespah]

It may well have been the salt Em. Not only does it burn - but it is very sharp, so he could have yanked his foot up quickly because it was sharp and maybe just gave himself a cramp because of that.

Do you know how to check him for hydration?

[Dillydoodle]

sounds like a leg cramp to me... poor Tucker! they hurt!

With dillon , i told my husband what happened and now he wonders if maybe the salt was burning his feet and he would lift them up fast and get a cramp...does that sound reasonable? what do you all think of that? I have only seen this happen to him two times before , last winter...
Emilie

[corgimom]

Cheryl

If you can, get some Musher's secret - I use it on Cody and it not only keeps his pads soft, but it protects them from the elements, and doesn't stain carpet. You would only have to apply it maybe once or twice a week.

[Fluffypants]

Just try to do it at a time when he will be too distracted to lick it off (like right before a walk or before you give him a yummy, long-lasting chewy / bone). If I don't distract her, Jackie will just lick her paws all night!!!

[Dillydoodle]

Deb, It must be sharp on his toes, and the salt they used this time are the size of peas! rediculous when you consider we had 1/2 inch of light snow. I am sure i know how to check hydration for a cat but not as sure with a dog- is it the same ways- pull on the skin on the neck and see if it snaps back to place quickly or if it just stays up that way a long time, second is to look at the gums and feel them, they should feel slick and be pink. and the third way would be color of the urine, darker it is , more dehydrated they are - is that how you check? let me know if i got it or if there is something else i should be looking at ...

thanks
Emilie

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by Checkers

Okay... I know the salt that is used on roads and sidewalks in the winter is bad for the dogs feet and makes them burn. I always stop to clean feet off before we come back in the house because of this. Gator has decided that is not nearly enough though. This morning when we went out for our early potty break, he only made it about 20 feet before he jumped off the sidewalk, laid down in the snow and started rotating holding each foot off the ground! I have never seen a dog THAT sensitive to the salt.

No, I don't think he needs boots, as you said it's most likely because his pads haven't toughened up enough yet. Just try to walk him where there is less salt or try the Musher's Secret on his paws.

I've noticed with mine that when we use salt on the stairs (which face north ) they will limp on a foot or two for a minute or two. Usually this is if the salt is fairly fresh. I think it's two things, the salt is sharp (like stepping on a rock) and it makes the snow/ice colder while it melts it. Kind of like when you use salt in an ice cream maker. Once it's wiped off or their feet warm up they are fine again.

Peggy

[ChloeLouise]

Emilie, How cold was it when you were out with Dillon and he hobbled and limped? When the temperature dips below 15 degrees (F) I need to be very cautious with ChloeLouise - it seems that the snow is too cold and causes her a lot of discomfort, making her pick up her paws and even to sit down and slump over! She can't seem to go potty quickly enough and by the time she is done I have had to carry her in to the house. And this is just out in the yard - not even on the road!! I have also worried about the effects of road chemicals on Chloe's paws - glad to see this concern addressed here. I will keep a towel by the door now!

[Dillydoodle]

It was 20 degrees out. The sad thing is that it was 11 degrees with wind last week but no snow or salt on the ground and he was fine, skipping along like the happy corgi butt he is. Well i tested him twice yesterday once it was 30 out and the other time it was 24 degrees out and he was running in our yard only ( not on the street where they have dumped all this salt) and he was running full speed ahead and playing , turning on a dime, no issues whatsoever. I am convinced that it has everything to so with the salt. I will know for sure as i will be walking him again today ( or attepmting to) the difference will be that i will SLATHER feet in mushers secret before we walk ( i would try his muttluks again but he hates them and they fall off mid walk so they are useless...so much for boots!) I am praying i can find a clear enough path down the street away from the HUGE mountains of salt they poured. I am also going to our association ( we live in a housing development where we have an association) and I am going to raise heck with them about the quantity of salt poured for 1/2 inch of snow. I talked to two of my dog owning neighbors last night and they were as upset as i was about it ...not only that but the salt is bad for grass and trees and everything else... I would rather they use dirt...i can handle a dirty dog .

Emilie

[milles2]

And road chemicals is the right word. I was watching a news segment about 3 years ago with a highway crew talking about what they use to treat the surface of roads. I think salt is the least of the problem. They have to coat the roads with something that will not only melt the ice and snow but actually stick around. Sure don't want our corgi pack licking that stuff!

[Fluffypants]

You are right about that Susan! I keep a spray bottle of water & a towel by the door to clean Jackie's feet when we come inside. I don't want her ingesting that mess!

Good luck Emilie - let us know how he does.