In winter it is common to see many pet owners playing outside with their dogs, happily enjoying the snow and ice. However, as stated by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), this practice is risky and precautions should be taken, since furry animals could injure the pads and injure themselves with the ice layer that forms on the ground. In addition, falls and falling temperatures also pose a danger to the animal.
On the other hand, the use of antifreeze to melt the ice is also toxic for your pet , since they can damage his skin, his hair and even his stomach in case he gets to ingest it. Be very careful if you go out in the open with your furry on these dates! Of course, be careful also that he does not ingest the salt that is spread on the ground to melt the ice.
Chemicals toxic to dogs
In the case of antifreeze, veterinarians warn that although this product is not the most dangerous for the health of pets, it can cause skin irritations and stomach discomfort. Also, prolonged exposure could cause the dogs’ paws to dry out, crack, burn, or even bleed. If the furry gets to ingest it or taste it from the ground, it may also suffer from vomiting and diarrhea. For this reason, it is very important to monitor the dog at all times when it goes outside and observe that it does not suffer any of these symptoms.
For these reasons, experts advise reducing the use of antifreeze to the recommended amount, cleaning up any chemical residues that may have remained after use. Likewise, it is important to clean the dog’s legs and belly to make sure that there are no remains between its fur or fingers, the most common areas. And, although the entire body of the furry should be checked, greater emphasis should be placed on the fingers of the animal since that is where the symptoms of swelling or inflammation appear.
The danger of ice for pets
In addition to the risk of antifreeze, veterinarians note that ice can cause burns and cuts to the legs of animals. Likewise, between the ice sheets there may be objects that can be dangerous if the furry gets to step on them. Again, we insist from Very Pets on caution when you go out with your dog.
A good option so that your furry does not suffer any risk is to put booties on him. This way you protect your pads both from the cold of ice and from toxic products. In addition, if there is a sharp object on the ground, it will not be embedded. Boots, coat and continue enjoying winter with the best company!
