Chemical
De-Icing Salt and Grit
Contact a vet if a large amount was licked or if wobbliness or seizures develop; most paw-licking exposure is mild but worth watching.
ModerateDogsCatsWildlife
What to do right now
- 1.Wash and dry paws thoroughly after walks in gritted areas
- 2.Offer fresh water to dilute any salt swallowed
- 3.Phone your vet if vomiting, weakness or unsteadiness appears
Symptoms
- Excessive thirst and urination
- Vomiting
- Paw irritation or cracking
- Weakness or wobbliness in severe cases
- Seizures with very large ingestions
Details
- Category
- Chemical
- Toxicity
- Moderate
- Species affected
- Dogs, Cats, Wildlife
- Routes of exposure
- Licking salt from paws after a walk, or eating snow contaminated with rock salt
- Urgency
- Contact a vet if a large amount was licked or if wobbliness or seizures develop; most paw-licking exposure is mild but worth watching.
Veterinary treatment
Large ingestions cause hypernatraemia, which needs to be corrected gradually under veterinary supervision to avoid dangerous shifts in brain fluid. Pet-safe, chloride-free de-icers are a safer choice where available.