Exploring the Dangers of Road Salt & Dog Paws

Winter brings snow, sledding, and cozy days by the fireplace. But it also brings road salt—a substance that can harm our furry friends.

When the temperature drops, roads and sidewalks are often treated with salt and other de-icers to keep walkways safe and clear. And it certainly stops us humans from slipping. Unfortunately, canines don’t enjoy the same benefits: Salt and dogs’ paws don’t mix.

Many pet owners don’t realize the damaging effects of salt, chemicals, and grit until irritation or injury occurs.

We’ll help you understand the risks of road salt, along with steps to prevent and treat salt-induced paw pains.

Each winter, road salt covers every driveway, parking lot, and path—in other words, it’s everywhere we take our dogs for their walks. This begs the question: Does salt hurt dogs’ paws?

It certainly can.

You see, the salt that humans spread onto roads to keep ice from forming is rarely just salt. Sodium chloride—or NaCl, the same chemical compound found in your salt shaker—is only part of the formula. Other salts, like calcium chloride (CaCl2) and magnesium chloride (MgCl2), may also be present. While they don’t pose any risks to humans, all of these salts can be toxic to dogs.¹

To make matters worse, some brands of road salt or de-icer contain other additives, such as sodium hexacyanoferrate or sugar.² Ideally, these substances should also be kept far from your dog’s paws and mouth. Exposure to road salt—whether it’s made with chemical additives or not—can cause all kinds of unwanted effects.

What Happens When Dogs Walk on Road Salt?

Salted roads won’t always result in canine injury. However, prolonged exposure can lead to a host of problems. Issues that may arise from exposure to salt include:

• Paw irritation – The salts and chemicals in traditional de-icers are known to burn and irritate paw pads, especially in larger amounts. Paws may appear raw or red after a long walk.
• Micro-cuts – Grit and salt crystals are hard, sharp substances. When dogs run, walk, and jump around on salted roads, they’re liable to cut their paws on the abrasive materials. The resulting micro-cuts are painful and may become infected if not properly cleaned.
• Dry pads – Salt is a desiccant, which means it draws in moisture from its surroundings. Dog paws, of course, are naturally moist. That means walking on salt can pull moisture out of the pads, leading to dry, cracked paws.
• Stomach troubles – During outdoor adventures, salt and de-icer can accumulate between the paw pads. When you return home, your pup may start licking its paws in an attempt to remove the lodged materials. Unfortunately, salt ingestion can upset your dog’s stomach. Dogs may also lick the ground while walking, potentially ingesting de-icer chemicals.

It’s not always easy to know if your dog is in distress. Luckily, there are several clear signs of road salt exposure to watch out for. 

After a winter walk, look for symptoms like:

• Redness or inflammation – Inspect the paw pads and spaces between the toes for any visible swelling or rawness. Red patches could indicate salt-related irritation.
• Damaged pad surfaces – Look closely at the the paw pads, gently running a finger over the skin to feel the texture. If you notice cracks, peeling, blisters, or open sores, treat them immediately.
• Changes in gait – Paw pain may cause limping or a reluctance to walk. For dogs who don’t like their paws touched, this is the easiest way to spot signs of salt-induced injuries.
• Increased paw licking – Similarly, excessive licking, biting, or chewing at the paws could indicate damage. See more reasons why your dog is licking its paws excessively. 
• Signs of systemic distress – Salt ingestion shows up in other ways, too. Even a small amount of road salt can cause vomiting, diarrhea, or excessive thirst. Fortunately, these symptoms should be relatively mild unless your dog has consumed a sizable amount of road salt directly from a salt pile or the bag. (Significant salt consumption can lead to mouth and stomach ulcers, which may cause your pet to stop eating or drinking out of discomfort.)

If you notice any severe symptoms, contact a vet right away. For milder issues, you may be able to treat them at home with the right dog care products. However, if they worsen or fail to improve, contact your veterinarian for guidance.

Prevention is better than cure—your best bet is to keep salt-induced paw damage from happening. We’ll share some tips on how to protect your dog’s paws in winter, as well as what to do if your pet’s paws are exposed to road salt.

1. Avoid Salted Areas Wherever Possible

If you live somewhere with cold, icy winters, try to keep road salt and dogs’ paws separate. Use paths or routes less likely to be treated with de-icers, such as:

• Grassy areas
• Forested trails
• Dog parks
• Less-traveled side streets

Be especially careful around road edges, where salt tends to accumulate.

2. Use Protective Booties On Walks

Just like humans, canines can—and should—shield their feet from the elements with protective coverings. We recommend investing in a set of high-quality, waterproof booties. Try different sizes and materials to find booties that fit snugly without chafing.

Note that some dogs aren’t the biggest fans of wearing shoes, so you may need to train your furry friend gradually before winter arrives.

3. Apply Paw Balm or Wax as a Barrier

For those dogs who simply refuse to wear booties, a dog paw balm or similar pet-safe wax is an excellent alternative. By coating your dog’s paw pads in balm before leaving the house, you provide a protective barrier between their skin and the salt.

Best of all, paw balm doubles as a post-walk salve. Once you return home, you can clean your pup’s paws, then reapply the balm to soothe any irritation and seal in moisture.

4. Rinse and Wipe Paws Immediately Post-Walk

Whether you use a paw balm or not, it’s crucial to flush off any salt and chemicals after every walk—even that short trip around the block for their pre-bedtime pee!

Using lukewarm water or gentle pet-safe wipes, gently wash every part of the paw, including the spaces between the toes. After rinsing, be sure to pat the paws dry.

5. Clean and Trim Fur Between Pads

Road salt is especially problematic when it becomes trapped between the toes or paw pads. Large salt crystals can wedge themselves into gaps between pads, while smaller bits of de-icer and grit can clump up and cling to fur.

Trim back any long fur near the bottom of the paws—as well as on the lower legs and tail—to ensure that road salt doesn’t hang on.

6. Use Soothing Treatments After Exposure

If, despite your best efforts, you find paw damage during your daily checks, take action as soon as you can.

For paw pad irritation, you’ll want to apply a gentle wound or pet skin care spray. Vet-approved ointments can help soothe redness or cracked skin while encouraging rapid healing.

In more severe cases, you may need to use protective bandages to shield their paws from further injury. Bandages are a short-term solution and should only be used under veterinary guidance; consider a check-up or a phone call first.

7. Limit Exposure Time

For anyone living in colder climates, salt-filled winter walks are inevitable. The trick to keeping your dog safe is walking strategically to limit exposure time.

Along with avoiding salted areas altogether, some tips for reducing exposure to road salt include:

• Going out before the salt trucks come
• Walking your dog on a leash to exert more control over the route
• Shortening your daily walks when roads are heavily salted

8. Safeguard Yard and Home Surfaces

In the one place you have control over de-icing tactics—your property—you can take steps to safeguard your pet’s paws.

When shopping for de-icers, seek out alternatives that don’t use salt. If you can’t find pet-safe ice-melt solutions, be sure to remove as much salt from your driveway and porch before allowing the dog on these surfaces. Wiping away salt from your shoes before entering the house can also reduce the risk of salt exposure. 

Be sure to keep all de-icers securely closed and stored out of your pet’s reach. Ingesting de-icers can cause health problems for your pet. 

Sources: 

1. ASPCA Pro. Ice Melt Toxicity in Pets. https://www.aspcapro.org/resource/ice-melt-toxicity-pets
2. American Chemistry Council. The Chemistry of Road Salt And How It Works. https://www.americanchemistry.com/chemistry-in-america/news-trends/blog-post/2018/the-chemistry-of-road-salt-and-how-it-works