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If you witnessed or strongly suspect your pet ingested ice melt, this is considered an \u201cORANGE\u201d \u2013 or urgent case \u2013 on our Fast Track Triage system. We recommend calling ASPCA Animal Poison Control at 888-426-4435 for help determining if your pet consumed a toxic amount and for guidance on what to do next. If veterinary care is advised, call your family veterinarian or local animal emergency hospital ahead of your arrival.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n As Minnesota gets more snow and ice this winter, ice melt toxicity becomes an increased risk for dogs and outdoor cats. Ice melts are made up of various types of salt, with the most common being sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride, and magnesium chloride. The symptoms and severity of this toxin can vary, so it\u2019s important for pet parents to understand the potential dangers and know what to do next if their pet does eat ice melt.<\/p>\n Often, pets are exposed to ice melt by:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0The most common clinical signs for ice melt ingestion include:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Depending on the amount <\/span>eaten and<\/span> the <\/span>active ingredient in the ice melt<\/span>, the electrolytes and minerals in the pet\u2019s blood can be altered. This can lead to much more serious signs, including:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s<\/span> important to note that ice melts advertised as \u201cpet-friendly\u201d or \u201cpet-safe\u201d typically <\/span>contain<\/span> urea or magnesium chloride. These ice melts <\/span>aren\u2019t<\/span> non-toxic to pets \u2013 <\/span>they\u2019re<\/span> just <\/span>unl<\/span>ikely to cause severe signs <\/span>like the <\/span>non<\/span>-\u201c<\/span>pet-friendly\u201d products. If your pet eats too much of a \u201cpet-friendly\u201d ice melt, they can still experience gastrointestinal upset including vomiting, diarrhea, and decreased appetite<\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The amount of the active ingredient is typically not listed on the package and varies<\/span>,<\/span> depending on the manufacturer. If you <\/span>witness<\/span> your pet eat<\/span>ing<\/span> ice melt, call the <\/span><\/span>ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center<\/span><\/span><\/a> at <\/span>(888-426-4435) or <\/span><\/span>Pet Poison Helpline<\/span><\/span><\/a> at<\/span> (800-213-6680). <\/span>There is a fee for the call. Either service<\/span> will <\/span>determine<\/span> if your pet consumed a toxic amount of ice melt and next steps. If they recommend seeking veterinary care, <\/span>document<\/span> your pet\u2019s case number so the poison helpline can relay important toxicity information<\/span> to your veterinary team<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When seeking veterinary care, know that t<\/span>reatment <\/span>options will vary – <\/span>depending on your pet\u2019s specific signs and <\/span>blood work<\/span> changes. When signs are severe, hospitalization is often recommended. If the exposure was recent, decontamination by inducing vomiting may be <\/span>an option<\/span>. Once signs have started, treatment typically involves supportive care, rehydration, and correction of blood electrolyte or mineral abnormalities.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In addition to being toxic, ice melt exposure <\/span>can be irritating <\/span>to <\/span>your pet\u2019s<\/span> skin and paw pads<\/span>. You may notice your pet <\/span>licking<\/span> t<\/span>heir feet,<\/span> crack<\/span>ed<\/span> or bleeding paw pads, or acting painful after walking outside or on ice melt.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To keep your pet\u2019s paws safe and to prevent your pet from eating ice melt, we recommend the following tips:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We hope you and your pets are now better prepared to take on the winter months and be safe from any ice <\/span>melt<\/span> incidents. If you have questions or concerns about your ice <\/span>melt<\/span>, talk to your family veterinarian for a \u201cpet-friendly\u201d recommendation. Have a safe winter, everyone!<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n More Reading:<\/i>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
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<\/p>\nTypes of Exposure<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Common Signs<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
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\u201cPet-Friendly\u201d Ice Melt<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nWhat <\/span>To Do If Your Pet Eats Ice Melt<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
Treatment<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nBest Ways to Keep Pets Safe<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n
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