Question:
What is the danger of salt in winter for animal paws?

Answer:
Normal amounts of salt contacted during walks posses minimal risk to animals paws.  However some dogs and cats are more sensitive by nature or can have underlying medical conditions (such as pododermatitis) that can cause the pads to be more sensitive.

Pododermatitis is an inflammatory (red, hot, painful) disease that involves the feet of dogs and, less commonly, cats. What can also present a problem a pet licking it’s paws after walks.  This will lead to them ingesting the salt and any additional chemicals and may even sometimes lead to skin infections or obsessive compulsive behaviours.  It is always a good idea to wipe your pet’s paws after a long walk.  

For animals with sensitive paws, winter boots or topical protective creams are readily available and work quite well. It is best to speak with your veterinarian if you feel your pet has sensitive paws just to be certain that no underlying issues are present.