Melting Snow Causes Pet Safety Concerns

DULUTH-Local vets say there's a concern for your pets with all the puddles, salt, and melting snow we're seeing.

The melting snow could contain chemicals that would be harmful for your pet to swallow.

Plus, there's the possibility of contamination from leaky cars or even wild animals.

They could carry infectious organisms in their urine, which can leak into the puddles.

Consuming a lot of these can be dangerous, but the chemicals are typically diluted by the water, so some intake shouldn't be too harmful.

You should also be aware of "garbage gut."

Dogs will eat the garbage, or even dead animal carcass, that's been under the snow all winter and get sick.

So it's important to make sure you're paying attention to what's in your yard once the snow melts, and not zoning out when you're taking your dog for a walk.

It's also a good idea to clean your pet's paws when they come inside so the road salt doesn't get ingested or irritate them.