Winter is a harsh time of year for our pets. Not only because of the low temperatures and snow, but dangerous chemicals can cause problems as well.

Many people use chemical based products to help clear driveways and sidewalks of snow. There are two basic types of ice melt products that use any of these active ingredients: sodium chloride, potassium chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, and urea products.

The first thing to be aware of with your pets and these products is that labels can be misleading. Just because it shows a pet on the label does not mean it is pet safe. Urea products tend to be less effective ice melters than the chloride products, but they are much safer around pets.

The ingestion of ice melters show multiple signs in our pets. The most common type of signs include drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, excessive thirst, and weakness. Occasionally the ingestion of ice melters can lead to some very serious problems, such as disorientation, cardiac abnormalities, seizures, comatose, and sometimes even death.

It is far safer to avoid ice melt products altogether. Using sand, grit or even cat litter on areas where traction is important, clearly prevents toxin exposure.

Even if you aren't sure there has been any exposure, it is always best to clean your dog's feet. This also gives you a chance to see if twigs, ice or other objects have gotten caught between the pads or webs of the feet. Since pets also like to roll around outside, wiping down their coat is also important.