Beware of grit, it could be lethal to your pet!

The cold weather is already upon us here in the UK and; as well as the usual keeping your pet warm on those ice, chilling walks by providing them with a nice, warm coat, you should also get into the habit of rinsing off your pets paws every time they come back from a walk.

As the roads tend to get icey and frosty at this time of the year, as well the higher potential of snow, the gritters will be out in full force in order to keep our roads clear and safe to drive on. Grit, however (although necessary at this time of year), can be highly lethal to your pet. Dogs and cats will walk through  gritted roads when they are out and about during the winter period and, if your pet then licks his paws after his walk, it may just kill him. Consuming rock salt can cause dehydration, liver failure and pancreatitis, while antifreeze (used to defrost windscreens) contains the chemical ethylene glycol, which can be lethal when ingested.

What can we do about this in order to keep our pets safe?
The best thing to do, as stopping walks would be very unfair on your four legged friend, is to rinse off the animals paws every time after a walk. It really is as simple as that.
Cats are a little more tricky as they tend to come and go as they please. If you know your cat walks on streets that will potentially be gritted or where there are a lot of cars parked, the safest option would be to keep him indoors until the weather warms up. He may not be particularly happy about having his outdoor freedom taken away but at least it will potentially save his life! If you do decide to keep your cat indoors, remember that you will need to interact with them much more to keep them well stimulated; and, provide them with plenty of places to climb and scratch so that they are still able to perform all of their natural kitty behaviours!

So, as well as ensuring you keep your pet as warm as possible on those brisk, winter walks also remember to wash his feet down after every walk to ensure he won't end up poisoning himself if he licks his paws. The last thing anyone wants is a loss in the family so close to Christmas!

www.4pawswalkies.co.uk