Road Salt is Toxic to Pets - Saturday, 12 December 2009 As
reluctant as we may feel sometimes, our pets still need to get
outdoors for exercise and fresh air in the cold winter months.
But even as we bundle up to take Fido for a walk, it's important
to be aware of some outdoor hazards, in particular, road salt
and other ice melting products used for de-icing roads and
sidewalks. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council,
about 10 million tons of salt are used on roads in the United
States each year, and that number doesn't include the amount of
salt individuals and businesses use on walkways on private
property. Road salt and ice melting products used for de-icing
roads and sidewalks are an irritant and are increasingly
recognized as a serious environmental toxin. They are described
as a toxic substance as defined by the Canadian Environmental
Protection Act of 1999 and pose a risk to plants, animals, and
the aquatic environment. Most road salt is composed of chloride
combined with sodium, calcium, m