Winter Paw Care for Dogs: Grit, Rock Salt & Antifreeze
Road grit and rock salt can get caught between your dog's pads, irritate the skin, and cause stomach upsets if your dog licks it off. Swallowing rock salt can cause thirst, vomiting and lethargy, and in severe cases more serious problems. After a walk on gritted pavements, rinse your dog's paws with plain water, dry them well, and check between the toes. Antifreeze is a much bigger danger: if you think your dog has licked any, contact your vet immediately, even if they seem well.
Why Grit and Rock Salt Are a Problem for Paws
Councils spread a mix of salt and grit on roads and pavements to stop ice forming. Your dog walks straight through it, and it ends up in the fur between the toes and on the pads. According to the PDSA, grit and salt can get stuck between pads, irritate the skin, and upset your dog's stomach if licked or eaten. The RSPCA notes that eating rock salt can cause thirst, vomiting and lethargy, and in severe cases convulsions and kidney damage.
The main risk is your dog licking it off once you're home, which is why cleaning paws soon after the walk matters more than anything else.
Your After-Walk Paw Routine
After every gritted or muddy walk
- Rinse paws with plain, lukewarm water to wash off salt and grit before your dog can lick it
- Get between the toes and under the nails, where grit and small stones collect
- Wipe the legs and belly too, as salty spray and mud splash up on wet roads
- Dry thoroughly,including between the toes, so the skin doesn't stay damp
- Check the pads for cuts, cracks, redness or anything lodged between the toes
Before the Walk: Protecting Paws
A few simple habits make winter walks easier on paws:
Winter paw protection
- Trim the fur between the pads. Less fur means fewer painful ice balls and less grit getting trapped
- Keep claws trimmed. Regular trims of paw fur and claws help prevent dry, cracked skin on the feet
- Avoid gritted areas where you can. Grass verges and parks are often a better choice than freshly gritted pavements
- Try dog boots if your dog will wear them. They keep salt, grit and antifreeze off the pads
- Use a pet-safe paw balm to help stop pads drying and cracking
Antifreeze: The Winter Danger to Know About
Many antifreeze, de-icer and screen wash products contain ethylene glycol, which is highly toxic to dogs and can cause fatal kidney damage. It tastes sweet, so dogs may lap up a spill on a driveway or road, or lick it off their paws later. Signs can include vomiting, appearing drunk or wobbly, drinking more, seizures and collapse.
If you think your dog has licked or walked through antifreeze, contact your vet straight away. Don't wait for symptoms. Treatment works best when it starts early. At home, choose products without ethylene glycol where possible, store them out of reach, and clean up any spills thoroughly.
Dry and Cracked Pads
Cold weather, wet ground and salt can leave pads dry and cracked. Signs include visible cracks, licking or chewing the feet, limping, or holding a paw up. Wiping paws after walks, keeping fur and nails trimmed, and a pet-safe balm can help. If your dog is limping, a pad is bleeding, or the problem keeps coming back, see your vet.
Mud, Sores and When to See a Vet
Muddy winter walks are part of life with a dog, and most of the time a good wash is all that's needed. Very occasionally, dogs walked in wet, muddy areas develop Alabama rot, a rare but serious disease that can cause unexplained sores or swelling, often on the lower legs and paws. Cleaning the mud off makes it easier to spot anything unusual. If you notice a sore, ulcer or swelling you can't explain, contact your vet promptly.
A Quick Paw and Leg Rinse After Your Walk
Rinsing grit and mud off at home in winter usually means a cold tap or a bucket by the back door. At our self-service dog wash in Cardiff you can rinse your dog's paws, legs and belly in warm water, or give them a full wash, then use our high-velocity dryers so they go home dry. No booking is needed, and we're open 8am to 8pm every day.
Gritty, muddy paws? Rinse and dry in Llanishen, open 7 daysFor washing and drying in cold weather more generally, see our guide to washing your dog in winter. Regular post-walk washers can save with our memberships.