The road gritters are out in force and householders are using salt on pathways to prevent slips and skids.
But some family members may not respond so well to these winter safety measures.
Because road salt and grit can pose a health risk to our pets including irritated paws and posioning.
Problems can be much more serious if the salt becomes injested by licking it or cleaning paws.
The risks include:
- toxic response
- vomiting
- dehydration
- diarrhoea
- vomiting
- lethargy
- convulsions
- kidney damage
The USPCA advises that pet owners should watch their animals carefully when they are in public places in case the animals try to lick the salt.
And they advice wiping pets’ paws clean and dry after they have been outside to remove residual salt.
They also say it is important to check for redness between animals’ toes and for cracks in paw pads.
And they urge pet owners to consulted a vet immediately they suspected thair animal has ingested a toxic substance.
An RSPCA spokesperson said: "If there is heavy gritting where dogs are being walked it could be advisable to protect pets’ paws.
"Pet paws are sensitive to sand, ice, snow and all chemical ice melting products. Ice balls can form in the fur between dogs’ toes.
"The ice balls can make walking uncomfortable and so it is often worth clipping excess fur from dogs’ feet before walking in the snow."
And antifreeze poisoning poses another major risk.
It can often happen as the result of pets licking up the liquid which has spilled from car radiators.
Car owners are advised to clean up any spillages.
The symptoms of antifreeze poisoning include staggering gait, nausea, excessive urination and diarrhoea.
