Pet-friendly ice melts aren’t the same as pet-safe ice melts, and your dogs, cats, and even young children could be at risk with certain products. Let’s look at what a pet-safe ice melt is and what you should avoid when choosing winter products.
The winter months bring a flurry of concerns for pet parents and parents of young children, especially when it comes to choosing the right ice melt. There are plenty of pet-friendly ice melts on the market, but how many of these are safe for your dog, cat, or toddler? You shouldn’t have to choose between slip-free surfaces and the health of your companion animals and little ones, so let’s peel back the layers of marketing terms to uncover what pet-safe ice melts are.
Pet-Friendly vs. Pet-Safe Ice Melts: A Critical Difference
The term pet friendly is often misleading. It implies that a product won’t harm your fur baby, but it’s a vague term without strict regulations backing it. On the other hand, pet safe means a product contains non-toxic ingredients that are harmless to dogs and cats. That means they can walk on it, ingest it, and touch it without any risk of danger. But you can’t say the same for pet-friendly ice melts.
Decoding Misleading Claims About Pet-Friendly Products
Many pet-friendly products on the market use clever marketing to appear safe for dogs and cats, but here’s what they don’t tell you:
The Rounded Crystal Myth: Some brands boast themselves as pet friendly because they round off their ice melt crystals. While they may not be sharp, the chemical composition is what matters. Harsh chemicals can still be present and harm your dog, cat, or child.
The Calcium Chloride Trap: Often found in pet-friendly ice melts, calcium chloride can cause dryness and painful burns on paws, and it’s also a concern if a curious child ingests it. Avoiding sharp edges isn’t enough when the chemical itself is a hazard.
The CMA Story: Brands replacing calcium chloride with calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) claim to be safer. However, while CMA is less corrosive, it can still cause skin irritation and isn’t free of health risks for companion animals and children.
Misusing the Pet-Safe Label: The most concerning are brands incorrectly calling themselves pet safe. A truly pet-safe product must be free of all ingredients that could harm dogs or cats, including CMA, sodium chloride, magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride, etc.
Safe Paw Is the Genuine Pet-Safe Ice Melt
Safe Paw isn’t another pet-friendly product: It’s the original and the only pet-safe and child-safe ice melt on the market because it is:
- Non-toxic and safe: Safe Paw’s patented formula is completely salt-free and chloride-free. It uses a safe glycol admixture, which makes it a non-irritating and non-burning option for dogs, cats, and children.
- Edible and harmless: What sets Safe Paw apart is its edible nature. Safe Paw isn’t just another ice melt—it’s the only ice melt on the market that you can trust to be completely safe, even if kids or animals ingest it. Rigorously tested and proven, Safe Paw ensures unparalleled peace of mind for parents of two- and four-legged kids. If your dog, cat, or young child comes into contact with Safe Paw, there’s no need to worry. Suitable for the most curious pets and toddlers alike, Safe Paw is the epitome of non-toxic safety.
- Certified and trusted: Unlike many self-proclaimed pet-safe products, Safe Paw has undergone rigorous testing to ensure it’s safe for both pets and children. It’s a brand that has earned the trust of veterinarians and pet parents alike.
- Environmentally responsible: Safe Paw not only protects your dogs, cats, and kids, but also the environment. Its eco-friendly formulation is safe for grass, plants, waterways, wildlife, and the planet.
You’re Always Safe with Safe Paw
Your furry friend’s health and safety are paramount. Don’t let misleading labels and hollow claims sway you when it comes to winter products. Choose Safe Paw – the original, certified, and genuinely pet-safe ice melt. It’s a product that cares for your dogs, cats, and kids as much as you do, protecting paws and overall health from harsh winter chemicals.
Animal Wellness is North America’s top natural health and lifestyle magazine for dogs and cats, with a readership of over one million every year. AW features articles by some of the most renowned experts in the pet industry, with topics ranging from diet and health related issues, to articles on training, fitness and emotional well being.
