The Best Pet-Friendly Ice Melts in the Hudson Valley

With record-setting cold temperatures in New York this past weekend, it doesn't seem like snow and ice are going anywhere just yet. While we need to keep ourselves safe by de-icing slippery walkways and roads, we need to keep our pets safe, too.

According to the ASCPA, most ice melts contains some sort of chloride, and this can be a problem for our pets. Dogs licking their paws after being outside, or even eating the salted snow or ice (my dog Arthur loves to lick ice), can lead to several unfortunate complications.

Dangers of Ice-Melt Products for Pets

While it shouldn't be life-threatening, eating salt can lead to digestive issues on both ends of your pet. Vomiting, diarrhea, or even mouth ulcers are possible. If there is a large ingestion, or they start to snack directly out of the salt bag, dehydration and even seizures are a possibility.  So, how do we avoid both hurting our little buddies AND breaking ourselves with an ice-related fall at the same time? Pretty easily, it turns out.

Pet-Safe Ice Melts in the Hudson Valley

The answer: pet-safe ice melt. Using either magnesium chloride or a naturally occurring compound called urea, companies can now provide us with a solution that works for people and animals. You can of course order online, but if you're like me and like to keep your money local, here's where you can pick some up today in the Hudson Valley.

Petsmart

Morton, the same company that makes edible salt, provides a pet-friendly ice melt as well, and you can buy in-store at several Hudson Valley locations:

Newburgh: 156 Old Ltl Britain Rd

Poughkeepsie: 2534 South Road

Middletown: 88 Dunning Rd Ste 25

Kingston: 501 Frank Sottile Blvd

Home Depot

Road Runner reminds me of my slip-and-fall... maybe that's who set the trap for me. Luckily they also provide a melting solution. This pet-safe option is available in-store at several locations:

Newburgh: 1220 Route 300

Fishkill: 450 State Route 9

Wappingers Falls: 1570 Route 9

Wallkill (but actually in Middletown): 474 Route 211 East

Walmart

Everyone is getting in on the action, even Walmart. You can pick up Snow Joe in-person at these locations:

Fishkill Supercenter: 26 W Merritt Blvd, Fishkill

Monroe Supercenter: 288 Larkin Dr, Monroe

If you think your pet has had an unsafe salt snack, call your vet or the Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435