Winter Hazards: Ice-Melt Salt, Antifreeze and Cold-Weather Care
Antifreeze is an emergency
Ethylene glycol antifreeze tastes sweet and even a small puddle licked off a garage floor can destroy a pet's kidneys. Signs start with 'drunken' wobbling. Treatment only works in the first hours — any suspected exposure means an immediate vet trip.
Salt and paws
Ice-melt salts burn paw pads and cause vomiting when licked off. Wipe paws with a damp towel after every winter walk, consider booties or paw balm, and use pet-safe ice melt on your own property.
Cold tolerance is individual
Huskies laugh at snow; greyhounds, chihuahuas, puppies and seniors shiver at 45°F. Coats and sweaters aren't vanity for lean, short-haired dogs. If it's too cold for you to stand still comfortably, keep walks brisk and short.
Cats and cars
Outdoor and stray cats curl up in warm engine bays. A couple of bangs on the hood before starting the car on cold mornings takes two seconds and has saved many lives.
Something with their name on it
We press your pet’s name onto a small paw print keychain by hand, in one of ten colours, and post it anywhere in South Africa. R299 plus R73 delivery, or two for R449 delivered free.
See the keychain →