Winter With Pets in Ontario: Salty Paws, Antifreeze and the Holiday Plants to Keep Out of Reach

The first real snowfall always catches Maya off guard. One December morning in Newmarket, she clipped the leash on Biscuit, the family's cocker spaniel, and headed out with her husband Daniel for a quick loop before work. The sidewalks had been salted overnight. By the time they got home, Biscuit was limping and licking at his front paws, and Pepper, their indoor cat, was batting at the leaves of a brand-new poinsettia someone had dropped off as a housewarming gift.

Nothing serious happened that day. But it was enough for Maya to call our office half laughing, half worried: "Nobody warned us that winter with pets comes with its own checklist."

So here it is. Whether you live in Newmarket, Barrie, Georgina, Whitby or anywhere across South & Central Ontario, these are the winter and holiday hazards worth knowing about, with links to the animal-health organizations we checked.

1. Road salt and ice melt on paws

Salt and other de-icing chemicals on Ontario roads and sidewalks can irritate and even burn your pet's paws, and they can make your pet sick if licked off and swallowed, according to the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society.

What helps:

• Wipe paws and belly after every walk with a damp towel, including between the toes. The ASPCA recommends washing and drying feet and stomach, then checking for cracked pads or redness between the toes.
• Add a barrier before you go. Petroleum jelly or a vet-approved paw balm, or properly fitted dog boots, reduce contact with salt and chemicals. The Ontario SPCA still suggests washing paws afterward so your dog doesn't lick off anything left behind, and says to skip human moisturizers, which can soften pads.
• Trim the fur between the pads on long-haired dogs so ice balls and salt don't cling. If ice balls form, a dip in warm (not hot) water helps loosen them before you towel dry.

For Biscuit, a towel by the front door and a tin of paw balm solved most of the problem in a week.

2. Pet-safe ice melt at home

You can't control what's on the public sidewalk, but you can control your own driveway, steps and walkway. The ASPCA recommends using pet-friendly ice melts whenever possible, and the Ontario SPCA notes that pet-safe salt alternatives are available to buy for use at home.

A few practical tips:

• Look for products labelled pet-safe or pet-friendly, read the label, and use only what you need.
• Store every bag of ice melt, including pet-safe ones, up high and sealed. The ASPCA warns that cold-weather chemicals like ice melts can be dangerous if swallowed.
• Shovel early, so you need less product in the first place.

3. Antifreeze: the sweet-tasting danger in the driveway

This is the one we most want you to remember. Most antifreeze contains ethylene glycol, which the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center describes as highly toxic, affecting the nervous system and kidneys. It tastes sweet, so pets are drawn to it, and only a small amount can be fatal. Early signs can be missed, and pets may be very ill within six to twelve hours.

Signs the ASPCA lists include unsteadiness, vomiting, depression, increased thirst and urination, loss of appetite and seizures. There is an antidote, but treatment needs to start as soon as possible.

How to protect your pets:

• Clean up spills right away. The Ontario SPCA suggests washing a spill away with detergent and water, then wiping it dry. On gravel, scoop up and throw away the affected gravel first.
• Keep pets away when you top up or change coolant, and check under the car for drips before they're back in the garage or driveway.
• Consider a propylene glycol antifreeze. Both the ASPCA and the Ontario SPCA say these are a safer option, though still not something pets should get into.
• Remember the less obvious places. The ASPCA notes ethylene glycol can also turn up in products used to winterize toilets at cottages and vacant homes, snow globes, and the base of some portable basketball hoops. The Ontario SPCA adds that some transmission and brake fluids contain it too.

If you think your pet has swallowed antifreeze, go to your vet or the nearest emergency vet immediately and bring the product packaging with you.

4. Holiday plants to keep out of reach

Pepper's poinsettia turned out to be a teaching moment. Here's what the ASPCA's toxic and non-toxic plant list says about the usual holiday suspects:

• Lilies (especially for cats). The ASPCA says lilies from the Lilium and Hemerocallis species (including Easter, Oriental, stargazer, tiger and day lilies) can be lethal to cats, and even small exposures to the pollen can cause kidney failure. If you have a cat, keep lilies out of the house entirely and check holiday bouquets before they come inside.
• Mistletoe. American mistletoe is listed as toxic to dogs and cats and can cause vomiting and diarrhea, and in rare cases low blood pressure, trouble breathing and a slow heart rate.
• Holly. Holly is listed as toxic to dogs and cats and can cause vomiting, diarrhea and depression.
• Poinsettia. The ASPCA lists it as toxic because its sap irritates the mouth and stomach and can cause vomiting, but notes its toxicity is "generally over-rated." Still worth keeping on a high shelf.

Maya moved the poinsettia to the top of the bookshelf and asked her mom to skip lilies in the Christmas centrepiece this year.

5. Cold-weather walks for dogs (and a few cat tips)

• If it's too cold for you, it's probably too cold for your pet. Both the ASPCA and the Ontario SPCA use that rule of thumb. On bitter days, shorten walks and add indoor play.
• Know your pet. The Ontario SPCA says puppies, seniors and short-coated dogs are more vulnerable to cold and may benefit from a sweater or coat. The ASPCA suggests not shaving dogs down to the skin in winter.
• Keep the leash on in snow. Dogs can lose their scent in snowstorms and get lost. The ASPCA says more dogs go missing in winter than in any other season, so make sure your dog's ID tag is on.
• Don't leave pets alone in the car. Cars cool down quickly in cold weather, and pets can suffer cold stress, frostbite or hypothermia.
• Bang on the hood. Outdoor and community cats sometimes curl up under car hoods for warmth. The Ontario SPCA suggests knocking on the hood or honking before you start the engine.
• Cozy up at home. A warm bed off the floor and away from drafts, fresh water, fewer baths and a humidifier can help with dry, itchy winter skin, per the ASPCA and Ontario SPCA.

In an emergency

If you think your pet has eaten something toxic, call your own vet or the nearest emergency animal hospital right away. You can also call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The ASPCA notes that a consultation fee may apply. Save both numbers in your phone today, before you need them.

Finding a home that works for the whole family, pets included

Maya and Daniel eventually decided they wanted a home with a fenced yard and a mudroom, a place to towel off Biscuit without tracking salt across the hardwood. That's a pretty common wish list for pet owners, and it's one we hear from families across York Region, Simcoe County, Durham and beyond.

If your pets are part of your next move, The Jennifer Jones Team, LPT Realty, Brokerage serves all of South & Central Ontario. Search homes for sale with the yard and layout your crew needs, or book a free home evaluation to see what your current home is worth before you start looking.

<small>This post is general information, not veterinary advice. Always follow your veterinarian's guidance for your own pet.</small>

This is an illustrative story based on common client situations.