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🐶 Chomp Treats, Not Snow

While allowing your dog to eat snow or ice during winter might seem harmless, it can pose several risks to its health and well-being. Snow often contains hidden dangers, such as chemicals, road salt, antifreeze, or foreign objects that can be toxic or harmful if ingested.

Additionally, consuming snow can lead to stomach irritation, snow gastritis, hypothermia, or even frostbite on the mouth and tongue. While it may be tempting to let your dog enjoy a winter snack, understanding the potential dangers of eating snow and ice is crucial for keeping them safe and healthy during the colder months.

Sit & Stay Pro Tip — Keeping the Snow on the Ground and Not In Your Pup’s Tummy

Especially during a pup’s first snowy winter, it can feel cruel not to let them eat the newly discovered snow. After all, who among us hasn’t caught snowflakes on their tongue? Well, for pups, the snow isn’t freshly falling from the sky. It’s been sitting around on the ground, picking up all kinds of yuck.

Although we don’t want to ruin our pups’ fun, we do need to look out for them! Here are some ways to keep your pup from eating snow or ice on your walks. Together, we can keep the snow on the ground rather than on their sensitive dog tummies.

• Use a Well-Fitting Muzzle: A basket-style muzzle can prevent your dog from picking up snow while still allowing them to pant and breathe comfortably.

• Keep Your Dog Distracted: Bring toys or treats to focus their attention away from the snow. Reward them for walking calmly without attempting to eat it.

• Avoid Problem Areas: Avoid sidewalks, driveways, and roads heavily treated with de-icing agents or chemicals.

• Train a “Leave It” Command: Teaching your dog this command can help you redirect its attention when it is tempted to eat something it shouldn’t. This is helpful in the snowy season and any other time of year too!

• Stay Vigilant: Watch your dog during walks, especially in areas with fresh snow or ice.

What to Do If Your Dog Eats Snow or Ice

Contact your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your dog has ingested snow containing harmful substances or notice symptoms like vomiting, lethargy, or drooling. Quick action can prevent a minor incident from becoming a serious health issue.

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Dog Food and Supplement Recalls

Here are the recent recalls and advisories:

• Blue Ridge Beef - Puppy Mix for potential salmonella.

• Hollywood Feed - Carolina Made Chicken Chips Dog Treats for potential salmonella.

• Gaines Family Farmstead - Chicken Chips Dog Treats for potential salmonella.

• ANSWERS - All beef and chicken dog foods for potential listeria and salmonella.

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Vet Recommendation — What Eating Snow May Mean

Sometimes, dogs snacking on snow doesn’t mean anything. Unfortunately, too much of it can also indicate something more sinister. Dogs chowing down on snow can indicate kidney issues. It can also indicate that your pup isn’t getting enough fresh water at home, so they’re trying to seek it out with snow. So keep an eye on those pups when snow falls!

Treats

• 🐶 Reporters Save Pups: Read all about how these CBS journalists saved some dogs from the fires in Palisades.

• ✍️ Curated dog content: I Love Every Dog creates adorable, heartwarming, and real (not AI) daily content about dogs, like this post about a pup who doesn’t want his walks to end!

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