What’s the Best Ice Melt Safe for Pets?

By: Dom Naish
TopDogTips.com

Winter is usually fun for dogs, but cold weather also means that we as owners need to make some adjustments. Icy patios and driveways can be dangerous for pets and humans alike, but so are some ice melters. Ridding driveways from ice is necessary, but certain ice melts contain chemicals that can be harmful to animals. We’ve picked the best ice melt safe for pets to a certain extent.
Please note that there is no such thing as 100% pet-friendly ice melt. In order to melt the ice, these products contain compounds that should not be consumed, but dogs being dogs, they may lick the stuff. However, some ice melts are safer than others.

For the uninitiated, ice melting products may often be called by different names. They are most commonly called rock salt, as they contain sodium chloride which is what we know as salt. This compound isn’t the worst for dogs, but it’s better to avoid it. However, other chemicals in regular not pet-friendly anti-icing products can be even more dangerous.

These are hazardous for dogs chemicals that can often be found in de-icing products:

• Magnesium chloride
• Potassium chloride
• Calcium magnesium acetate
• Calcium chloride
• Calcium carbonate

Because this is a highly unregulated industry, some rock salt or anti-icing products claim to be safe for pets when they actually aren’t. Chemicals in these ice melts can eat away at the pads of your dog’s paws or cause chemicals burns on his pads and his feet skin.

Below, we compare these five pet safe ice melts that can be used with dogs and cats:

* Click on the pet safe ice melter for more information and prices. Alternatively, scroll down below for more details.

How to use ice melt products with dogs

There are a few key things you must do in order to use ice melting products this winter where you don’t have to worry about harming your dog:

1. Use a non-toxic pet-friendly ice melts and anti-icing products;
2. Clean your dog’s paws after they get in contact with the product;
3. Or you can use dog booties for additional protection of your Fido’s paws;
4. Be aware of the area and make sure you pet doesn’t consume the actual product.

Finally, do pay close attention to the ingredients list listed on the packaging of pet-
friendly best ice melt safe for pets. Do more research before making your purchase to ensure that the product you choose is 100% safe for pets and the company is reputable.

What’s the Best Ice Melt Safe for Pets?
5 Pet-friendly Options for Dogs and Cats Alike

1. Safe Paw Ice Melter

Safe Paw Ice Melter comes in concentrated pellets that can cover twice the capacity of rock salt with greater results. It is non-toxic and perfectly safe for humans and pets. It will not damage brick, concrete, stone, or plants. It has a timed-release feature which prevents re-icing up to 3 days after application.

The main ingredients include carbonyl diamine and glycol. These blue ice melt pellets are easy to spot on ice. The 35-pound pail has a handle which makes it convenient to carry around.

It works great, say users who have personally felt the product’s impact on their pets. It affords better traction on thick ice and helps break the ice layer so that it’s easier to shovel and scoop. More importantly, Safe Paw Ice Melter doesn’t hurt or burn the pets’ paws and skin. They’re safe even when accidentally ingested in small amounts.

One minor thing, though, the ice melt leaves a dirty residue that can get caught on shoes and paws, and on to floors. Though quite expensive, this product is well-appreciated because it does what it’s designed to do, which is melt ice. At the same time, it will afford you the peace of mind that it does not endanger the children and pets that frequent your pathways and sidewalks, or cause damage to the surfaces and vegetation in your surroundings.

2. Safe Paw Non-Toxic Ice Melter Pet Safe

This is the same product as above, but it is an 8-pounder, and it is packaged in a very handy plastic jug. This product from Safe Paw delivers the same potency on ice with the timed-release formulation for longer staying power on the surface area. It has the same non-toxic feature which makes it safe for children and pets playing on the icy surface.

It is safe to use on ice layers above concrete or brick, since the pellets will not react with these surfaces or cause damage to them. These blue ice melters contain the same components of carbonyl diamine and glycol admixture.

This 8-pound version (packed in a durable translucent plastic jug) has caught the attention of buyers because it’s way lighter than its 35-lb counterpart. It’s easier to carry than the pail when moving around to spread the stuff. Its handle makes for a comfortable and secure grip. Because of the smaller size and quantity, Safe Paw Non-Toxic Ice Melter Pet Safe can be had at a lower cost without necessarily compromising quality. It does not cause burns or dryness on dogs’ paws, irritations on the mouth, or gastrointestinal and respiratory issues.

This is a great alternative to the pail especially for those who may have a smaller area that needs ice melting. It melts the ice while keeping the ground safe for pets. You don’t need to apply it heavily. A thinly spread layer does the trick. For really thick ice, this ice melter may not be able to effectively melt the ice. Instead, it improves traction on the surface which is still highly beneficial to people and pets.

3. Qik Joe Safe Pet Ice Melter

Not only is this product an effective de-icing agent, it is also safe for your pets, children, cars and the concrete surfaces they come in contact with. The main ingredient in this product from Qik Joe is propylene glycol which is commonly used in the production of personal health care products, veterinary medicine, and food. This antifreeze is environmentally friendly and is the safer alternative to rock salt.

This is one of the best ice melt safe for pets, as it is non-corrosive and does not cause burns or irritations to humans or animals. This ice melter definitely cuts through ice around 1-inch thick and works fast according to users. For thicker ice or for solid ice layers which this antifreeze could not cut through, it roughens the surface to provide better traction.

What’s more, this formulation prevents further ice buildup or rebonding. While others observed that rock salt acts faster, they still prefer this for their peace of mind. With Quick Joe Safe Pet Ice Melter, they’re assured that their family and pets are safe both from icy sidewalks and toxic components.

This is a highly recommended ice melter for icy areas frequented by humans and pets, such as parking spaces, sidewalks and driveways. Propylene acts by lowering the freezing point of ice. This effectively breaks ice sheets and prevents rebonding of snow and ice. An added bonus is that this ice melter does not leave any residue which can be quite messy.

4. Natural Rapport Ice Melt

Ice Melt from Natural Rapport is unforgiving on ice yet gentle on pets and humans. It is mainly made of magnesium calcium acetate. It does not cause burns or irritations on pets or humans. An organic ingredient is added in the preparation of this product to reduce corrosion. It is sold in a 10-pound easy-shake plastic bottle for convenient application.

The de-icing pellets can be applied before the downpour of snow to prevent bonding of ice to the surface and to make shoveling easier. It is USA-made, and users can’t say enough how much they depend on this product for worry-free winters. It’s their secret weapon to keeping their patios and sidewalks safe for humans and animals to tread on even during heavy ice buildups.

Natural Rapport Ice Melt is relatively cheaper than other brands and definitely works as hard as the harsher kind containing rock salt. This ice melter keeps pathways ice-free and safe, and it does a lot for pet owners to be assured that their pets are safe, too. You can enjoy winters and the snow and ice they bring as long as you have this ice melt to take care of icy pavements and to ensure that pets are not harmed while doing this.

One consumer noted that she was disappointed that the packaging says it is “safer” for pets and not actually “safe for pets.” This ice melter is easy to use, and it works right away. It works even when used sparingly, and actually keeps on working after some time. It’s also not messy unlike other best ice melt safe for pets products. Overall, it’s a safe and economical way of enjoying the winter season.

5. Morton Safe-T-Pet Snow & Ice Melt

Veterinarians developed Morton Safe-T-Pet snow and ice melt, and foremost in their minds was the welfare of animals. Unlike rock salt, Morton Safe-T-Pet is an anti-freeze that does not contain salts or chlorides.

Instead, it uses urea or carbamide to act on the ice. Urea is considered the safer ingredient compared to potassium chloride, sodium chloride, magnesium chloride and calcium salts. Buyers were happy to say that this ice-melter is indeed safe for their pets. It has absolutely no ill effects on animals.

Pet owners who purchased this product found the blue color very helpful, too. The pellets are very visible against snow and ice, so it’s quite easy to see which areas need to be reapplied with more pellets. They also agree that Morton Safe-T-Pet Snow & Ice Melt solves the issues of dangerously slick ice surfaces by quickly melting them or improving traction. However, there are some issues of slight effects on vegetation and concrete.

Harsher formulations may cause gastrointestinal disturbances, dermal irritations, respiratory issues and other toxicities. This best ice melt safe for pets may have some effect to certain plants, but it’s definitely safer for humans and animals than other ice melts using chloride- and salt-based formulations. When correctly applied, there’s no reason why the Morton Safe-T-Pet ice melt won’t work and be safe for all of the members of your family.