What is that blue stuff, anyway?
Have you been noticing bright blue stuff on the edges of cleared sidewalks and thinking, like me, "that can't be good."
There are several blue-colored ice melt products available, including Blue Heat Deicer, which, according to the manufacturer, Provincial Paper & Packaging Ltd., "will not harm vegetation and is safer [than conventional road salt or rock salt] for people and pets when properly applied," and Sodium Chloride based Winter Storm® Blue, "available only to the Janitorial/Sanitation" trades, from North American Salt Company, which, they say, "won?t irritate or burn the skin," and which "contains Potassium Chloride, which is not only an effective ice melting ingredient, but is also a natural fertilizer for grass, trees and other vegetation."
According to Gaia Enterprises Inc., the manufacturer of the green-colored Safe Paw?,
rock salt and other salt-based ice melters contain sodium chloride or potassium chloride which can heat up to 175 degrees when exposed to water, ice and low temperatures. . . . Exposure [to] or digesting these salt compounds can cause health problems for pets and children. . . .
For dogs, in particular, exposure to salt and salt-based ice melt products can mean an unhealthy winter and unplanned trips to the vet's office or animal hospital. The problem is that when dogs are let out they frolic and eat the snow and many of the ice melt products sit on the surface of the ice. Dogs either ingest these ice melt pellets or they get frozen into their paws. Later when they are inside with higher temperatures the ice melts and dogs begin to lick their paws.
In addition to preventing your pet from ingesting rock salt and other dangerous chemicals, special attention should be given to your pet's paws:
Among their guidelines for keeping pets safe and healthy in the winter, the Humane Society of the United States advises that pet owners "wipe the feet with a damp towel before your pet licks them and irritates his/her mouth."
Sandy Moyer, Dogs Editor at BellaOnline, The Voice of Women! recommends that dog owners "inspect paws after walking in areas treated with salt and other de-icers. Check between toes and examine the foot pads for cracks in the skin. Look closely at any inflamed areas for splinters, embedded gravel, etc."