What de-icing salt does to paws
Salt and sharp grit irritate the pads. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) also points out that de-icers end up in the stomach when a dog licks its paws afterwards, and recommends wiping paws, legs and belly after every winter walk.
Some cities restrict salt for exactly this kind of reason. Vienna bans it within ten metres of lawns and trees and advises dog owners to rub cream into paws before a walk and wash them afterwards (City of Vienna). Berlin bans de-icers on pavements altogether (berlin.de, as of late September 2026). Wherever you live, a path through the park is often less salty than the pavement outside your door.
After the walk: two minutes at the door
The most useful winter habit happens once you are back. Put an old towel and a bowl of lukewarm water by the door before you set off, and it takes two minutes.
- Dip or rinse each paw, then wipe the legs and belly. That is where salt and slush collect, and where your dog will lick later.
- Check between the toes. If a dog suddenly limps in the snow, it is often a lump of ice caught in the fur. Keeping the hair between the pads short means fewer of them.
- Look at the pads. Cracked or bleeding pads are one for the vet.
- Apply cream again before the next walk. Dog boots only help if they fit well and your dog walks normally in them.
How cold is too cold?
There is no single temperature that applies to every dog. The AVMA names coat, body fat, activity level and health as what decides cold tolerance, and advises shortening walks in very cold weather. Short-haired dogs get cold faster, and so do short-legged ones, because their bellies brush through the snow. Puppies, older dogs and dogs with arthritis, diabetes, or heart, kidney or hormonal conditions cope less well with the cold.
A coat helps as long as it stays dry. A wet one chills more than it warms.
If your dog shivers, whines, slows down or stops, that is enough: head straight back somewhere warm. Frostbite on the ears, tail or paws sometimes only shows a few days later, so if in doubt, see a vet.
Stay off frozen ponds, however solid the ice looks. And because snow covers scents, lost dogs find their way back less easily in winter. A tag on the collar and up-to-date microchip details matter more now than in summer.
Being seen in the dark
From November to February, nearly every morning or evening walk happens in the dark. According to ADAC, the German automobile club, drivers can make out a person in dark clothing from about 25 metres at the earliest, while the braking distance at 50 km/h is already around 28 metres. Light clothing can be seen from 80 metres, reflective material from up to 140.
The same goes for your dog. A light-up collar or a harness with reflective strips makes it visible to cars and bikes. A head torch shows you black ice, and whatever your dog is about to pick up off the ground.
This is not a substitute for an examination. If your dog is still limping after its paws are washed, or an ear, the tail or a paw changes over the next few days, have a vet look at it.
Sources
- AVMA, Cold weather animal safety (cold tolerance, vulnerable dogs, paws, coats, warning signs, frostbite, ice, identification)
- City of Vienna, Richtig Streuen bei Schnee und Eis (advice for dog owners, salt-free zones, in German)
- berlin.de, Verwendung von Auftaumitteln (ban on de-icers, in German)
- ADAC, 23.12.2021, Mehr Sicherheit durch Sichtbarkeit (25, 28, 80 and 140 metres, in German)
All sources last checked on 29 September 2026. No vet has reviewed this text, so it sticks to what the organisations above say and gives no cut-off temperature.
