Winter pet safety: cold, antifreeze, road salt

Written from the sources below on 17 October 2026. How we use sources.

Winter hurts pets in ways summer does not: cold that a coat does not stop, a sweet-tasting liquid on the garage floor, and salt on the sidewalk that ends up on a tongue. This guide covers cold, antifreeze and road salt. The advice comes from the AVMA, the ASPCA and Pet Poison Helpline.

If you think your pet swallowed antifreeze or any other poison, call your vet or ASPCA Poison Control at 888-426-4435, or Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661, right away. The AVMA notes that a fee may apply to the poison lines.

Cold: when to bring pets inside

• The ASPCA says if it is too cold for you, it is probably too cold for your pet, so keep your animals inside.
• The AVMA says it is untrue that dogs and cats resist cold better than people because of their fur. Like people, they can get frostbite and hypothermia, and no pet should be left outside for long periods in below-freezing weather.
• Cold tolerance varies. The AVMA says it depends on the pet's coat, body fat, activity level and health. Short-haired pets feel the cold faster, short-legged pets get cold faster because their bellies touch snow, and very young and very old pets struggle more. So do pets with diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease or hormone problems such as Cushing's disease.
• Arthritic and older pets may slip on snow and ice (AVMA). Shorten walks in very cold weather.
• Give your pet choices. The AVMA says pets move around to find more or less warmth, so offer a few safe places to sleep, and the ASPCA says a bed should be warm, off the floor and out of drafts.
• Neither the AVMA nor the ASPCA gives a temperature cutoff. If you need your pet's limit, the AVMA says to ask your veterinarian.

Signs your pet is too cold

The AVMA says whining, shivering, anxiety, slowing down or stopping, weakness, or looking for warm places to burrow are signs of hypothermia. Get your pet inside quickly. Frostbite is harder to spot and may not show for a few days. If you suspect either, call your vet right away.

Check under your car for cats

The AVMA says a warm vehicle engine can draw outdoor and feral cats, and it can be deadly. Check underneath your car, bang on the hood and honk the horn before you start the engine so any cat leaves.

The AVMA also warns about cold cars. A car cools quickly in winter, like a refrigerator, and can chill a pet fast. Do not leave your pet unattended in the vehicle.

Antifreeze

• The AVMA says even small amounts of antifreeze can be deadly. Clean up spills quickly and keep the containers away from pets.
• The ASPCA says to clean up antifreeze spills thoroughly and to consider products made with propylene glycol instead of ethylene glycol. Pet Poison Helpline notes that many antifreeze products contain ethylene glycol, but not all do.
• VCA Animal Hospitals, in an article written with Pet Poison Helpline, says ethylene glycol is a sweet-tasting, odorless liquid, that a tiny amount can cause severe poisoning, and that animals often drink antifreeze that has spilled or leaked onto garage floors or driveways.
• Early signs include vomiting, lethargy, stumbling and drinking and peeing more than usual. These can progress to seizures, coma and kidney failure (VCA). Pet Poison Helpline lists stomach upset, disorientation and organ failure.
• Do not wait for signs. VCA says a delay of even a few hours usually results in death in cats. Pet Poison Helpline says to contact your vet or the helpline immediately if you suspect your pet swallowed antifreeze, because small amounts can lead to death if treatment is delayed.

Road salt and ice melt

• The ASPCA says ice melts are usually salt-based, with sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride or magnesium chloride. Pets get them by licking their paws or eating treated snow.
• The most common problems are stomach upset, vomiting and diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration. A large amount can raise sodium levels and cause tremors and seizures, and products with calcium chloride can cause mouth ulcers (ASPCA).
• Products sold as pet-friendly usually contain urea or magnesium chloride. The ASPCA says they are generally safer but can still cause stomach upset.
• Keep the bag where pets cannot get at it, and do not let your pet eat salted snow or slush (ASPCA).

Paw care after a walk

• Wipe your pet's paws with a damp cloth or baby wipes as soon as you come inside, and limit paw licking until they are clean (ASPCA). The AVMA says to wipe or wash feet, legs and belly, since they can pick up de-icers, antifreeze and other chemicals, then be licked off.
• Check for cracked pads or redness between the toes (ASPCA). The AVMA says sudden lameness on a walk may be an injury or ice packed between the toes, and clipping the hair between a dog's toes may reduce ice balls.
• The ASPCA says massaging petroleum jelly into the pads before you go out helps guard against salt and chemicals, and booties limit contact with salt crystals. The AVMA says booties must fit properly. The ASPCA also says paw wax or booties can protect sensitive pads.
• Dry your pet when it comes in, and clear snowballs from between the paw pads (ASPCA).
• Skip long baths. The ASPCA says frequent washing can dry out the skin, so ask your vet about moisturizers if a bath is needed.
• Do not shave a winter coat. The ASPCA says to trim long hair to cut down ice and salt buildup instead.

Dogs get lost more in winter

The ASPCA says more dogs are lost during winter than in any other season, so keep dogs leashed on snow and ice and make sure the ID tag is current. The AVMA says snow and ice can hide scents that would help a pet find its way home, and that a microchip only works if the registry has your current contact details. Keep dogs off frozen ponds and lakes, too (AVMA). If a cat gets out, read How to find a lost cat.

If your pet must stay outside

The AVMA does not recommend keeping any pet outside for long periods. If you cannot keep a dog inside, it says to provide a warm, solid shelter against wind, with the floor off the ground, thick, dry bedding changed regularly, and the door facing away from prevailing winds. Give unlimited fresh, non-frozen water. Avoid space heaters and heat lamps, which can burn or start a fire, and use heated pet mats with caution.

Heat and storms indoors

• Use space heaters with caution around pets, because they can burn or be knocked over (AVMA).
• Check your furnace before the cold sets in and install carbon monoxide detectors. Keep a pet bird's cage away from drafts (AVMA).
• The AVMA says to prepare a disaster kit that includes your pet, with enough food, water and medicine to last at least 5 days. See Pet disaster planning.

Questions people ask

How cold is too cold for pets?

The sources give no single number. The AVMA says tolerance depends on coat, body fat, activity and health, and the ASPCA says if it is too cold for you, it is probably too cold for your pet. Ask your vet about your pet's limit.

How do I protect my dog from snow?

Keep walks shorter in very cold weather, dry and wipe the paws, feet and belly when you come in, use petroleum jelly or well-fitting booties, and keep the dog leashed (AVMA, ASPCA).

What should I do if my pet licked antifreeze?

Call your vet or a poison line right away, before any signs show. Pet Poison Helpline says to contact your vet or the helpline immediately if you suspect antifreeze, and VCA says a delay of even a few hours usually results in death in cats. For December hazards, see Thanksgiving and holiday pet safety.