Hello, friends. Beau here, Chief Canine Correspondent, reporting from the season of crunchy sidewalks.

When cold snaps settle over Centennial, two things show up in our driveways and garages: ice melt and antifreeze. Humans see safer steps and happier engines. A Labrador sees a mystery seasoning and an intriguing puddle. That gap in perspective is why we need to talk.

The salty sidewalk situation

According to the ASPCA, ice melts are commonly made from different kinds of salt. Most pets meet them in a very ordinary way. They walk across a treated area and lick their feet afterward, or they eat snow with ice melt mixed in. Some pets like the salty taste and will eat it straight from the packaging if they can reach it.

For the record, I have never once viewed a bag on the garage floor as a personal challenge. My nose, however, files its own reports.

The ASPCA says the most common problem after a pet swallows ice melt is stomach upset: vomiting and diarrhea. Nobody wants that on the rug. Least of all the dog.

A few practical moves:

Wipe after walks. The ASPCA's cold weather safety tips recommend wiping down your pet's legs, feet and stomach after time outside in the snow to remove ice, salt and chemicals. Keep an old towel by the door. We will pretend it's a spa treatment.

Store the bag like the treat jar. Up high or behind a closed door. If I can reach it, I will consider it an invitation.

Shop with paws in mind. The ASPCA notes that pet-friendly ice melts typically contain urea or magnesium chloride. Pet-friendly still doesn't mean snack, so keep it stored out of reach and wipe paws anyway.

Antifreeze: the sweet trap

This is the serious part, friends, so I'm putting my ears up.

The ASPCA's cold weather tips call antifreeze a deadly poison with a sweet taste that may attract animals. They advise wiping up spills and storing antifreeze, along with other household chemicals, out of reach. Pet Poison Helpline explains that the danger comes from ethylene glycol, and it stresses that fast treatment is critical for dogs and cats who swallow it.

So, the garage protocol:

Wipe up drips on the garage floor and driveway right away.

Keep containers closed and stored where curious noses can't reach.

Steer your dog around mystery puddles in parking lots. I know. Puddles are fascinating. Walk on by.

If you think your dog has gotten into antifreeze, don't wait to see what happens. Call your veterinarian or a pet poison hotline right away. The same goes if your dog ate ice melt from a bag. Pet Poison Helpline's page lists its contact information, and it's worth saving in your phone before winter really gets going.

My fellow Labs and I will continue our important work of sniffing everything. You handle the towel and the top shelf. Teamwork.

Beau rule: Wipe the paws, wipe the drips and park the bags up high. A safe winter starts at the door.

Beau

Chief Canine Correspondent

Babs & Beau | Paws & Purpose