How dangerous is ice melt/salt?

Again, it’s cold. Many businesses use ice melt or salt to keep the walkways safe. Homeowners often use it on the sidewalks in front of their houses. Pet owners often want to use ice melt, but fear harming their pets. What gives?
There are “pet-safe” ice melts out there, so if you’re going to use it in a place your dog frequently walks, it’s best to buck up for these salt-free alternatives.
That said, how concerned should you be when you are walking your dog, and walk across some ice melt on the sidewalk?
Unless your dog has extremely sensitive paws, you’ll be OK as long as you use some common sense.
1- Clean your dogs paws with a wet cloth after the walk. Just water, nothing fancy.
2-Make sure to clean both paw pads and the area/fur between the pads.
3-Do not let your dog lick his or her feet. A couple licks won’t be the end of the word, but if they make a project out of it you could have an upset tummy.
4-If your dog has lots of fur on the bottoms of his or her feet, keeping it trimmed could save you a lot of headache!
5-Make sure to dry the paws after cleaning them.

Yes, the salts in ice melts are potentially toxic. If your dog gets into the bucket and makes a snack out of it, you will end up at the emergency clinic. But let’s keep perspective. Any casual contact followed by prompt cleaning is often sufficient to keep your dog safe.