To some dogs, new-fallen snow is a blank canvas, asking for zigzagging tracks and the canine version of snow angels. But other dogs see it as a giant sno-cone, beckoning their tongues like glistening sugar.<\/p>\n
No one can say what, exactly, compels dogs to lap up the frozen white stuff. Maybe your dog is simply thirsty, or maybe the snow is fresher than what\u2019s currently in their water bowl. Perhaps he or she likes the granular texture or the refreshing sense of something cold melting on the tongue. It could even be a throwback to a Northern-breed ancestor that relied on snow to stay hydrated.<\/p>\n
And do dogs get an ice cream headache or brain freeze when they indulge in snow? No one knows for sure.<\/p>\n
As a rule of thumb, if the snow is fresh enough for you to catch it on your tongue, it\u2019s probably fine for your dog to lap it up in small quantities. After all, it\u2019s essentially crystalized water.<\/p>\n
The only real danger with fresh snow is if your dog eats too much of it. Gobbling up large quantities of snow could trigger vomiting, like what can happen when dogs gulp too much water at once. It could also lower your dog\u2019s core body temperature, making it more difficult to stay warm when the temperatures are already chilly.<\/p>\n
If your dog obsessively overindulges in snow, it may be a sign of an underlying health problem, such as diabetes, a kidney condition or Cushing\u2019s disease. Consult with your veterinarian if you suspect something serious.<\/p>\n
Fresh snow, on the surface, may be fine, but if your dog likes to bury their snout deep into the snow, you need to be concerned about what they can find there. Rocks, sticks, moldy vegetation and trash could be choking hazards and lead to gastrointestinal upset or other problems.<\/p>\n
Obviously, you don\u2019t want your dog to eat dirty snow. Keep your pooch from lapping up snow on sidewalks or roads, or from piles created by snowplows. There\u2019s a good chance that snow is contaminated with sand, gravel, antifreeze, salt and other ice melts.<\/p>\n
Ice melts contain ingredients such as sodium chloride (salt), potassium chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium salts and urea. These ingredients can be irritating to your pup\u2019s paws, and even if your dog doesn\u2019t eat snow, they can be exposed to these chemicals if they lick their paws when they return home. Ingestion of small amounts of ice melts can result in gastrointestinal upset, but eating snow containing large amounts of these substances could result in a life-threatening situation.<\/p>\n
In most cases, eating a small amount of fresh snow won\u2019t do your dog any harm. But it\u2019s always best to prevent a problem in the first place than to deal with an emergency later. For your pet\u2019s safety:<\/p>\n
With the right precautions, you and your dog can still dash through the snow and make the most of your winter wonderland.<\/p>\n