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Salt (sodium chloride) and ice-melt salts
table salt, rock salt, de-icer
A professional reference for veterinary specialists. It does not replace clinical judgement.
Species and toxic dose
| Species | Risk | Toxic dose |
|---|---|---|
| Dog | Toxic | About 4 g/kg of sodium chloride can be lethal. Scientific article A study or review published in a scientific journal. Its findings apply to the animals and conditions it studied. |
| Cat | Toxic | Not established in the open sources |
Toxic principle
Sodium. Hypernatraemia dehydrates cells; sodium trapped in the cerebrospinal fluid then draws water into the brain (cerebral oedema). Severity depends more on how fast sodium rises than on how high.
Onset
Not stated by the sources; vomiting is usually the first sign.
Clinical signs
Vomiting, polydipsia and polyuria, tremors, fasciculations, tachycardia, metabolic acidosis, disorientation, seizures, coma. Serum sodium above 160 mEq/l supports the diagnosis.
Organs affected
Central nervous system, digestive tract.
Treatment principle (for veterinarians)
Emesis in an animal without signs; activated charcoal binds salts poorly. Serum sodium is lowered gradually over 48-72 hours (5% dextrose preferred in acute cases); furosemide with heart disease or oliguria; anticonvulsants as needed.
In the reference: Furosemide
A summary of the principles in the sources, not a protocol: doses and the plan are the treating veterinarian's decision.
Notes
Higher risk with heart or kidney disease, a poor thirst response or no access to water.
Sources
- Scientific article. Hautekeete LA. Ice melts are health hazards. Veterinary Medicine 95(2):110-112 (ASPCA toxicology brief) 2000
- Scientific article. Foss TS. The hazards of ice melts to dogs and cats. Veterinary Technician, Feb 2002 (ASPCA) 2002
- Scientific article. Khan SA. Differential diagnosis of common acute toxicologic versus nontoxicologic illness. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice 48(6):1069-1079 2018
- Reference book. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. People foods to avoid feeding your pets. aspca.org
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This reference is still growing. Missing a product? Let us know. · Report an error or request an addition · Updated: 22 Oct 2026