you might want to think twice about the product you're using if you've got pets. Dogs and cats who lick rock salt or salt-based products off their paws and coat can develop skin conditions, intestinal problems and an inflammation of the stomach called gastritis. "It's very much of an irritant," said Dr. Peg Rucker, of Lebanon, Va., past president of the American Animal Hospital Association. "Concentrated amounts [of salt] between the toes can cause ulcers and a lot of redness to tissue. They're going to lick that excessively, and that causes acute moist dermatitis, or pododermitis. ... Then they can get bacterial infection and need antibiotics." While licking their feet, cats and dogs are going to eat the de-icer, and that can cause internal problems, depending on how much they ingest and whether it's rock salt (sodium chloride) or compounds including the salts known as calcium chloride and potassium chloride. "I've had it cause G.I. irritation and a few with gastritis, but I've not had it cause any untoward effect," Rucker said. "Dogs and cats aren't high salt eaters unless they're over-active cleaning their feet and toes."