It's something that has saved many people from a terrible fall in the wintertime but can also be very dangerous to pets.

Ice melt is often used on sidewalks or driveways to help with traction but if your dog or cat consumes it, it can cause serious problems.

Raylene McDonald is a Vet Technician at the Bellamy Harrison Animal Hospital, she explains what you should keep in mind when walking your pets.

"Keep in mind that most ice melts contain salt, which can cause some stomach upset, vomiting, and diarrhea. So it would be best when you're walking through areas where you know there is ice to make sure your pets aren't eating the snow."

McDonald continued and explained how just how bad it could get.

"If they ate a whole bunch... it would be very concerning because there's a lot of salt in there so it would increase their sodium level and their electrolytes would get out of balance so they could have tremors, seizures, and possibly die."

McDonald added that if you're concerned that your pet has consumed ice melt to call your veterinarian for assistance.

READ MORE: How to Take Care of Your Dogs in Winter