The de-icer that makes your front sidewalk safer for people may make it more dangerous for pets, the Washington Post reports.

Many commercial products contain salt, which can stick to animals’ paws. When they try to lick it off, they can ingest the salt and burn their mouths or their digestive systems, according to veterinarians. They suggest gently washing paws when pets come in from a walk on snowy days.

Some de-icers market themselves as both eco-friendly and pet-friendly. One is called Safe Paw, a noncorrosive material made in a green pellet form to distinguish it from the familiar crystal formulations. It is advertised as being safe for children, pets and plants. Martha Stewart recently revealed on her syndicated TV show that she uses it on her own stone walkways to protect her many animals. Word-of-mouth endorsements don’t get much better than that.

Another alternative is to sprinkle sand or kitty litter on driveways and sidewalks, gritty materials that don’t melt the ice but add traction to make surfaces less slippery.