I've got a strange question about Mr. Blue's snow licking

[Mary Plummer]

Hello everyone,

At least, it seems strange to me! Over the past 2 or 3 days, Mr. Blue has been licking the snow every time we go outside. He licks it in our back yard, and I let him, because I know there's nothing dangerous back there. When he tries to on our walks, I don't let him because I just don't know what's there. He's not drinking more than normal. I fill up his water bowl every morning and again in the evening if it's getting low. My husband suggested that maybe he was trying to get more salt, by licking shovelled snow by the edge of sidewalks on our walks, but I just don't know so thought I'd better ask about it. It's probably long since been obvious that I don't mind asking potentially really stupid questions to all of you! Anyway, I'll happily call our vets if you think it's warranted, and not worry about it if you don't think it means anything.

Thanks, as always, for your help!

[davet]

just an opinion but i think dogs do this just cause the like to or they are attemptong to identifying andything or any body that mayhave ben through...this is thought to be the reason that the often eat grass when they are perfectly healthy...they do do it to induce vomiting also but mostly to identify intruders....i don;t think snow licking is a problem...but again just a thought

[Mary Plummer]

Thanks Davet! I really appreciate hearing this! I just didn't have a clue why he was doing this. It makes a whole lot of sense, though. I'm just thinking about how much my own senses of smell and taste are connected. Every time I get a sinus infection I seem to lose my sense of taste, too. With a nose the size of Mr. Blue's, they must be even more connected I didn't know that about the grass eating, but it makes sense.

Are you keeping track, Davet, of how many silly questions I've asked you over the years? The check is in the mail, really.....

[Doglady]

Hello everyone,
!

Hi Mary,

My past dogs and my new girl did/do this, but particulary when it was fresh fallen snow in my yard. I had to stop Jingles from doing it, because whenever she did, she ended up with diarrhea, but it didn't bother Jezzy at all. We had about 3" of snow yesterday, and Sasha was grabbing a mouthful here and there when I had her out in the yard. Like davet said, I guess they simply like it..it's cold, probably the same reason they like "toilet water"..it's cold.

Like you, I don't allow this when walking them outside my yard. If Sasha happens to pick up on a scent from a rabbit or some other critter that passed though, she starts digging like a steam shovel, and I pull her away from that area.

[Cindy]

I never had a snow licker/eater, but I did have a Dalmatian that loved ice cubes more than chew toys

[k9Karen]

When I was a kid, I always liked to eat snow. For some reason it tasted good. It's been years, but if I were to be in newly fallen snow again, I'd probably do it now as long as I knew it was safe.

I think that's all Mr. Blue is doing - licking it because he likes it.