Asphalt Driveway Oils & Your Pets

Maintaining an asphalt driveway helps keep up your home's curb appeal. Promptly clearing away oil spills can also help keep your pets healthy and safe.

  1. Oils

    • You could have oil on your asphalt driveway from small leaks under your car. If the asphalt driveway is new, it could leach oil for several weeks as the asphalt settles, cures and reaches full hardness. This is a normal part of the process of laying asphalt, according to "Graphic Guide to Site Construction."

    Hazards

    • Not only can your pets walk through asphalt driveway oil and track it into the house, but they could also ingest the oil. A pet that has eaten oil might vomit, have diarrhea and could fall into a coma. Take the animal to a veterinarian if such symptoms present themselves. The vet can administer fluids and activated charcoal, and provide supportive care to your pet.

    Cleaning

    • Keep pets away from any oil on an asphalt driveway. Clean the driveway by pouring cat litter over the oil, then grinding the litter into the slick. Finish by washing down the driveway with hot water and trisodium phosphate, according to "The Queen of Clean's Complete Cleaning Guide."