Or think of being asked to sprint over miles of terrain, hoping you’re able to clear the occasional shards of glass protruding from a freezing surface. Legger Nose & Paws Healing Balm is designed to hydrate paws AND noses. We love that the brand responsibly sources shea butter from land that also houses a hippo sanctuary in West Africa. In our tests, 4-Legger did leave residue on test fabric but rubbed into dog paws easily. One note for pet parents: Don’t be alarmed if it leaves your dog’s toe fur slightly yellow. We noticed this went away after a few minutes. Dog’s paws face quite the battering as they spend a lot of time running, jumping, and fetching indoors and outdoors. Although plenty of skin, bone, and tendons protects paws, but many external and environmental factors can dry out even the toughest pads.

Ingredients. This option contains dog-friendly ingredients to hydrate and soothe paws. It’s made with mineral oil, waxes (paraffin and beeswax), and three kinds of butter (cocoa seed, shea, and cocoa).

How To Deal With Bandages

While a paw balm can help heal scaly paws and noses, it’s important to see your veterinarian if your dog’s symptoms don’t improve. If you’d rather make your own balm instead of purchasing a product, here’s a great recipe to try. According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), making your own dog paw balm is relatively simple. Supplies Rubbing some vitamin E oil into your furbaby’s dry paws will restore them to top-notch condition. You can add vitamin E oil to your dog’s bath water or apply it to dry paws. Vitamin E oil is a common ingredient in many quality dog foods, as it works wonders on dogs inside and out.

Musher’s Secret Paw Wax was originally created in Canada to protect the paws of dogsledding dogs in snowy, cold weather conditions. Today, the formula is a top-rated paw wax that moisturizes while also protecting paws from hot and cold weather, as well as ground irritants like salt. This is the gold standard for balms. To use dog paw balm correctly, first clean your hands to keep your pup safe from infection and contamination. Then, simply rub or dab the balm onto the paw. You can also use a gentle cloth. Never use rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide on your dog’s paws. You may do this for humans when they have a cut or scrape, but those rules don’t apply for our fur babies.

Recipe: DIY Dog Paw Balm

As a pet owner, you want the best for your dog. That’s why paw balm is always great to have on hand. From damage prevention to its healing properties, there are many benefits of regularly using balm or wax. Paw Balm Provides General Paw Protection It’s super easy to apply with a creamy consistency and should be left to dry for a couple of minutes. Hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, and Clorox wipes are all toxic to pups. These chemicals aren’t just irritating to your dog’s skin, they can be harmful when ingested. The following categories aren’t necessarily harmful but may be less effective as dog balms. Cooking oils When it’s hot: Walking on the hot ground can burn paw pads. “When the weather is hot, avoid taking your dog out during peak hours,” Hall says. “It’s best to get those walks in early in the morning and late at night before the sun has had a chance to really heat things up.” Test the pavement with your bare foot—if it is too hot for your foot, it is too hot for your dog’s paw.

So … let me introduce you to the very basic, but very beneficial, Salt-Chamomile Foot Soak ! Salt-Chamomile Foot Soak Recipe For Sore Dog Paws Protect your dog’s paws against daily wear and tear — Dogs’ paws weren’t meant to run on concrete. If you and your canine have an active lifestyle, balms will help keep your dog’s paws healthy and strong.

Dealing With Cracked Pads

There are range of factors that can cause your dog’s paws to become dry, here are a few of the most common: So … proper care of your dog’s paws is essential to keep him active and comfortable. All Season Paws Heat the mixture and mix it thoroughly until you have a uniform consistency. After mixing, allow the treatment to cool into an applicable balm. There you have it, an organic dog paw palm with a shelf life of a couple of years.

Now that you know how important paw pads are to your pups, the importance of maintaining the paws should be much more apparent. Taking your indoor dog on walks regularly is essential to train the paws on different textured surfaces. The more time your dog spends outdoors, the more durable the pads get. Allergic Reaction: When walking and playing, dogs come in connection with a variety of things, and many of them can cause allergies which can lead to redness and itch that can cause dryness. Seasonal allergies are quite common in dogs and it’s not just sensitive skin that can react, paws can too. In a small pot or double boiler over low heat melt the oils, shea butter, and beeswax. Stir continuously until all is melted and well blended. When it’s cold: Similarly, when there’s freezing temperatures, sharp pieces of ice can cut into your dogs’ paws. “The added irritation from frozen and salted [walkways] can cause great pain,” Hall adds. “Some sort of protective covering like dog shoes would be recommended for any extended outdoor time during chilly weather.”

The symptoms of paw infections in dogs

As a paw protectant, you can’t go wrong with either choice. The most important thing to consider is if your dog has an allergy to any wax or oil-based ingredients so you can avoid that product. The Importance of Dog Foot Balm