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How Do You Soften Dog Elbow Calluses? A Shea Butter Elbow Balm

November 9, 2026

Wayne Dunn

How do you soften dog elbow calluses?

To soften dog elbow calluses, rub a thin layer of this Baraka shea butter elbow balm into the dry, thick skin once or twice a day and give your dog a soft, padded place to lie.

The balm does not remove a callus. A callus is the skin's own pad against pressure, so the aim is skin that feels softer and less dry, not a bare elbow. Shea butter has long been used in Ghana to keep dry skin moisturised. Many dog owners report that rough, flaky elbows look and feel softer after a couple of weeks of regular use. This is DIY advice, not veterinary advice.

Three things matter most:

Padded bedding, so the elbow takes less pressure.
A thin layer of balm, once or twice a day.
A vet check for anything that is not plain dry skin.

Padded bedding makes the biggest difference. A thick orthopaedic bed, a folded blanket or a rubber-backed mat takes pressure off the elbows on tile, wood and concrete. Put the soft bed where your dog already likes to lie.

Use the balm only on dry, thickened skin that is unbroken. If the skin is cracked, bleeding, swollen, oozing or hot, or the elbow has a soft, fluid-filled swelling (a hygroma), do not use the balm. Call your vet. There is more on this in the section on infected calluses below.

Shea butter elbow balm: ingredients and amounts

This balm uses three simple ingredients, and shea butter makes up more than half of the weight.

Raw shea butter: 2 oz (57 g). Baraka raw shea butter is the star of the recipe.
Virgin coconut oil: 1 oz (28 g). Virgin coconut oil is the liquid oil that keeps the balm soft and easy to spread.
Beeswax: 0.5 oz (14 g). Beeswax pastilles are easiest to weigh.

The total yield is about 3.5 oz (99 g), enough to fill two 2 fl oz (60 ml) tins. You also need a kitchen scale, a heatproof jug, a saucepan and clean, dry tins with lids.

Everything in this balm is pure and natural. There is nothing synthetic, no fragrance, no preservatives and no fillers. Baraka's raw shea butter is made by hand by the women of the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre in Wa, Ghana, and Baraka is Community Certified Fair Trade. You can read more about the women and their work in the Baraka Impact Report.

Why every ingredient in the balm is lick-safe

Dogs lick their elbows, so every ingredient has to be fine in the mouth. Small licks of pure shea butter are harmless. Shea butter is a vegetable fat that has been used for cooking in West Africa for generations. Coconut oil is also an everyday cooking fat, and beeswax is a plain natural wax.

A dog that eats a large amount of any fat, such as a whole tub, can get an upset stomach. So use thin layers and keep the tin out of reach. For more on licking, read our guide to natural skincare for pets.

Some things are left out on purpose. There are no essential oils, because some, such as tea tree, are toxic to dogs. There is no fragrance. There is no cocoa butter, because it contains theobromine, which is harmful to dogs. Kombo butter and black soap are not used in pet recipes, and red palm oil is left out because it stains light coats.

How to make the elbow balm

The balm takes about 20 minutes to make, plus setting time.

Weigh the shea butter, coconut oil and beeswax on a kitchen scale.
Half-fill a saucepan with water and bring it to a gentle simmer over low heat. Set the heatproof jug in the pan and add the beeswax. Beeswax melts at about 145°F (63°C), so it goes in first.
When the beeswax has melted, add the shea butter and coconut oil. Stir until the mixture is clear and smooth, then take the jug off the heat.
Let it cool for a couple of minutes, stir again, and pour it into clean, dry tins.
Leave the tins to set at room temperature for a few hours. For a smoother balm, move them to the fridge for 15 minutes once they start to set. Then put the lids on.

To use it, patch test first. Dab a little on a small area of skin and wait a day. Stop using it if you see any redness. Keep it away from your dog's eyes. Use small amounts: a pea-sized amount is enough for one elbow. Rub it in as a thin layer, then go for a walk or serve a meal so the balm has time to absorb before your dog licks.

The balm has no water in it, so it does not need a preservative. Store it in a clean, closed tin in a cool, dark place. It keeps for about 6 months. Make small batches, and throw it out if it smells off or looks different.

Barn and garage temperatures change the texture. Coconut oil melts at about 76°F (24°C), and shea butter softens at warm temperatures. In a hot barn or car the balm can go soft or even liquid, so keep the tin in the shade. For hot weather, use 0.5 oz (14 g) of coconut oil instead of 1 oz (28 g). Below 50°F (10°C) the balm will be hard. Warm the tin in your hands, or use 1.5 oz (43 g) of coconut oil in winter.

What each ingredient does in the balm

Shea butter makes the balm rich and creamy. It is firm in the tin and melts on warm skin. It naturally contains vitamins A and E.
Coconut oil makes the balm soft and light, so it spreads easily over rough skin.
Beeswax makes the balm hold its shape, so it stays in the tin and stays put on the skin.

How to change the texture

Here is the rule of thumb: butters make it rich, oils make it soft and light, wax makes it hold its shape.

For a firmer balm, use 0.6 oz (17 g) of beeswax, or cut the coconut oil to 0.5 oz (14 g).
For a softer balm, use 1.5 oz (43 g) of coconut oil.
For a richer balm, use 2.5 oz (71 g) of shea butter.
For a lighter balm, swap the coconut oil for the same weight of baobab oil, which is made by hand in Ghana and stays liquid.

Change one thing at a time and write it down.

What can you put on calluses on dogs?

A thin layer of a plain, lick-safe balm, such as a shea butter balm, is what many owners put on dry dog calluses.

Good choices include:

This shea butter, coconut oil and beeswax elbow balm.
A small amount of pure shea butter on its own, warmed between your fingers.
A thin layer of coconut oil. Our simple shea and coconut coat rub shows how it works with shea butter.

Skip human creams with fragrance, anything with essential oils, anything with cocoa butter, and petroleum jelly. Do not put anything on a callus that is open, bleeding or oozing. That needs a vet. If you like making things for your dog, try the dog paw balm and the dog nose balm.

Are dog elbow calluses normal?

Yes, elbow calluses are common and normal in dogs, especially large breeds, older dogs and short-coated dogs that lie on hard floors.

A callus is a thick, rough, often grey or dark patch with little or no hair. It forms where the elbow presses on the ground, as the body's way of padding a spot that takes a lot of pressure. It is usually painless, and many dogs keep one for life. Large breeds such as Labradors, Great Danes and Mastiffs get them often.

Watch for changes. If the callus cracks, bleeds, grows, swells, smells or seems sore, see your vet. Padded bedding is the first thing to try, and it helps stop calluses getting worse.

Why do dogs get dry skin on their elbows?

Dogs get dry skin on their elbows mostly because the elbows take pressure and rubbing every time the dog lies down, and there is little hair there to cushion the skin.

Other things can add to it: hard floors, cold dry air, heated rooms, frequent baths with strong shampoo, and getting older. Rinse well after baths and keep bathing to what your dog really needs.

If the dryness is not just at the elbows, see your vet. Flaking, scratching or hair loss in many places can have other causes, such as food, allergies or parasites. Our guide to dry, itchy skin in dogs has more, and the natural pet care hub brings all our pet recipes together.

Can I put Vaseline on my dog's dry elbow?

Vaseline is not the best choice for a dog's dry elbow, because petroleum jelly is not meant to be licked and dogs lick their elbows.

A thick layer of petroleum jelly sits greasy on top of the skin and gets licked off. It is not meant to be eaten, and a lot of it can upset a dog's stomach. If your dog has already had a little, do not panic. Switch to a balm made from ingredients you would be happy to see in a dog's mouth.

Pure shea butter is a vegetable fat that has been used for cooking in West Africa for generations, so small licks are harmless. That is why it is the hero of this recipe.

What does an infected elbow callus look like on a dog?

An infected elbow callus can look red, swollen, wet or crusted, and it may smell, feel hot or bleed.

Other signs include pus, an open sore, hair loss around the callus, limping, and a dog that licks or chews the elbow all the time. A soft, fluid-filled lump over the elbow (a hygroma) also needs a vet to look at it.

If you see any of these signs, call your vet the same day and do not use the balm. Do not squeeze or pick at the callus. Wounds, infections, swelling and anything that is not plain dry skin are a job for the vet, not for a home balm.

Many pet owners use these recipes and are happy with the results. They are made from simple, natural ingredients, but they are not veterinary treatments. Your vet should always be your first source of advice for your pet's skin, paws and health.

Make It Your Own

These recipes are a starting point, not a rulebook. Use your judgement, be inspired, and don't be afraid to experiment. Everything here is a pure, natural ingredient that blends happily with the others. Start with a small batch, write down what you did, and see how your dog's skin responds. When you find a blend that works for your dog, make it again.

Quick answers

How do you soften dog elbow calluses?

Rub a thin layer of a shea butter balm into the dry, thick skin once or twice a day and give your dog padded bedding. The balm softens dry skin but does not remove a callus, and anything cracked, bleeding, swollen or oozing needs a vet.

What can you put on calluses on dogs?

A thin layer of a plain, lick-safe balm, such as a shea butter, coconut oil and beeswax balm, is what many owners use. Leave out essential oils, fragrance, cocoa butter and petroleum jelly.

Are dog elbow calluses normal?

Yes. Elbow calluses are common in dogs, especially large breeds and dogs that lie on hard floors. See your vet if one cracks, bleeds, swells or changes.

Why do dogs get dry skin on their elbows?

Elbows take pressure and rubbing every time a dog lies down, and there is little hair to cushion the skin. Cold, dry air and frequent baths can add to it.

Can I put Vaseline on my dog's dry elbow?

Vaseline is not the best choice, because petroleum jelly is not meant to be licked and dogs lick their elbows. Pure shea butter is a vegetable fat used for cooking in West Africa for generations, so small licks are harmless.