Dog Paw Balm: How to Make a Natural Shea Butter Paw Balm

To make a natural dog paw balm, gently melt 2 oz (57 g) shea butter, 1 oz (28 g) shea oil and 1/2 oz (14 g) beeswax, pour into tins and let set. Baraka's shea butter and shea oil are made by hand by the women of the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre in Wa, Ghana.

How do you make a dog paw balm?

You melt a soft butter, a liquid oil and beeswax together, pour the mix into tins and let it set. That is the whole method. The full recipe is below, with a firmer version for snow and salt.

We use Baraka shea butter because it is unrefined, strained and filtered only, with no refining, bleaching or deodorising. For the liquid part we use Baraka shea oil, the liquid fraction of shea, which stays pourable at room temperature and is lighter on the skin than the whole butter.

Every ingredient is plain and unscented. Dogs lick their paws, so the balm has no essential oils, no fragrance and no cocoa butter.

Why dog paws crack

Paw pads take a lot of wear. The usual causes are:

• Winter salt and ice. Road salt and sharp, frozen ground dry out and roughen pads.
• Hot pavement. Summer asphalt and concrete are hard on pads.
• Rough ground. Gravel, rock, trails and rough floors wear pads down over time.

A balm keeps pads feeling supple and adds a thin layer between the pad and the ground. It is DIY care, not medical care. If a pad is split, bleeding, swollen or looks infected, see a vet.

Ingredients

This everyday balm makes about 3 1/2 oz (99 g), enough to fill about two 2 fl oz (59 ml) tins.

• 2 oz (57 g) unrefined shea butter
• 1 oz (28 g) shea oil
• 1/2 oz (14 g) beeswax

For the firmer paw wax, use these amounts instead. The total is the same, 3 1/2 oz (99 g).

• 2 oz (57 g) unrefined shea butter
• 1/2 oz (14 g) shea oil
• 1 oz (28 g) beeswax

You will also need clean, dry tins with lids and a heatproof bowl that sits over a pan.

Directions

1. Pour an inch or two of water into a pan and bring it to a gentle simmer. Set the heatproof bowl over the pan so the bowl does not touch the water.
2. Add the beeswax first, because it melts the slowest. When it begins to melt, add the shea butter and the shea oil.
3. Stir gently until everything is one clear liquid, then take the bowl off the heat. Mind the steam and the hot bowl.
4. Pour the liquid into the clean tins straight away.
5. Leave the tins undisturbed at room temperature until the balm is fully set. Moving them early can leave dips and ripples in the surface.
6. Put the lids on and label each tin with the date and which version it is.

Storage

Keep the lids on and store the tins somewhere cool, away from heat and direct sun. Shea butter keeps 2+ years when stored properly, and a balm kept this way stays good for as long as it looks and smells normal. A hot car or a sunny windowsill will soften or melt it. A mild nutty smell from the shea is normal, but if the balm smells off, make a fresh batch.

How much to use and how often

Use a thin layer. Dogs lick, so less is better.

• Take a tiny amount, warm it between your fingers, and press it onto each pad and between the toes. Rub until no shiny film is left.
• If the paw looks greasy, you used too much. Wipe off the extra.
• Before a walk: apply a little a few minutes ahead so it can settle in. This is for protection on rough, salty or icy ground.
• After a walk: wipe and dry the paws first, then apply a little balm to soften the pads.
• Offer a treat or a short game afterwards, so your dog is not tempted to lick it straight off.

On days when the ground is hard on paws, use it before and after walks. When the paws look healthy again, use it less often.

What is the best natural paw balm for dogs?

The best natural paw balm is a simple, unscented one with a short ingredient list. Shea butter, a plain oil and beeswax is a good place to start. Making it yourself lets you see everything that goes in.

When you compare balms, look for:

• No fragrance and no essential oils, because dogs lick their paws;
• No cocoa butter;
• A texture you can spread thinly. If it is too hard to spread or too runny, adjust the recipe.

What is dog paw wax?

Dog paw wax is a firmer paw balm. It has more beeswax in proportion to the butter and oil, so it holds its shape in the tin and goes on as a thin layer. Many dog owners reach for it in winter or on rough ground, and some people sell it as a stick or a block.

The firmer recipe above is a paw wax. It has twice the beeswax of the everyday balm and less oil. Use the everyday balm for general dryness and the paw wax before snowy, salty or rough walks.

How do you protect dog paws from salt and snow?

Put a thin layer of the firmer paw wax on before you go out, then wipe the paws clean when you come home. Many dog owners use a firm balm this way, as a thin barrier between the pad and rough, salty ground.

• Wipe each paw with a warm, damp cloth after the walk, including between the toes. This removes salt and grit, so your dog does not lick it off.
• Dry the paws well, then add a little of the everyday balm to soften the pads.
• Check between the toes for balls of ice, and trim long hair there if it collects snow.
• Boots are another option if your dog will wear them.

How do you protect dog paws from hot pavement?

No balm makes paws heatproof, so the real protection is to avoid hot ground. Walk early in the morning or in the evening, keep to grass or shade, and test the surface first. If the pavement is too hot for the back of your hand, it is too hot for your dog.

A balm still helps keep pads supple through the summer, and you can use the everyday version on the pads after a walk. If your dog has blisters, limps or will not put a paw down, see a vet.

What each ingredient does in the balm

• Shea butter is solid at room temperature and melts on contact with skin. It makes the balm rich. Its colour ranges from ivory through cream to pale yellow, and its mild nutty smell is normal.
• Shea oil is liquid at room temperature, lighter on the skin than the whole butter and quicker to absorb. It makes the balm soft and light.
• Beeswax is what makes the balm hold its shape. It gives the firmness that makes a paw wax.

How to change the texture

The rule of thumb is that butters make it rich, oils make it soft and light, and wax makes it hold its shape.

• Firmer or thicker: add a little more beeswax, about 1/4 oz (7 g) at a time.
• Softer or runnier: add a little more shea oil.
• Richer: use more shea butter and less oil.
• Lighter: use more shea oil and less butter.

To check the texture before you pour, put a spoonful on a cold plate and let it set. Press it with your finger. If it is too hard, remelt the batch with a little more oil. If it is too soft, remelt it with a little more beeswax.

Also good for

• Cats' dry pads: use the plain shea version, in the tiniest amount, because cats groom their paws.
• Horses' and goats' heels and pasterns: rub in a thin layer on dry, rough skin.
• A dog's dry nose and elbow calluses: use a small dab and keep it thin.
• Backyard chickens' dry, rough legs: rub in a little. If the legs look crusty or raised, ask a vet.
• Your own hands: after a winter walk, the same balm works on dry hands.

Safety

• Always use a thin layer, and assume the balm will be licked.
• Leave out essential oils and cocoa butter. Do not add kombo butter either.
• See a vet for split, bleeding or infected pads, or for paws that stay sore.

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 paws respond. When you find a blend that works for your dog, make it again.

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.

Quick answers

How do you make a dog paw balm?

Gently melt 2 oz (57 g) shea butter, 1 oz (28 g) shea oil and 1/2 oz (14 g) beeswax together in a bowl over a pan of simmering water. Pour the mix into clean tins and let it set fully at room temperature. Use a thin layer, since dogs lick their paws.

What is the best natural paw balm for dogs?

A simple, unscented balm with a short ingredient list, such as shea butter, shea oil and beeswax. Leave out essential oils, fragrance and cocoa butter, because dogs lick their paws. Making it yourself lets you see everything that goes in.

How do you protect dog paws from salt and snow?

Put a thin layer of a firm paw wax on before the walk. When you get home, wipe the paws with a warm, damp cloth, dry them and add a little everyday balm. Check between the toes for balls of ice.

How do you protect dog paws from hot pavement?

Avoid the hot ground: walk early or late, stay on grass or in shade, and test the surface with the back of your hand. A balm keeps pads supple but does not make them heatproof. See a vet if you see blisters or your dog limps.

What is dog paw wax?

Dog paw wax is a firmer paw balm with more beeswax in proportion to the butter and oil, so it holds its shape and goes on as a thin layer. Many dog owners use it before walks in snow, salt or on rough ground. A good firm version uses 2 oz (57 g) shea butter, 1/2 oz (14 g) shea oil and 1 oz (28 g) beeswax.