Worried about your dog getting chafed or cracked paws? Perhaps you need a quick fix for your dog’s tired and dried pads after an afternoon walk.
With the best dog paw balm on hand, your pup’s pads stay moisturized and protected against dryness and cracks.
Unlike grooming practices requiring tools such as dog nail clippers, using dog paw balms is more of a preventive and remedial solution.
To help you narrow down your options, we have compiled some reviews of amazing dog paw balms.
Best Dog Paw Balm Reviews
1. Natural Dog Company Paw Soother Stick
The Natural Dog Company sprung from the owner’s deep love for animals starting from a very early age.
With unexpected health issues surrounding dogs and other pets, this company found innovations in using all-natural ingredients.
These efforts have become its mission for promoting a toxin-free lifestyle for dogs of all ages, sizes, and breeds.
Alongside its products, the Natural Dog Company provides an endless resource of dog care guides.
These guides include treatments for allergies, skin irritation, dry paws, and joint pains.
Additionally, you will also find notes on overall wellness for your dogs.
Today, the brand specializes in dietary supplements, grooming products, dog treats, and balms, one of which is the Paw Soother Stick.
Product Highlights
The Paw Soother Stick is a thumb-sized twistable canister containing an organic paw balm that soothes, moisturizes, and heals.
Since it contains all-natural, vegan, and organic ingredients, it can prevent and treat irritations. In turn, it reduces your pup’s paw discomfort.
Its ingredients include Cupuacu butter, coconut oil, hemp seed oil, jojoba oil, candelilla wax, chamomile, cajeput, Calendula, rosemary, and naturally derived vitamin E.
Unlike many dog paw balms, the Natural Dog Company skillfully handcrafts each stick to ensure that only natural ingredients get into the mix.
The Good
We like that this paw soother not only protects your dog’s skin from dryness, scars, and allergies but also has fast healing and nourishment capabilities.
With a mixture of supple butter, natural herbs, and oils, your dog’s paws stay smooth and healthy, and their dry, cracked, and irritated paw pads regenerate quickly.
This dog paw balm is an effective moisturizer and paw soother. What’s more, it is effortless to apply using the twist-tube assembly.
The Bad
The only drawback is its meager 0.15-ounce capacity.
It is only a trial stick, and you might want to stock up if your dog is prone to paw dehydration and cracking.
Fortunately for you, you can also find this product in two-ounce sticks, one-ounce tins, two-ounce tins, and four-ounce tins.
Pros:
- Ingredients are all-natural
- No risk of health hazards due to toxic substances
- Quick-relief against dry, cracked, irritated paws
- Compact and lightweight, highly portable
- No-touch application, the twist-stick does the job for you
Cons:
- Available in higher capacity containers
- Efficient application may require some distraction
- Costs more than higher capacity products
2. Musher’s Secret Dog Paw Wax
Like the Natural Dog Company, Musher’s Secret offers many resource articles for pet care, grooming, and maintenance.
However, the brand only sells dog paw wax, unlike the many products you can obtain from the Natural Dog Company.
Nevertheless, the Musher’s Secret Dog Paw Wax is available in larger canisters of 2.1 ounces, seven ounces, and 16 ounces.
Product Highlights
The Musher’s Secret Dog Paw Wax contains candelilla wax, carnauba wax, white and yellow beeswax, and a combination of vegetable oils.
It does not contain nut and flax oils, gluten, or soy.
Overall, its ingredients provide a rich resource of naturally occurring vitamin E that conditions and protects your dog’s paws.
This product is a lotion-type wax contained in a screw-capped canister.
You will find that it is effortless to apply, dries quickly, doesn’t cause allergies, and doesn’t stain.
The Good
One of the advantages of the Musher’s Secret Dog Paw Wax over other brands is its high-quality, 100-percent natural, and food-grade ingredients.
Unlike other brands, you won’t ever have to worry about your pets licking the wax off their paws.
Another advantage is its all-around, all-season capability to protect against heat, sand, dirt, and snow.
This product is not only for use on your dog’s paws but also for other body parts and other animals.
You can apply this wax on hot spots, elbows, ears, and snouts of dogs.
Furthermore, you can use it on bird feet and wattle, cat paws, and horse hooves, ears, tail bases, and under jaws.
The Bad
If you want to keep the dirt out of the Musher’s Secret Dog Paw Wax canister, you will have to clean your pet’s paws beforehand.
Additionally, you will need to get some of that wax on your hand or fingertips if you want it evenly applied onto your pet’s skin.
Pros:
- Produced without genetic engineering
- No ingredients from genetically modified organisms
- 100-percent free of toxins
- Acts as an invisible boot that works as a breathable shield
- Safe to lick for pets
- Time-tested remedy for dog sled drivers
- Water-resistant
Cons:
- Not available in smaller amounts
- Food-grade ingredients make pets want to lick more
- Slippery after application, may cause dogs to slip
3. Primens Paw Pad and Nose Balm
Primens products include household items for convenience and pet management.
While the company does not solely manufacture pet products, it has several offerings for dogs and cats.
One of its products for pets is the Primens Paw Pad and Nose Balm.
It costs slightly more than the Musher’s Secret, but it is also an all-natural soother and moisturizer.
Product Highlights
This product is only available in two-ounce twist-cap tin canisters. Still, it offers a surefire relief against dry pet noses and cracked paws.
With this paw pad, softening, hydrating, and healing inflamed hot spots will become more manageable.
The Primens Paw Pad protects your pets’ footpads against ground irritants, such as salt, chlorides from melting snow, and heat from asphalt.
It contains vitamin E, aloe vera, carnauba wax, sunflower seed oil, white beeswax, coconut oil, candelilla wax, and shea butter.
These ingredients provide protection for all seasons over varying terrains, including hot pavements, scorching sand, and cold snow.
The Good
Like the Musher’s Secret, the Primens Paw Pad works not only for a dog’s pads and snout.
It also provides soothing and moisturization for their elbows and anywhere you might find dry, cracked skin.
Since it contains all organic and functional ingredients, this balm is safe even when your pets try to lick it off.
The Bad
The only disadvantage we would like to note about the Primens Paw Pad is its single size.
If you have to care for three or more pets with dried and chapped pads, you might want to purchase this product in multiple quantities.
Pros:
- Quick absorption
- Easy healing without residues
- Relieves pain from dehydrated, chapped, or irritated paws
- Protects against wind, dirt, heat, and cold
- Soothes and moisturizes in any season
Cons:
- Not available in other sizes
- Costs slightly more than similar products
4. Bodhi Dog Certified Organic Paw Balm
Bodhi Dog is a small family-owned business that considers all customers and their pets members of the Bodhi Dog family.
The owners have developed a strong desire to provide high-quality, natural products that they also use on their very own fur babies.
Like the Natural Dog Company, Bodhi Dog offers a wide array of pet care and grooming products.
Their offers include bath time cosmetics, colognes, training aids, diapers and wraps, dental consumables, and skin solutions.
One of these sought-after pet care products is the Bodhi Dog Paw Balm.
Product Highlights
The Bodhi Dog Paw Balm is available in 1.9 ounces, four ounces, eight ounces, and 16 ounces.
Each one comes in a plastic twist-cap canister.
It contains all-organic ingredients, including shea butter, jojoba oil, beeswax, and hemp seed oil.
These ingredients constitute a superior formula that helps keep your pet’s feet healthy and your pet happy.
The Good
We like that the Bodhi Dog Paw Balm is not too thick, creamy, or sticky.
Furthermore, it absorbs to clear dryness, leaving paw pads softened and conditioned instantly.
Another advantage is this balm’s USDA-certified 100-percent organic ingredients set to food standards.
Even if your pets love to lick things, Bodhi Dog guarantees that this product excludes toxic fillers or chemicals usually found in other brands.
The Bad
It’s a good thing that the Bodhi Dog Balm contains natural and organic ingredients, as it has a thick consistency that takes longer to absorb.
However, this property gives your pets plenty of time to lick the substance away, which is why you will need different distraction techniques.
Pros:
- Soothes, moisturizes, and protects dry paws
- Also works for cats
- Made using socially responsible and eco-friendly methods
- Hypo-allergenic and pet-safe
- Only uses sustainable ingredients
- Recyclable packaging
Cons:
- The odor may be unpleasant even for dogs
- Slow absorption
- Plastic containers are not so eco-friendly
5. Natureland Organic Paw Wax for Dogs and Cats
Aside from household, health, baby, and personal care products, Natureland also offers paw wax for pets.
If you are looking for a cheaper alternative to Nature Dog Company’s paw soother on a stick, you might want to check out Natureland.
Product Highlights
The Natureland Paw Wax is 100 percent natural and organic, containing aloe vera, beeswax, coconut oil, shea butter, and vitamin E.
It comes in 0.35-ounce twist sticks, which you can also have in packs of two.
If you need this product in larger amounts, it also comes in eight-ounce tin canisters.
Its ingredients form a protect, heal, and repair formulation that is excellent against salt residues, hot or cold paths, rough terrains, and much more.
What’s more, it shares the Musher’s Secret paw wax’s usability not only for dogs and cats but also for your equine and avian friends.
The Good
The Natureland Paw Wax for Dogs and Cats comes as a two-for-one against the price of the Natural Dog Company’s Paw Soother Stick.
As such, it is one of the best options when it comes to affordability.
The Bad
While it can provide the best value for money, the Natureland Paw Wax is not as grease-free as it claims to be.
The sticky substance can get onto carpets and upholstery, and the residues are pretty tricky to remove.
Pros:
- Coats and protects dog paws
- Easy to apply
- Makes dog paws smooth and shiny
- Cheapest among the options
Cons:
- Messy on hands during application
- Greasy and oily
Buyer’s Guide
If you’ve had furry friends for quite some time, you probably already know what a dog paw balm is and what its benefits are.
Nevertheless, it won’t hurt to know how a dog paw balm works and how to choose the best one for your dog.
For starters, a dog paw balm functions as a moisturizer for your dog’s pads, and some even work great for their nose.
Since it is a moisturizer, it protects your dog’s paws from dehydration and, as a result, helps prevent skin cracking and chafing.
When buying dog paw balm, consider the ingredients, product types, texture, packaging, and application method.
1. Harmful Ingredients
First and foremost, you will have to pay close attention to the ingredients contained in dog paw moisturizing products.
Make a list of chemicals your dogs are allergic to and look for underlying health conditions that can worsen due to such chemicals.
Furthermore, keep in mind that many chemicals tolerable for humans may be harmful to your dogs.
Examples of these include hydrocortisone, calcipotriene, lidocaine, diclofenac, and zinc oxide.
Choosing organically produced products or those with a higher percentage of naturally derived ingredients is always better.
That said, some naturally sourced ingredients, such as petroleum and mineral oils, are harmful to pets.
To be sure, avoid products containing highly synthetic chemicals that tend to do more harm than care.
2. Types and Texture of Dog Paw Moisturizers
Like moisturizers for humans, dog paw moisturizers also come in many forms. You may find them as lotions, waxes, ointments, and sticks.
Each of these types has a unique consistency, and it is up to you to pick the best fit for your dog.
Some dogs might find specific products irritating, while others might resist the sticky feeling on their paws.
Choosing your dog’s first paw moisturizer involves a bit of trial and error, at least until you find one that both you and your dog enjoy using.
3. Packaging and Method of Application
More often than not, the packaging of dog paw moisturizers tends to signify their application method.
Viscous substances such as lotions and ointments come in small canisters, while sticks take the form of their twist-tube containers.
On the other hand, waxes are more solid, and they usually stand alone without the need for hardened plastics.
With lotions and ointments, you will get some of the substance on your hands or fingertips while spreading the product on your dog’s paws.
Alternatively, twist-sticks and solid wax sticks are not as messy as lotions and ointments but take more time to apply.
Dog Paw Balm FAQs
1. How often should you put paw balm on dogs?
As a general rule, only use dog paw balm during the first signs of dehydration, cracking, or chafing and before resting or sleeping.
Applying the balm before exercising or playing can be counterproductive, as the friction against your dog’s paws prevents balm absorption.
Avoid applying chemical products on your dog’s paws when they seem perfectly healthy and devoid of dryness.
Not all dog paw balm products are the same. Some might have ingredients that can alter your dog’s skin consistency after extensive application.
It is always better to brush through a product’s safety information, contra-indications, and directions for use.
2. What if my dog licks paw balm?
A dog’s initial reaction to foreign substances adhering to its skin is always to lick, either to wash it off or taste it.
One trick is to choose products that only contain all-natural and organic ingredients.
Such options enable you to ensure that it is completely harmless no matter how much your dog licks the balm.
3. Is paw balm toxic for dogs?
Manufacturers specifically make most dog paw balms safe and non-toxic for dogs.
They design these products to penetrate tough, thick pad skin and seal in the moisture.
Furthermore, the substances typically have a volatile property, so that anything that remains on the surface evaporates after some time.
However, carefully scrutinizing a product’s complete list of ingredients is your sole responsibility as a dog owner.
4. How can I get my dog to stop licking his paw balm?
One way to prevent this is by having your dog wear some socks or booties, at least until the product penetrates the skin.
Alternatively, you can keep your dogs busy by bribing them with a treat while their paws absorb the balm.
Since only you know how your dogs react to certain stimuli, you probably already have a few tricks up your sleeve to keep them occupied.
5. Can you use paw balm on a dog’s nose?
Both a dog’s nose and paw pads are glabrous, which means they are typically free of hair and smooth throughout.
Furthermore, they comprise a similar overgrowth of keratin, making them thicker than most other parts of your dog’s entire skin and coat.
Since they have the same composition and characteristics, you can generally rely on the same products for the same purposes.
However, it all boils down to whether your dogs will like the balm’s scent or if they find the substance on their nose irritating.
Some products, such as the Primens, feature two-in-one usability for a dog’s paw pads and nose.
Which Dog Paw Balm Tops the List?
We recommend the Natural Dog Company Paw Soother Stick as the best dog paw balm out of all the products we discussed.
It is all-natural, organic, and vegan, so it is entirely non-toxic and not harmless for dogs of all breeds.
Furthermore, it comes in compact, pocket-sized twist-stick packaging, which means you can have it handy at all times.
Some pet owners use dog nail grinders to remove thickened dead skin on a dog’s paw pads.
We’re here to tell you that it is not a recommended solution.
Always opt for dog skin moisturizers, and seek professional help if symptoms persist.
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