That said, their paws can use some TLC, especially when it’s minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit outside and the wind and snow are blowing. account? Pour the mixture into lip balm tubes and/or tins. She sniffed at the balm a little bit, but didn’t seem to mind it or try to lick it off. This is similar to The Minimalist, but it uses cocoa butter instead of shea butter. Repeat as many times as needed until the mixture is completely combined. Lake Superior throws out spectacular gales every November and some 300 inches of snow between the first and last snowfalls. Creamy and loose balms are better for winter in my opinion. Probably concrete, rocks, sticks, and chemicals for starters. She was a little finicky about having her paws touched and moved, so dipping her paws in the balm didn’t work too well. Protect tender paws from the biting cold with this simple salve. Set out four 4-ounce jars and add essential oils (and optional vitamin E for increased shelf life) to each jar. Homemade All-Natural Paw Balm Recipe - DIY - MOTHER EARTH … Imagine you tagged along with your dog, barefoot for a day. Like to read more content, Join the Mother Earth News Community Today. Noma was a happy girl, and I know she loves her soft paws and elbows. If you’d like, you can use a larger jar or measuring cup and transfer to your smaller jar after it’s all melted. Everything fit, especially when it melted. • 12 drops lavender essential oil This recipe is for someone who wants to go the extra mile. While these recipes include lavender and chamomile essential oils, it’s important to know that many essential oils are toxic to dogs. You'll find tips for slashing heating bills, growing fresh, natural produce at home, and more. Sign up for the best pet advice you can get, © 2021 betterpet - Advice from a team of actual pet experts, Everything we create is factually accurate and biased toward science, White specks in dog poop: Here’s what to do. What kinds of surfaces and substances would you be up against? While we talk a lot about the tough folks who weather those winters, the pups and felines of the Northern Great Lakes are pretty tough, too. The best vitamins and supplements for senior dogs, 8 experts share their best dog training tips, The fully accessible guide to training an emotional support dog, Here's how to give special dogs a special home, The best cat backpack carriers, according to travelers, The cost of a cat, from adoption to emergencies, How to care for your pit bull with allergies, Use an oil-based recipe, like the ones listed above (water can encourage contaminant growth), Make sure your jar and stirring utensil are sterile, Store in a jar, tube, or airtight container, Store in a cool, dry environment as heat can encourage bacteria growth. Homemade shea nut butter & peppermint oil lip balm. With under ten easy-to-pronounce ingredients (clary sage butter, mango oil, coconut oil, beeswax, shea butter, jojoba oil, emu oil, vitamin E and lavender oil), you can trust that this all-natural dog balm is safe for your pet, even if he or she licks it. When we checked in the morning, the balm was perfect. Pour an inch or two of water into the bottom of a double boiler, or set a glass measuring bowl into a pot of water so that the glass bottom is submerged and the top is exposed. Soothing Paw Balm for Dogs Essential Oils Photo by: Debbie Wolfe beeswax; Paw Wax Instructions> In a small pot – or double boiler – over low heat melt the oils, shea butter, and beeswax. (approx. What you’ll need: 6, 1oz Heat safe tins. The ingredients: shea butter, beeswax, and either coconut or olive oil. Add coconut oil, olive oil, and shea butter to the glass bowl or the top of the double boiler to heat. Is there a recipe for what the indigenous people in the Northwoods would have used? And it works every time. 1 oz. Then I layered in the beeswax pellets, coconut oil, lavender essential oil, and olive oil. If you want to be sure that your balm or ingredients are safe, consult a veterinarian. Your pet’s paws are tough, built to take them from adventure to adventure. After rubbing a small amount in, I waited 30 minutes to check for redness, swelling, or other signs of an allergic reaction. Protect your cat’s and dog’s tender paws with this all-natural, homemade paw salve recipe. 1 tbsp.) Small pot or double broiler. • 1⁄4 cup beeswax pastilles As a ten-year-old, she’s less active on her feet, but her paws still get a little dry from time to time. don't have an online Gather the Ingredients. Just take a little dab with your finger and then rub it into the pad just like you would rub lotion into your hands. They’re also easy to make at home. The balm was not overly greasy even right after applying, but there was some residue. Already a Member but As you can see, my tiny jar was pretty full. Skipping harmful ingredients is just one benefit of choosing a homemade eye cream over storebought. Let them cool on the counter until hard. It’s nontoxic, easy to make, and can even be given as a thoughtful gift to fellow dog owners. Let it dry for a minute and then the paw has a protection that will help keep the paws nice and healthy. 3. 2. To make your own paw balm, in a small pot or double boiler, combine: 2 parts SkinButter Mango, shea, or similar. 5. The salve’s shelf life is one long, hard winter — longer if you include the optional vitamin E. Yield: 16 ounces (four 4-ounce jelly jars). Homemade paw butter for your furry best friends! Dermapaw Dog Skin & Paw Treatment. Stir infrequently until the beeswax begins to float to the top, at which point begin stirring more frequently. • 4 drops black pepper essential oil Plus, it smells delicious. Add all the beeswax, shea butter, coconut oil and olive oil together in the in 4 ounce glass bowl. Proper storing and planning can help keep your balm safe from spoiling and last for six months or longer. But if you love to DIY, a basic paw balm is easy to make. It was firm, lighter in color, and had a lovely scent. Our only balm pick … It’s a DIY peppermint foot lotion bar that will invigorate, refresh, and help with fungal issues. Canadian Subscribers - Click Here But I had to be careful not to spill when stirring because it was so full. A good paw balm will have moisturizing ingredients (like olive oil, vitamin E oil, or cocoa butter) and a protective, waxy ingredient (like beeswax). In the same way that lotion and shoes protect your feet, paw balms can help your doggie avoid painful skin cracking, especially during cold weather. I chose to make “The Fresh and Clean” because I love the smell of lavender, and the antibacterial properties are a nice bonus for my girl, Noma.  Always test new products on a small patch of skin on your dog’s paw pads before you apply to a large area like the entire paw. Noma doesn’t really suffer from dry paws, so I wanted to use this balm more for protection, rather than healing. DIY paw balm for pets DIY Pet Paw Balm. Plus, you might have several of the ingredients in your house already. 1 tsp castor oil. 1 … We’ll be using the balm throughout the winter months to stay moisturized and protected. My plan first was to make whipped shea butter for skin because that's what came to mind first. The paw balm will create that protective barrier, ensuring that your pupper’s paws stay moist and happy. You can find many of the best paw balms for under $20, but you can probably create your own for even cheaper. After a quick arm wrestle, I decided to scoop up a small amount with my hand, and rub it into her paw pads. Winters in the north woods are brutal. You will also need a small pot or double boiler and suitable tins or jars for storage. I don’t know where I would be without shea butter. And this DIY Dog Paw Butter Balm is just the thing to provide soothing, pain relieving, beeswax protection for those four furry feet (and nose! PAW BALM. Here’s the before and after. The three main contaminants are bacteria, mold, and yeast. Packed full of nourishing shea butter, refreshing Animal Scents essential oil blends and Young Living V-6® Enhanced Vegetable Oil Complex to keep your pet’s paws happy all year round. After a total of 2 minutes and 30 seconds in the microwave, the mixture was very hot, but still had a lot of unmelted pellets. This recipe also includes lavender essential oil for its fragrance and antibacterial properties. Soothing Winter Homemade Dog Paw Salve. Stir continuously until all is melted and well blended. Your dog's paws are up against the elements every day. I already had coconut oil, lavender essential oil, and olive oil on hand. Whipped Shea Butter Without Anything Else is More a Balm. But it’s as much a responsibility as it is an advantage. For the beeswax and cocoa butter, I used a brand called Simple Serenity because that was all that Michaels carried. I started with the cocoa butter, which had a similar consistency to a bar of soap, though a bit softer. Keep the Tail Wagging. Healing paw balms keep paw pads protected from the snow, soften the pads, heal cuts and scratches, and moisturizes dry paws and more. It worked like a charm! ; use almond oil instead of olive oil. I also decided to go with beeswax pellets instead of a solid bar. Benefits of Using Dog Paw Balm. • 1⁄4 cup unrefined shea butter We decided to check on the mixture in the morning, but you don’t need to let this sit overnight. If you would like your balm to be firmer than add more beeswax and less shea butter/oils.If you need a softer balm then use less beeswax and more of the butter and oils.. Once you have made your balm, if you don’t like the consistency, then you can always melt it down again and add more beeswax (to make it firmer) or more butter/oils (to make it softer). And decided to show you a balm … Let’s dig in. Then I began microwaving in 30 second increments, stirring in between rounds. All the pet-related recalls in one place. I screwed on the cap and left it to cool. Grain-free dog food: a lasting trend or a danger to your dog? 2 oz coconut oil. Loads of Vitamin E at a nice price. After stirring for about 15 seconds, all the pellets all melted and I was left with a liquid. If you decide you don’t want to go through the trouble of making your own, there are plenty of fantastic paw balms with all-natural ingredients. It’s that good! • 1 cup olive oil We have been using this diy balm for itchy skin, bug bites, kp (ketosis polaris), random red spots, sunburn…the list goes on. International Subscribers - Click Here So you can use it on almost any dog without worrying about the ingredients. For au naturale dog owners like me, this is a huge plus. Homemade Paw Balm (DIY) This is a recipe that may be used year-round. You’ll find plenty of conventional eye creams that promise more youthful-looking skin. Updated daily. Here's what you need to know. 6. Canadian subscriptions: 1 year (includes postage & GST). After about 15 minutes of drying, her paw pads had soaked up most of the excess. Georgia and Alie love their balm and it gives them puppy paws! My microwave is puny (only 700 watts), so it took several rounds to see some serious melting. If you can’t find trustworthy information about an ingredient’s toxicity for dogs, you probably shouldn’t use it. Sign in with your online account. No big deal, but if you’d like it to be pretty and smooth, maybe allow your mixture to cool without the lid. Ingredients: – 4g candelilla wax – 4g shea butter – 10g coconut oil – 10g calendula infused oil – 10g chamomile infused oil – 2 drops cedarwood essential oil – 3 drops lavender essential oil – 3 drops vitamin E oil (optional) Instructions: Melt candelilla wax in a double boiler. Though I recommend this for Spring and Summer climates. 1 oz shea butter* 4 tsp beeswax *Be sure to use shea butter and not cocoa butter, as cocoa butter can be toxic to dogs. First, I did a patch test on one paw pad. However, this DIY shea butter eye cream delivers the naturally protective benefits of shea butter, without a hefty dose of harmful chemicals on the side. It’s formulated to naturally kill bacterial and fungal infections, including yeast. • 1 cup coconut oil Everything we create is factually accurate and biased toward science → meet our team of experts. When you take a look at the ingredients it makes sense that it works so well. Pour the melted base salve over the essential oil, leaving an air gap from 1 to 4 inches at the tops of the jars, and lightly stir. 1tsp shea nut butter. It has the same base as the first two, but it also includes vitamin E oil, chamomile essential oil, and calendula oil for extra fall coziness. Here is the before and after. Today is all about keeping your dog’s paws soft and protected from the elements. And when I whipped it I kept thinking it was some sort of DIY whipped shea butter for skin for around 4 days or so. The two are very similar in terms of moisturizing ability, but cocoa butter has a little bit more of a nutty scent. Apply this salve to your pet’s paws this winter to prevent frostbitten and ice-burned pads. Paw balm instructions. 4. In the summer paws can get cracked and dry from hot pavement. The ingredients and supplies that I use for my paw balm are a dog-suitable skin butter, coconut oil, olive oil or sweet almond oil, beeswax, and vitamin E oil, and you can adjust these to best suit personal preferences for ingredients and consistency. Dog balms are great for soothing and protecting paw pads. ). I decided to put some on her elbows as well, where she really tends to get dry. At MOTHER EARTH NEWS for 50 years and counting, we are dedicated to conserving our planet's natural resources while helping you conserve your financial resources. Because they aren’t made with preservatives, DIY paw balms can “go bad” if exposed to bacteria or fungus. The advantage of making your own dog balm is that you have control over the ingredients. Just because an ingredient is safe for human use, does not mean it’s safe to use on your dog. By paying with a credit card, you save an additional $5 and get 6 issues of MOTHER EARTH NEWS for only $12.95 (USA only). Shea butter comes from the African Shea tree and is extracted from nuts produced by the tree. With the help of veterinarians, we’ve researched and ranked the best dog balms on the market. And how would they store it? That's why we want you to save money and trees by subscribing through our earth-friendly automatic renewal savings plan. Before you go experimenting, you should feel confident that every ingredient you use is pet safe. After finding nothing concerning, I went ahead and applied more. Here is a list of essential oils that are not safe for dogs to ingest or even use topically. This makes melting a bit quicker. Cap and label. Diet is often the best place to start. add coconut oil. Luckily, there’s an easy way to soothe painful puppy paws: homemade paw balm! Since I closed the container while it was still hot, the jar popped when I opened it and created a little hole in the mixture. …but, after reading here on Scratch Mommy about how incredible shea butter is for your skin, I just had to give it a try. Already a Member? Hi, thanks for stopping by. The balm is so easy to apply. I definitely recommend having some paper towels laid out ahead of time for resting your stirring stick and cleaning up spills. Here are a few of our favorites: Learn how to combat excess shedding (and save your furniture). Noma (left) with her best friend Venus (right). You’d likely acquire a few new callouses! Cover with cheesecloth, or some other breathable material, and cool for eight hours. While your upfront costs may be a bit more expensive, you’ll have leftover ingredients to make several more batches. DIY Healing. You may also use the Bill Me option and pay $17.95 for 6 issues. Survival Skills, Garden Planning, Seed Saving, Food Preservation, Natural Health – Dozens of courses, 100+ workshops, and interactive Q&As. I was able to get all of the remaining ingredients at Michaels. Spoiler: I still made a mess. Everything aside from olive oil can probably be found at any craft store. You simply dump everything in the container and heat. Antifungal and antibacterial ingredients are an added bonus. I’m a nighttime crafter, so Noma and I were pretty tired by the time I was finished. Otherwise I presume they’d just lick it off (coconut oil is tasty to our beast). Irritants and abrasive surfaces can cause your dog’s paws to dry out, crack, and bleed — especially in extreme heat or cold. With winter coming up, I’m excited to have a good paw balm to keep her happy. Do you put this on their paws just prior to venturing outdoors? (which I forgot to get and it is used in the original recipe) Coconut oil has great antibacterial properties so it’s perfect for paw balm. Why not try a simple homemade DIY pet paw balm, perfect for pampering. 7. 2 oz olive oil. How clever is this? I am counting the days until Spring. The great part about this balm is that it’s kind of like a one-pot dinner. How to Make Dog Paw Balm. Their paws will thank you for the relief. Quantity Variations. Another benefit of making your own paw balm is that you can customize and minimize the ingredients that go into the balm. • 12 drops frankincense essential oil But they need a little love from time to time. I pre-mixed my oils together in the measuring cup in hopes of avoiding a mess. Bring water to a simmer. Week-By-Week Vegetable Gardener's Handbook, Edible Mushrooms: Safe To Pick, Good To Eat, Natural Cold Storage: Fresh Food in Winter, Keeping Crops Cool During Hot Weather: 13 Ways to Beat the Heat, Subscribe Today - Pay Now & Save 64% Off the Cover Price. Shea Butter. • 1⁄2 tsp vitamin E oil (optional). Chamomile essential oil has anti-inflammatory properties, while calendula oil is a widely loved skin-saver with antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. The best all-natural paw balms 5 common puppy illnesses to watch for The 8 best toothpastes for dogs in 2021 How to soothe your dog’s cracked paws health Pemphigus in dogs Activated charcoal for dogs, explained White specks in dog poop: Here’s what to do The best dog vitamins, according to vets food + nutrition I have never used shea butter in a DIY skincare recipe before. I let her out to potty first and then had her lay down after I applied the balm so that it could soak in for as long as possible without being rubbed away. What I would different the next time when making DIY paw balm. If you do your shopping online, you can probably be a little bit pickier about specific brands you like. Not only are these ingredients soothing to smell, but they’re also packed with benefits. Truth. After the oils and the shea butter have integrated, add beeswax pastilles. Instructions: Add all of the ingredients to your mason jar. Let it cool and harden completely before applying. Here are some tips to help you get the most life out of your homemade balm. You’ll know it’s done as soon as it’s cool and solid. 1. 4 Ingredient Skin Butter Dog Paw Balm Recipe. Here is an easy DIY healing paw balm recipe. shea butter; 4 tsp. Heat for 30 seconds, then stir the mixture with the spoon or skewer. Not only is this painful for your pup, but it can lead to infections. If you start to notice a change in smell or appearance (color or texture), your balm has probably gone bad. You can even use it on yourself – both of these recipes make a great lip balm or healing skin balm.