How Do You Treat Dry or Cracked Dog Paws?
We love our canine companions and it’s important to take care of their paws and noses just as we’d take care of our own bodies. That’s why we created Rhoose Point Remedies Dog Paw & Nose Balm.
The condition of your dog’s paws will tell you a lot about their health overall. It’s very important for your dog to have healthy paws – not just for their mobility, but for their overall health in general.
Why is it important to look after your dog's paws?
Dog paw pads are made up of complex networks consisting of soft connective tissues, tendons and ligaments. Their paws require a lot of blood supply to the area which is why it’s important to take good care of your dog’s paws.
Dog paw pads are shock absorbers with thick layers of protective fatty tissue. Although they are designed to help dogs move around outdoors, they are still vulnerable to cracking and blistering. Healthy paw pads are smooth to touch, without cracks or blisters.
Paw pads are so important for a dog, and they are needed for more than just walking or running.
Paw pads are needed to…
- Cushion their weight, acting as a shock absorber for their sensitive joints
- Protect the sensitive tissues and fragile ligaments in the paw
- Help your dog to move around easily and comfortably
- Tell your dog what kind of surface or terrain they are walking on
- Regulate overall body temperature
Are rough or peeling dog paws normal?
Whilst it’s normal for your dog’s paws to be slightly rough on occasion, it is not normal for your dog’s paws to peel.
Rough paws are a sign that they are getting regular exercise and outdoor play! And whilst rough paws might be common, excessively rough paws are not ideal and paws that peel can be very painful for your dog.
If your dog’s paws start peeling, then they can become blistered and infected very quickly. This only causes further health problems, and can lead to some heavy vet bills.
Why is paw pad care important?
Rough dog paws are uncomfortable for your canine companion. In the same way cracked and dry feet are uncomfortable for humans, rough dog paws are painful and unpleasant for your dog. Paw pad care is important because:
- Your dog cannot tell you they are in pain, so it’s important to ensure your dog’s paws are always cared for
- If dog paws aren’t cared for properly, they can become prone to infection
- Paw pad care protects the skin on the paw pad and prevents irreversible damage
- It ensures your dog can continue to get regular exercise and play outside for the duration of its life
- Your dog will have a longer and happier life
- Cracked or rough paws prompt your dog to lick their paws to add moisture, which only leads to more health problems and large vet bills
What causes rough dog paws?
There are several different causes for rough dog paws, and mainly they stem from human landscape and outside environmental factors such as…
- Rough terrain (gravel or rocky areas)
- Sharp objects (sharp stones, and foreign objects on the ground)
- Cold and harsh weather
- Hot ground in the summer like tarmac paths
- Frozen ground and snow
- Salts and grit used on icy surfaces
Can I put moisturiser on my dog’s paws?
A lot of people ask things like “Can I put Nivea on my dogs paws?” “Can I put Vaseline on my dogs paws?” Instead of thinking about the individual brand of cream that may be suitable for you, here’s a simple answer.
Never put any human moisturising product on your dog’s paws. The skin on your dog’s paws has a totally different biological makeup compared to human skin.
Most brand name moisturisers have many hidden chemicals that we wouldn’t recommend putting on your own skin, let alone your dog’s paws!
If your dog has cracked paws, you may be tempted to self-treat it with common moisturising products like Vaseline, Nivea or E45 cream. These products might moisturise human skin but they often contain chemicals that won’t help the condition of your dog’s paws at all. Unfortunately, this could worsen your dog’s condition.
How to treat rough dog paws
At Rhoose Point Remedies, we have a specially formulated Dog Paw & Nose Balm, created with your best friend in mind.
Our healing balm is designed to moisturise, heal and protect. We use only the purest, most organic ingredients for your dog.
Our balm is 100% Natural Beeswax-based. Beeswax is a great foundation for our balm, because it is rich in vitamin A which assists in the healing process of the skin.
Beeswax is also a ‘humectant.’ That means it absorbs and holds moisture. This is particularly helpful for areas which are susceptible to dehydration, such as the muzzle, nose and paw pads.
We only use BBKA (British Beekeeping Association) approved 100% pure, unrefined, organic beeswax in our balm. That means there are no added ingredients used in the extraction or production processes.
Our raw organic coconut oil is cold pressed. We use only fresh, organic coconuts. The coconut oil is not refined, meaning it is not mixed with any other foreign properties or heat treated (this removes its nutritional properties), so our coconut oil is completely pure.
Coconut oil is antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial. This makes it a great component for our balm. This also means it’s a natural antibiotic, and a natural replacement for chemical antibacterials found in chemical-based treatments. It’s also safe to eat, so it’s okay if your dog licks it.
Some other dog balms on the market contain the refined coconut oil mentioned above. The refined coconut oil is heat treated and has most of it’s nutritional properties stripped from the ingredient. Some dogs have shown an allergic reaction to refined coconut oil which is why we have chosen to only include unrefined, cold pressed and nutritionally optimal coconut oil only.
We use unrefined shea butter, which means that no pesticides were added to the shea nuts that have been extracted to create this thick butter. Shea butter is also super rich in vitamins A, E, F and K – which all have incredible nourishing properties.
Shea butter is one of the most nourishing and moisturising natural ingredients for the skin and is often used to combat irritating and sometimes painful skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.
Sweet Almond Oil is incredibly rich in moisture due to its high Vitamin E content. Its hydrating properties help to secure moisture onto dog paws and noses.
The sweet almond oil in our balm is refined and has no natural scent so that it doesn’t offend our sensitive dogs’ noses whilst maintaining it’s skin treating properties.
Our Vitamin E oil is derived from sunflowers. Our distilled oil helps to soothe irritation and itchiness.
Some Vitamin E oils added in other dog balms on the market contain synthetically produced Vitamin E oil produced from petrochemicals which are not only toxic to pets and humans but bad for our environment too!
Rhoose Point Remedies only ever use the highest quality, natural ingredients to ensure that our products are the safest they can be for you, your loved ones, your pets and the environment.
Calendula oil is used in many skincare recipes that are designed to soothe irritated skin and help heal minor skin damage. It has numerous benefits like aiding to reduce acne, eczema and skin irritations. It improves the overall appearance of skin and helps to keep it hydrated,
Calendula balm is ideal for use on sensitive skin. A study found calendula extract improves wound healing recovery and reduces inflammation of the skin
These ingredients are 100% ethically and sustainably sourced, and they’re completely organic. That’s why our balm is the perfect healing solution to your dog’s cracked or broken paw pads. Our customers love this product – this balm can heal cracked paws in as little as 2 days.
Dogs are curious creatures, and they often use their tongues to explore unfamiliar substances on their skin. That’s why we choose ingredients that are safe to lick and completely non-toxic.
When should you apply Dog Paw & Nose Balm to your dog's paws?
We recommend using our Dog Paw & Nose Balm in three different ways:
1. When your dog’s paws are cracked, sore or dry
During these times, you should apply the balm generously as often as you feel is needed. Dog owners that apply the balm to their pet’s symptomatic areas have shown improvements in as little as 2 days!
2. Before a walk, to protect against the outdoors
Our Dog Paw & Nose Balm should be applied before each walk, if walking on rough terrain.
Apply in the summer especially in the height of season when the ground can be hot as an extra barrier of protection for their paws. (Remember though, please keep your dog safe and avoid walking your dog in during the hottest parts of the day!)
We recommend also applying on cold or icy days when the ground is sometimes covered in salty grit that can irritate your best friend’s feet. Apply before your walk and on returning home, wash your dog’s paws to remove harmful substances and reapply the balm as an extra protection.
3. As a regular part of your dog’s grooming routine.
Dog balm does not have to only be used to heal wounds. It can also be used as a regular part of your dogs grooming routine to help prevent paw injuries and paw irritation from ever occurring and to help keep their skin, paws and noses in top condition.
Apply at night when your pooch is ready to settle for bed to allow the balm to soak into the paws, nose and skin.
Always wipe over your dog’s paws to remove any debris before applying the balm and be gentle with cracked or sore skin.
Dog Paw & Nose Balm by Rhoose Point Remedies
For more information about Rhoose Point Remedies’ Dog Paw & Nose Balm, take a look at our article here. It’s packed full of useful information – including a detailed ingredients list and application instructions.