I finally managed to convince two of my best human pals to join me for a dogventure. It was a gloomy Sunday in Halifax, but time with friends makes everything feel a little brighter.
I had to run a few errands downtown (most importantly, I had to pick up the ingredients for Homemade Paw Balm – more on this later!) so we decided to meet up at Conrose Park.
Conrose Park is a smaller urban park adjacent to the St. Mary’s Boat Club. It’s nestled in between Jubilee Road and Coburg Road, and as it it turns out, it’s the perfect spot for a wintertime playdate. That’s because Conrose Park is on the list of HRM sports fields that turn into off-leash play spaces for the winter months. To read more about this awesome program, check out this blog post.
We spent the morning catching up, tossing the ball, failing at keeping our pooches out of the mud, and MEETING PUPPIES.
You may remember this majestic pup from Martha’s guest post. Just look at him.
After our playdate, it was time to head home to try a new recipe: Homemade Paw Balm. I came across the idea of paw balm because I was searching for a way to protect Dallas’s feet from the harsh cold and salty streets. We have tried dog booties, without much luck. They’re a pain to put on and they always seem to fall off. Plus, they are expensive. We splurged for a higher end brand of dog booties, and even then, they started to come apart after a half dozen uses. We were in search of an alternative.
Enter paw balm. You can buy various types in-store, but I wanted to try making our own. Many of the recipes I found were nearly identical. I decided to follow DogRunnin’s recipe (because, well, they are local and they are awesome). I made just one tweak: I added some vitamin E for extra soothing powers.
The most difficult part about making the Homemade Paw Balm was tracking down the ingredients; specifically, natural beeswax. I tried three different locations in HRM including the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market before finally finding it at Organic Earth Market on Quinpool Road. I picked up the shea butter and vitamin E at The Healthy Bug Natural Health Shoppe, and I already had coconut oil and olive oil.
Here is the recipe.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup natural beeswax
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tbsp. shea butter
- 10 drops vitamin E
Yield: Approx. two jars (250-mL each).
1. Fill a pot about one-third full with water and heat to medium-low.
2. Set a standard or large-sized mason jar inside of the pot. This creates a double boiler effect. (You could also just use a double boiler, but beware: my mason jar was impossible to get clean afterwards so I am glad I used something fairly disposable.)
3. Put the beeswax in the jar and heat, stirring often, until it’s melted. This took about ten minutes. (Tip: I used a wooden skewer to stir so I wouldn’t ruin a spoon.)
4. Add the coconut oil, olive oil and shea buetter. As you can see, I was pretty loose with my measurements. Heat until melted, stirring often.
5. Remove from heat and add the vitamin E drops. Stir.
6. Pour the mixture into storage containers. I used smaller mason jars. (Tip: I like the wide-mouth jar the best because I can put Dallas’s paw inside the jar and simply rub her paw on the balm to apply it.)
7. Let it sit for an hour or so until it hardens.
Voila! You now have an all-natural, yummy-smelling paw protector for your pooch! I hear this stuff also works well for dry human skin.
Dallas didn’t mind me putting it on her paws AND she didn’t try to lick it off. I’m calling this one a win.
Halifax Dogventures 
I’m allergic to Shea Butter so I cannot put it on my furbaby. I’ve read other DIY paw balms and they all have Shea Butter…Is there a substitute for this ingredient?
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When looking for more natursl beeswax, try going to your local farmer’s market for anyone selling local honey. Beeswax maybe a seasonal thing: during honey collection time, but if you have a favourite supplier, I’m sure they can spare a chunk or two to share! This recipe sounds great if you’re a gardener and your hands gets dry from working in the dirt. Must try your recipe!
Thanks
Diane C.
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What is the shelf life of this recipe. Want to try it but also don’t want it to go bad before I use it all.
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I made mine two years ago and it’s still good.
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So if olives are a deadly food for dogs. Why would you put olive oil in a paw balm?
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Hi! I just got a 10 month old husky pup and he has very dry paws! Would this work?
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A gift box tin around the size of a deck of cards works well for dipping paws in to.
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that’s a great idea!! I’m a pet groomer and I like to give a homemade gift at Christmas to all of my clients. This would be perfect, something for them and their pups! using the gift card tin would make this recipe stretch much further. Thanks for the great idea!!
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What kind of beeswax did you use? I want to make this for my dog but I’m not sure what kind to get.
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I keep my jar on the heat vent by the door. It keeps it nice n soft in the winter! Great tip on the mason jar in the pot!
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That’s a great idea! Thanks for sharing.
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I’m going to try this and probably add some Lavender oil to it for a relaxing smell. I feed my 3 dog’s Elsa a Chihuahua mix, Swingin’ a 11 month old Chiweenie and Violet a 2 months old puppy Chiweenie Coconut Oil. They love it and it’s very good for their coats and digestive system.
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Be careful about the oils you put in as MANY can be toxic to animals.
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I heard lavender oils used in diffusers are toxic to dogs and cats. Is it toxic for them in this?
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How do you get it on the paws? Mine is so hard I can’t even get any on my finger unless I scrape it with my fingernails and that won’t spread. What else could I use instead of the beeswax? It was such a waste of ingredients for me.
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Try using less beeswax
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Reheat and add more oil to soften. Don’t add more beeswax.
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Seems like too much beeswax. Thats what makes it hard. I would re melt in microwave, small 10 sec bursts until liquid. Then add same ingredients but leave out beeswax. This will give you more, but should be softer. The shea butter will kelt wirh the heat of your body. So maybe put a bit on your hands, rub till soft and then put on pup. Hope this helps. Ive added lavender to mine cause its anti bacterial and atifungual which helps with small cuts and scrapes. Added benefit, pup might not lick cause lavender is bitter to taste. I use and selk it all the time. annieslavender.com
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This stuff works so great (i even use it on myself)shush dont tell anybody…
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Haha your secret is safe with me!
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Hi there!
I’d love to try some paw balm for my lab out here in Alberta and your recipe looks great! I was wondering if you’ve had any troubles with the balm coming off and staining carpets or sheets? We have light brown coloured carpets and as much as I love our girl I worry about her tattooing the rug with little paw prints. Thanks for your help!
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Hi Alyssa, I haven’t had any issues with staining. The balm seems to absorb really well. Good luck!
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Where did you get the Shea butter ? One of my dogs has very sensitive feet in the snow and I want to try it on him
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I found shea butter at The Healthy Bug Natural Health Shoppe at 3514 Joseph Howe Drive, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
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Thank you for telling me were to get the stuff, l got some for her paws thank you again .ruff ruff from my little peanut she says thxs.
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I got my shea butter on Amazon
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Is this safe for cats? My cat has dry paws and could benefit from something that would moisturize and be somewhat protectant and healing vs just applying coconut or olive oil. Also, if I use it on my dog I wanted to know if the cats would have a reaction licking it off her paws or the floor. Thanks!
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Hi Bee, thanks for your comment. I don’t know much about cats (I am a dog person through and through!). The ingredients are very safe and non toxic to dogs and humans, but I don’t know enough to say whether cats would have any sensitivities or allergies to anything contained in this recipe.
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You must not use ANY essential oils on cats…look it up if you don’t believe me… Essential oils can kill cats!
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Most applications for dogs DO not recommend for cats, even the ones that are entirely organic. I would not recommend.
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Seems like too much beeswax. Thats what makes it hard. I would re melt in microwave, small 10 sec bursts until liquid. Then add same ingredients but leave out beeswax. This will give you more, but should be softer. The shea butter will kelt wirh the heat of your body. So maybe put a bit on your hands, rub till soft and then put on pup. Hope this helps. Ive added lavender to mine cause its anti bacterial and atifungual which helps with small cuts and scrapes. Added benefit, pup might not lick cause lavender is bitter to taste. I use and selk it all the time. annieslavender.com
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My dog just licked it off.
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That’s too bad! I am surprised he/she liked the taste.
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I have 2 dogs that both love the flavor of the butters & oils in psw butters yo the point when I get it out they both come running, go in a sit, and I even starts doing tricks to charm me to make sure he will get some. Between the coconut oil which is define and something that I was actually told buy my vet that it was a good option of an oil to give to a dog which I had rescued years ago who had very dry allergy skin to help moisturize and and heal his skin from the inside out. Again, he simply got s tablespoon of it and went nuts at the sight of the jar. Shea butter is also one mine find quite tasty. I know this as I use 100% pure organic shea butter on my feet, heals, kneels, elbows and then rub any remaining left on my hands into my nails and cuticles after bathing and before bed and once again, my buddies can not resist licking my feet as they lie down to sleep. If I skip this bedtime ritual, neither one have any interest so I am certain it is the Shea butter. I am however convinced that even with some licking, they will not be defeating the benefit the will be getting from applying this to the pads of their feet (I actually use it on dry, cracked or crusty noses that some brachosephelic dogs get from the constantant licking, etc (such as pugs, Frenchies, Boston Terriors, & Pekinese,etc )
If you actually rub it in as much as you can, between toes and while massaging it in, there will be some absorption. And even if it seems they have licked most of it off, there is still some their in the low areas, the pores, if you will, the groves of the skin, but once absorption begins it goes into the areas of skin further than just these low areas. So it is still beneficial. If you can manage a pair of socks or booties after application at bedtime so that it really has time to work without being rubbed (or licked) off.
So no worries if they lick this, it is not harmful. I get all of my ingredients fro! Amazon (best prices and I have been able to che k sources to assure there have been no child labor used in the companies supplying the product from some of these third word countries. Or suppressed women workers,etc. As well as the products are being harvested in an environmentally safe & conscience way. I also am able to buy organic for less than local sources.I hope I have helped someone.
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Thank you for this response! It is extremely helpful. Much appreciated.
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You could always use a current carrier oil. Like grape seed it absorbs faster and barely head a smell.
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Grapes are toxic to dogs, DO NOT use grape seed oil as it would be intensified and have even greater toxicity.
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Just wondering where you found shea butter in Halifax? Thank you.
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I found shea butter at The Healthy Bug Natural Health Shoppe at 3514 Joseph Howe Drive, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
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Perfect, thank you.
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This is new to me, but at the point of sounding a bit ignorant, shea butter?…is it a lotion? I want to make sure I don’t get something wrong 😋
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Hi Edith, the shea butter I purchased comes in a container that looks like a body cream container but it’s not normally used as a lotion on its own. It’s typically used as an ingredient in cosmetics and lotions.
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Is #4 supposed to say coconut oil, olive oil, and coconut oil? Or is the third ingredient supposed to be shea butter?
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Hazel, good catch! I can’t believe I didn’t notice this mistake. This has now been fixed. Thanks!
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Helllo! Is this balm for protection of salt from the winter months or can this be used to protect their feet in cold weather? We have a greyhound and he always lifts his paws when he’s cold. Like you, we’ve invested in booties for him but he refuses to walk and keep them on. My husband didn’t think it protected against the cold so I wanted to hear your testimony with the product.
Thanks!
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Hi Kaitlin, that’s a tricky question! Since the balm simply coats your dog’s paws with a wax-like substance, I would think that the temperature protection would be minimal… That said, other readers have commented that they use paw balm to protect their dog’s paws from hot concrete during very hot weather. So that leads to me think there must be some great protective qualities to it. If you decide to try it out, please let me know how it works!
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This works well as a moisturizer year-round, to keep paw pads soft and supple. Otherwise, your dog’s paws can get very rough.
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Yes this will protect from Salt and slight cold, however your dogs tolerance for cold may be different than other dogs. We use paw balms for quick walks and warmer weather -5 and up.
In the summer it allows a small barrier between your dogs paws and blistering pavement. You will have to apply it more often and don’t expect it to work like putting on a pair of shoes. Before you leave put the back of your hand on the warmest part of the pavement for 5 min if you can keep it there that long then it is a safe temperature to walk your dog; make sure you put on some paw balm so the heat will take longer to affect your dogs paws. Make sure you bring some paw balm with you so you can reapply as needed.
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I too have made paw butter similar to your recipe & yes it does work great on humans; very protective as it is for doggie paws. I have small crock pot specifically for purpose of melting my beeswax for various projects this being one of them; works great and really don’t have to clean out just put away till ready to use next time!!
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Love the crockpot idea! Thanks for your comment, Lelia.
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I just made this but used Jojoba oil instead of the olive oil as it has a longer shelf life and a bit different. i like the recipe and hopefully my dogs will too. It was very easy and I did have all the ingredients as I also make my own deodorant from the same ingredients.
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Hi l also use Paw Wax and l love it . Put l was wouldering about the deodorant l would love to make some could you give me a recipe about how to make it thank you Jax
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Made this today! Love the natural ingredients! Quite easy to make…will have to wait & see if the dogs lick it or not. Lol Thank you!
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Great recipe. You can get natural beeswax at Amazon.com Happy New Year.
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How about shopping locally? Granted if you are in the middle of New York City or TO this might be a challenge but check out a honey producer – they always have it, you know it is organic and you are supporting a local business. Got my beeswax locally quite reasonably and absolutely LOVED the recipe and making it – thank you so much for sharing BIG TIME!!
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You can get small jelly jars at the grocery stores.
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I’d like to know were you found your small wide jars ?
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Hi Lori, I found them at the grocery store (Atlantic Superstore). I am not sure where you live but you could try there! They really are the best for paw balm.
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Is Shea butter edible ?
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Pure, organic, unrefined shea butter is actually used as a cooking oil in Africa
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Sounds great I’m going to make this. I assume that Shea butter CV is edible?
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Not sure if I would call it “edible” but it’s non toxic.
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I’m alright to coconut oil, can I use mango butter to replace this as well? Or are there any other alternatives? ☺
My little mister has chappen feeties. 🙁
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I haven’t tried mango butter but why not give it a try? Let me know how it turns out!
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I make skin cream for myself that’s similar tho this, but no shea butter. Should work for paws. About equal amounts beeswax & coconut oil plus a few drops vitamin e oil. I sometimes use a little extra coconut oil, but probably would be a little too greasy for puppy feet! If the dog licks this, out shouldn’t be a problem. Just put it on in a thin layer.
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I’m curious to know what the paw balm does to your flooring/carpet when the dog walks around?
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We always put it on right before our walks so I guess most of it rubs off or gets absorbed by the time we get home. I’ve never noticed it on the floor.
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Just wanted to add to the discussion: Found this link that states that Cocoa Butter is toxic to dogs, but Shea Butter is fine.
https://www.cuteness.com/article/shea-cocoa-butter-toxic-dogs
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Thanks for the info!
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We can’t use shea or any other nut oils due to allergies in our family…is the paw butter as effective without it? Any alternate ideas?
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Hi Kelly, thanks for your comment. I haven’t tried it, but I’ve heard than mango butter is a good substitute. Good luck!
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Great information I am going to try it. Can it also be used on rough elbows and in the extreme cold my boys nose gets chapped, so is it okay for the top of his nose?
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Yes absolutely! All ingredients are completely natural and non-toxic.
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Is there a danger if they lick it. I don’t think my dog will be able not to, but it would be really nice for her. she is so sensible to the cold.
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Hi Sonia, I believe the ingredients would be relatively safe for your dog to ingest in very limited quantities, but I am by no means an expert so I would ask you veterinarian about this.
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Hey,
Great post! I literally just made your recipe for Paw Balm, very easy recipe. I was wondering how often I should put the balm on my dog.
Thanks!
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So glad the recipe worked out well for you! I use the paw balm before heading out into harsh conditions. For periods of time in the wintertime when we have a deep freeze, this can be every day. But as the weather gets milder, I don’t use it nearly as often. As long as your dog isn’t licking it off his or her paws, I don’t think there is a risk of over-applying it.
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I live in Fort Worth TX, and the roads here get extremely hot, way up over 100 degrees! We have to wait until after 9pm or later to walk them :(. We currently use a product called Mushers, that is supposed to work for Hot or Cold, it seems to work. I was just wondering if your product works on hot surfaces?
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Shelly, that is incredibly hot! Living in Canada, we have the opposite problem of icy and salty sidewalks. That said, I do think this product would work on hot surfaces, because like Mushers, it’s a wax designed to provide a layer of protection between your dog’s paws and harsh surfaces, whether icy and salty, or scorching hot. Let me know how it works for you!
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Shelly – I live in DFW and wondering if you have tried this yet. If so, did it help? It seems that the wax might melt here since it’s so dang hot. Thanks!
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Hi Tonya; I live in Phoenix, AZ so like you, we are used to temps over 100F more than 6 months out of the year and regards what I put on my dogs feet short of SHOES, there is nothing that will give them enough protection to keep their little fret from burning and even blistering and peeling due to second degree burns when walking on concrete or especially asphalt. Both of mine must wear shoes, and although neither one liked them in the beginning, just like most dogs, if you just stick with it , a few minutes everyday even if you don’t go out side but just gather to walk a bit in the house a bit note every day until you are up to 20 mi utes or so and is actually doing some walking, even if it looks rediculas. That is the time to go ahead and put her/his leash on and go for a short walk. Everyday will get easier. Obviously you still have the heat fa for to consider making sure your pup doesn’t get over heated & stays hydrated extra well because of the heat and the extra panting and sweating that will cause loss of fluids.(Extra tips for dehydration: Give your dog chilled low sodium chicken stock to drink or if your dog enjoys chewing ice cubes, freeze an ice cube trace of your low sodium chicken stock and feed them to him to enjoy as a crun by frozen treat!) This will not o ly help with extra fluid but with the extra electrolytes thathour pup needs to trulyget himbackon his feet and bounced back and feeling better much quicker 🌴🐕🐾 🐩🐾 🌵🌞
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Could you use Cocoa butter Vs. Shea?
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Hi Debbie, thanks for your question. I have never worked with cocoa butter but from what I understand, it is a different consistency from Shea butter (I believe it’s harder). So while the two can be used as substitutes in some recipes, I would be concerned about the cocoa butter making the paw balm too hard. This recipe produces a denser, wax-like product as is. That said, it can’t hurt to try! If you decide to go for it, I would love to hear how it turns out.
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I believe someone prior said that cocoa butter was toxic to dogs. You will want to confirm that!
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I’d like to know were you found your small wide jars ?
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https://www.cuteness.com/article/shea-cocoa-butter-toxic-dogs
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Henry was gifted a small jar once but it requires me to get my hands really dirty. This dipping paw in paw balm jar business is genius. And not only are making homemade paw balm but you’re also packaging it like a qween?! Impressed.
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