Paw Care Tips

 

Winter weather can be hard on a dog's paws. I had to stop several times while on a walk with my dogs, Jake and Coral, last week to warm up their paws and remove the snow and salt. They refuse to wear boots. 

 

Salt, sand, ice and snow can irritate and sting paws.

 

After that walk I came home and made an all-natural soothing paw balm. I'm sharing the recipe and a quick how-to video.

 

Here are a few winter paw care tips:

 

• Trim the fur in between your dog's toes and paw pads.

• Keep your dog's nails trimmed. Tip! Coral is not a fan of nail trims. I recently bought a slow feeder mat (sometimes called a lick mat) which is a food grade silicone mat with small flexible projections that you can fill with some nut butter, yogurt or canned pumpkin. Coral was so busy licking the mat that I was able to trim her nails without the usual amount of drama! 

• Rinse your dog's paws with lukewarm water and pat dry after they have walked on salt or sand treated sidewalks.

• Use an all natural dog-safe balm to soothe paw pads.

 

 

Quick Method for Making a Calendula & Coconut Oil Paw Balm

 

This is a slightly loose 'recipe' for making a balm for your dog's paws. I used the quick method because I needed the balm right away.

 

I like coconut oil since it becomes solid at cool temperatures which makes it less messy than other oils. I keep a supply of dried calendula flowers on hand to use for balms, herbal soaks and shampoos. Calendula is very soothing with wound healing properties. It's anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory.

 

• In a crockpot combine 2 cups of coconut oil and about 1/2 cup of dried calendula flowers.

• Stir till combined.

• Set the crockpot to the lowest temperature setting. You want the heat of the oil to draw out the healing properties of the calendula - but you don't want to overheat the oil or fry the flowers.

• If you have a digital thermometer, keep the oil below 110 F.

• Allow the coconut oil and calendula to warm on the lowest setting for about 4 hours. Do not leave the crockpot unattended. Lift the lid on the crockpot every half hour or so to stir the mixture. 

• Allow the oil to cool completely and strain the oil into a glass measuring cup.

• Open and then add the oil from 2 natural Vitamin E capsules. Stir well.

• Pour the cooled calendula infused oil into a glass jar. Cap, and store in the fridge. The balm should keep for several months.

• Apply as needed to your dog's paws.

• This project needs careful supervision!

 

 

I encourage you to do your own research when making decisions about food, treatment, medications, or supplements for your dogs.

 

 

 

 

Watch the video to see how I made this Calendula & Coconut Oil Paw Balm!