By Debra Maslowski
Homemade Paw Wax
I recently saw an advertisement for paw wax. I thought it was a great idea! So I went to the website and it was $26 for a small container, not including shipping. I figured it wouldn’t be hard to make it myself.
What is paw wax and why use it?
Homemade paw wax, as the name suggests, is wax for your dog’s paws. It’s a blend of wax and oils that coat the underside of the paw, protect the paw from the elements (ice, snow, etc.), and heal any existing abrasions.
With the wax, it also repels moisture (like snow and rain) so your furry friend won’t track as much into the house. And my DIY version is non-toxic so you won’t have to worry if your dog licks his paws.
All-Natural Ingredients Safe for Animals
The wax in this recipe creates a moisture barrier that keeps snow and rain off of the pads. It also creates an undesirable environment for bacteria, decreasing the chance of infections if your dog should be cut on sharp ice or something else. The safflower oil is high in Vitamin E, which helps to heal any abrasions on the surface of the pad. The olive oil is a good penetrating oil that will soften and condition the skin on the paw. And the castor oil is a thick oil that will stand up to constant use and help with moisturizing and conditioning the skin.
Natural Homemade Paw Wax For Animals
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons beeswax (clean and render your own or buy beeswax pastilles here)
- 1 tablespoon safflower oil (find organic safflower oil here)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (find organic olive oil here)
- 1 tablespoon castor oil (find organic castor oil here)
- a container to put it in, such as a small metal tin, or silicone molds for easy application
Process
In a double boiler, melt the wax and oils. Carefully pour into the tin or molds. If using molds, wait until cool to pop out of the molds. Store in a cool place.
If you find this mixture is too soft, melt down again and add another teaspoon of wax. If it is too hard, add a bit more oil. Waxes will vary from different areas, so you may need to experiment a bit to find the right consistency.
To Use
Simply rub over the dog’s paws just before heading outside. If you made bars of wax, the dog’s body heat will melt these when rubbed on.
And don’t worry when your dog licks his paws. It’s all non toxic!
Have you used homemade paw wax on your animal(s)? If so, how did it work?
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does this was help with slipping on floors
This sounds great! What about when they come back inside? Will it leave an oily or waxy residue on the carpet/floors? I guess you just wipe all their paws when time to come inside? Is it easy to wipe off?
I haven’t noticed any problems with that Tanya. My Lab mix, Sadie, is in and out all day when I’m home. We have hardwood floors and I haven’t seen any oily residue or wax. On something like granite, that’s really smooth, you may notice it, but yes, you could wipe most of it off. I keep a washable rug by the door in case there is mud or snow, and this could be collecting what’s left of the balm. Now, I just need to teach Sadie to wipe her feet!
Wil this work to keep mud and dirt off their paws also? We have to dry 8 paws every time it rains or the snow melts. Icicles get stuck in my girl’s paws and the Lab collects dirt in her deep paws. Plus I do not want them hurt.
It works really well for that Jody. The wax is just hard enough in the balm to put a thin coating on the dog’s paw, covering the pad and the hair. I’ve found that not only does it keep the ice from forming icicles, but it keeps mud out of the hair inside the paw as well.
I’m thrilled to see this homemade recipe. I just bought a solid stick at a mom & pop store (think stick deodorant) for $17! I’ll make my own thank you
– LOVE diynatural, and save all of the emails ??
Thanks so much, Katie! I never thought to put it in a stick form, except for the bars. I’ll have to try that. For Sadie, who is a Lab mix, I use tins from mints. It’s big enough for her paws and closes really well.