Just got your dog some paw balm? Here are some best practices for using it!
Before use:
- Ensure the safety of your paw balm - does it come with any warnings or mention of possible allergens?
- Check that the paw balm is lick safe - most dogs are going to have a curious lick at what you've put on their feet!
- Ensure your dog is comfortable having his/her feet handled. If they are very sensitive to this, it might be worth slowly training them by positive reinforcement first (reward each time they allow you to touch their paws).
- Have your dog’s paws clean and dry. They don’t need to be sparkly clean - just removing any surface dirt with a damp cloth will do.
Applying paw balm:
- Best times to apply are before sleep or rest, so the balm has lots of time to be absorbed. Avoid applying just before play or exercise.
- Gently rub off a small amount of balm from the surface with your finger.
- Massage this into your dog’s paw pads until you get a smooth even covering and a nice shine.
- Try to keep your dog still for a couple of minutes during and after application by tummy rubs, brushing, treat bribery, etc. If you have another person to help, this would be helpful with very wriggly dogs as they can distract your dog. If not, using a licking mat with peanut butter would provide good distraction!
- Frequency of use will depend on severity of your dog’s cracked paws, and product recommendations.
Check out Pet Impact's all natural and lick-safe paw revitaliser.
We provide full safety recommendations and instructions with our natural paw revitaliser, to ensure your pet’s comfort and safety throughout use.
