Homemade Paw Balm for Cats and Dogs

Last year on a family trip to Montana, we embarked on some very strenuous hikes. Our family dog, Bella, joined us and scaled rocks and rivers like a champ. After a few days on the trail with Bella, I noticed that her paws were starting to chap and become raw from climbing hot boulders through rock fields and running through thorny woods. After the trip, I created this paw balm with her and other adventurous pets in mind. This summer, when we hiked through Colorado with Bella, I coated her paws with this homemade paw balm at night and by the following morning, she was ready to hit the trail again. I imagine this recipe would also be great for cats who spend much of their time adventuring and hunting outside! 

About the ingredients of this recipe:

Lavender

Lavender is a legendary antiseptic herb that can be applied directly to the skin to treat a variety of ailments, diseases, and fungi. This herb is extremely calming and nourishing for the skin and smells incredible!

Beeswax

Beeswax helps this balm solidify at room temperature. Additionally, it is antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory, which means it really helps protect and heal the skin. Beeswax also repels water which makes it perfect for paw balm because it will stay on active paws for longer. 

Coconut oil

Coconut is one of the oils I used to infuse the Lavender in this recipe. Coconut oil also creates an excellent barrier to protect the skin and smells so delicious. 

Olive oil

Olive oil is also used as a natural oil for infusing the lavender and to create the texture of the salve. 

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Homemade Paw Balm Recipe:

This is a simple salve recipe that combines herbal oil and beeswax to create a homemade paw balm that is smooth and easy to spread on chapped paws. 

How to make an herbal oil:

Slowly heat your oil on low in a double boiler (don’t allow it to boil!) and add your dried lavender and simmer for 30 minutes to infuse. Strain herbs and all the oil to cool for 10 minutes before bottling and storing in a cool, dark place. 

Ingredients:

1 cup lavender-infused coconut and olive oil blend 

You can use all coconut or all olive, but I like the texture and result of half of each because at room temperature the coconut oil is solid and the olive oil is liquid. This results in a solid salve that is still spreadable and a little soft. 

¼ cup Beeswax

Instructions:

1. Combine 1 cup of herbal oil with ¼ cup of beeswax over low heat in a double boiler. 
2. Once melted, you can check the consistency of the salve. To do this, place a tablespoon of the mixture in the freezer for a minute or two before checking the consistency. For a harder salve, add more beeswax and for a softer salve, add more oil. Since this salve is often used in the summer, I like it to be a little more firm. 
3. Allow your homemade paw balm to cool slightly before bottling it. I like to use repurposed candle containers or small jars to store all my salves. 
4. Stored in a cool, dark place this paw balm can last for several months to a year. A dark cabinet or even the refrigerator will work well.