10 Best Dog Paw Balms, Waxes & Butters – Reviews 2024

Just like you, your dog enjoys a little pedicure every now and then. After all, she spends all day on her paws, and if they become dry, cracked, or brittle, it can leave her in constant pain and agony.

That’s where paw balms come in. They can leave your pooch’s feet feeling supple, healthy, and fantastic, just like she deserves. However, knowing that you should put balm on your dog’s feet is only half the battle — you also need to know what kind of balm to use, and trust us when we say there are a lot of options out there.

Fortunately, the reviews below will help you cut through all the confusion, as we’ve looked at some of the top options on the market to find which one does the best job of keeping your pup feeling and looking her best. Who knows — you might even be tempted to use a little on yourself.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2024

The 10 Best Dog Paw Balms

1. Pet MD Paw Balm 3-in-1 Nose/Snout & Elbow Moisturizer & Paw Protectors – Best Overall

Our Best Overall choice for balms is the Pet MD Paw Balm 3-in-1. This balm was designed to help soothe dry and chapped snouts, elbows, and paw pads. By combining 12 oils and butters, Pet MD Paw Balm naturally relieves the select body parts you apply it. This balm is mild enough to be used daily, which is a good idea if you live in a cold, dry climate or if your dog spends a lot of time outdoors. Leaving a dog with chapped snouts, elbows, or paws could lead to cracking and infections. This formula can be used on dogs of all ages: puppy, adult, and senior. Warm the balm in your palm before application, as this will make it easier to absorb. 

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2. Pet Head Oatmeal Paw Butter – Best Value

Pet Head TPHO2 Oatmeal Natural is a rich, creamy balm that’s filled with healthy and nourishing ingredients like mango, coconut oil, aloe vera, and vitamins E and F. It’s not something you necessarily want your dog to eat, but she may just get a little nutrient boost if she does.

The star ingredient is oatmeal, though. It helps to soothe dry, cracked paws, and works equally well in extremely hot or cold weather. Plus, it gives the stuff a nice oatmeal smell, so you’ll be forgiven for sniffing your dog’s paws at every opportunity (not that we would ever do that, of course…). Some may find the smell overpowering, though, so apply it in small doses.

Pet Head offers all these great ingredients at a very budget-friendly price, which is why we feel it’s the best dog paw balm for the money. As we alluded to above, though, the biggest problem with it is that your dog might slurp it off before it has a chance to soak in, so you’ll need to observe her for a few minutes after applying it to make sure she doesn’t lick it all off.

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3. Pawstruck Organic Paw Wax Balm – Premium Choice

You may balk at spending more on your dog’s grooming habits than you do on your own, but if you’re willing to go to any expense for your pup, PawStruck Organic Paw Wax is hard to beat. It’s made with purely USDA-certified organic ingredients, and as you might expect, they get a little pricey.

One of the big selling points for this balm is that it’s hypoallergenic, so dogs with sensitive skin should be able to tolerate it with ease. It may even help with some conditions like dermatitis, rashes, or hyperkeratosis, and it’s fantastic at soothing dry elbows. Applying it can be a bit tricky, though, as the balm is thin and runny.

Each tin of Pawstruck is very small, though, so expect to buy a new one every couple of weeks or so if you’re using it daily. That can add up quickly, and while we believe the results are well worth it, you may be able to get similar results for less money by using one of the options listed above.

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4. Paw Nectar Organic Paw Wax Balm

Billing itself as something more than just a balm, Paw Nectar is certainly filled with a wide array of high-end ingredients, like avocado, cocoa butter, and lavender oil. All of these ingredients can make short work of paw problems once they penetrate your mutt’s pads, so expect to see results quickly, even if you only apply it once a week or so.

It’s not just for pooches who have to venture out in extreme weather, either. It’s excellent for everyday use, and animals with grass allergies or other common ailments will likely bepnefit from a layer or two of the stuff. You can even use it on your cat—if she’ll let you (good luck with that).

That said, putting it on is a bit of a chore. Paw Nectar doesn’t break up easily, so you’ll likely have to spend a few seconds working it into a consistency that’s easy to apply. Also, the tins usually aren’t completely full, which is frustrating, and getting the lid unscrewed takes a lot more effort (and four-letter words) than it should.

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5. Bodhi Dog Organic Paw Balm

Tree-hugging types should love Bodhi Dog Organic, as it’s created using purely plant-based materials. That means there are no chemicals, parabens, or other artificial ingredients inside to potentially irritate your dog’s skin.

It’s available in multiple sizes, so you can treat your pooch every day (or tend to a whole flock of dogs, if you have one) without going bankrupt. There are no artificial fragrances or dyes inside, either, so you won’t have to put up with noxious smells or discolored carpet.

It’s a good thing Bodhi Dog is natural and organic, though, because it’s extremely thick and slow to absorb, which gives your pooch plenty of time to slurp it off. All that licking could potentially leave his paws even drier than they were originally, so be sure to monitor your pup after each application.

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6. Petsmont Organic Touch & Heal Dog Paw Balm

Petsmont Organic Touch & Heal Dog Paw Balm makes our list for a few reasons. First, this is another balm that can be used on more than just paw pads. This formula is perfect for noses and exposed skin (like on the stomach). Second, it is antifungal and antibacterial. If you notice that your dog’s skin is itchy and your vet does not need to prescribe them a special balm, Petsmont Organic Touch & Heal could help soothe their dry skin. In addition, the inclusion of plant-based collagen further helps with healing dry skin. A minor downside is that this product is a bit on the pricey side.

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7. Natural Dog Company Paw Soother Dog Paw Balm

Natural Dog Company Paw Soother is another great choice if your dog has rough and chapped paws. This formula contains jojoba oil and hempseed oil, both of which help restore the skin’s natural moisture. Cajeput essential oil and rosemary extract help with fungal infections, which can be common when dogs have cracked paws. Vitamin E oil also helps smooth old scars. Plus, it comes in a roll-on applicator, making it easy to apply to your dog’s paws. Most people were really pleased with the balm, but some wanted more product for their money.

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8. Dr. Joseph’s Natural Paw Balm

As the name suggests, Dr. Joseph’s Natural was originally formulated by a practicing veterinarian, so you can expect it’s packed with beneficial ingredients. While the base is made of a variety of waxes, including beeswax and carnauba wax, there’s also some aloe vera and vitamin E tossed in for good measure.

All that wax makes a nice, protective layer, which can help keep irritants from penetrating into your dog’s feet while keeping their natural oils locked in.

Unfortunately, the wax will come off one way or another, so expect to see little pawprints in your carpet after applying it. Speaking of which, getting it onto your mutt’s paws is an adventure, and you’ll likely have to stick their feet directly into the tin to apply it.

All in all, it’s a lot of work for what’s a fairly basic balm, so while we appreciate Dr. Joseph’s efforts, we feel there are better options higher up on this list.

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9. Bag Balm Pet Nose, Paw, & Hot Spot Moisturizer

Need something to carry on-the-go to soothe your dog’s chapped paws or nose? Bag Balm Pet Nose, Paw, & Hot Spot Moisturizer may be just the thing for you! The size we are talking about here is about the size of a Chapstick (but there are other sizes available), making it perfect to slip in your pocket or toss in your handbag if you go on an outing with your pooch. This company has used the same recipe for their balms for over 120 years. One thing to keep in mind is that people have said this balm does not hold up well in hot climates and gets drippy. 

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10. Penny’s Paw Rescue Dog Paw Balm

Designed for use in cold climates, Penny’s Paw Rescue relies on hemp and jojoba oils to protect fuzzy feet from the rigors of snow, ice, and salt. Of course, that may not be of much use to users in warmer locations.

The hemp oil is the primary attraction, as it can help combat inflammation and act as an antiseptic if any cuts occur. However, some owners may balk at the idea of rubbing hemp oil into their dog’s feet. Luckily, dogs don’t seem to care for the flavor, so it will reduce licking — but that can make it challenging to apply to noses.

The can says to wait five minutes for full absorption, and keeping your pup off his feet for that long can be a challenge. Also, Penny’s Paw Rescue is medium-weight, which puts it in a kind of no-man’s-land, as it’s not quite thick enough to handle severe conditions, yet not so light that you don’t have to worry about messes.

Penny’s Paw Rescue is certainly better than nothing, but we don’t recommend starting with it. Instead, work through some of the other options above first, as we feel they’re more likely to provide the desired results.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose a Dog Paw Balm

Ingredients

When purchasing dog balm, the first thing to check is the list of ingredients. Look for natural oils and butters as the main ingredients. You also want to see how many ingredients are in the balms. Balm formulas should be fairly simple, so if you see a list of 30 ingredients, look for something simpler.

Medicated or Not

Some of the balms on this list are “medicated”. But what does that mean? It usually means that one or more of the ingredients are antifungal or antibacterial. Dogs with chapped or cracked paw pads are at risk for infections because the cracks could split deeper. However, these medicated balms should not be a replacement for vet-prescribed topical creams. If your dog has really cracked pads that are bleeding and preventing them from walking comfortably, reach out to your vet.

3-in-1 or Paws Only

Should you get a balm just for paws or opt for a 3-in-1? There probably is not that much of a difference between the two. Why? Well, all the ingredients need to be dog-safe, no matter where you put the balm. Some people think that a balm designed just for paws is thicker, while balms that are 3-in-1 might be the slightest bit thinner to make applying it on snouts easier.

Conclusion

We hope our list has helped you choose the best balm for your dog’s paws. The top choice on our list is the Pet MD Paw Balm 3-in-1 because of its great combination of natural butters and oils and that fact it can be applied daily.

However, if funds are limited, you can get similar results from Pet Head TPHO2 Oatmeal Natural. It doesn’t work quite as quickly or thoroughly as the PetSupply does, but it’s still an effective solution at a great price (and it smells really good, too).

We hope that we were able to demystify the dog balm-buying process a bit with these reviews, and hopefully, they’ll help your furry friend enjoy a long, comfortable winter.

If you neglect his paws and refuse to rub any balm on them, though, don’t be surprised if he comes home one day with a one-way ticket to Bermuda in his mouth.

See also:

• Why Does My Dog Lick My Feet? (Dog Behavior Explained)
• Hempz Dog Shampoo Review

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Featured Image Credit By: LUM3N, Animal Dog Domesticated, Pixabay