Just like with people, some dogs need a little bit of skin moisture support. Paw balms are a great way to maintain the health of your dog’s paws by softening and protecting the skin. Paw balms can also support paw pad health for dogs with hyperkeratosis 1, which can lead to uncomfortable paw cracking and increase the risk of infections in and on the paws.
Using reviews, you can find the perfect product to support the health of your dog’s paws. To make this easier, we’ve found the 10 best products for dogs’ paws. Whether you need the best paw balm for hyperkeratosis, something to coat and protect your dog’s paws, or just something that will maintain soft, supple skin on the paws, there’s a product here that will help your dog out!
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites (Updated in 2023)
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Dermoscent BioBalm
Traps moisture on the paws
Waterproof
Multipurpose
Check Price
Best Value
Frisco Paw Balm Stick
Easy and convenient to use
Protects the paws from damage
Moisturizes and conditions
Check Price
Premium Choice
Petsmont Organic Paw Balm
Protects the paws against the elements
Soothes irritated skin, including hot spots and callouses
Hypoallergenic
Check Price
Project Paws Nature’s Butter Paw Balm
Soothing ingredients
Protects the paws against the elements
Easy to apply
Check Price
Petsonik Paw Repair Lavender Scented Paw Balm
Protects paws against rough surfaces
Non-greasy and won’t leave a residue on floors
Multipurpose
Check Price
The 10 Best Paw Balms for Dogs
1. Dermoscent BioBalm – Best Overall
Primary ingredient: Soybean oil
Package size: 67 oz.
Price: $$
The best overall paw balm for dogs is the Dermoscent BioBalm, which is also the best paw balm for hyperkeratosis and may reduce the chance of infections from cracks in the paws. This paw balm is a little pricier than most, but it is effective and is free of mineral oil and petroleum-based ingredients. It helps trap moisture on your dog’s paws, keeping the skin supple and healthy. It’s waterproof, so it will remain on your dog’s paws, even if they get wet. You can also use it on your dog’s nose, callouses, and hot spots. It contains tea tree oil and has a strong scent, which some people find unappealing.
Best paw balm for hyperkeratosis
Reduces the chance of infections from cracked skin
Free of mineral oil and petroleum-based products
Traps moisture on the paws
Waterproof
Multipurpose
- Best paw balm for hyperkeratosis
- Reduces the chance of infections from cracked skin
- Free of mineral oil and petroleum-based products
- Traps moisture on the paws
- Waterproof
- Multipurpose
More expensive than most options
Strong smell
- More expensive than most options
- Strong smell
2. Frisco Paw Balm Stick – Best Value
Primary ingredient: Coconut oil
Package size: 5 oz.
Price: $
The best paw balm for dogs for the money is the Frisco Paw Balm Stick, which is easy and convenient to use thanks to its stick form. It’s a good option for travel due to the convenience of the product, and it’s a budget-friendly pick. It contains multiple types of waxes and oils to moisturize and condition even the driest of paws. It forms a protective barrier on your dog’s paws, protecting them throughout the day. It’s free of mineral oil, parabens, dyes, and synthetic fragrances. It has a strong smell that some people report their dogs find highly unpleasant. But overall, this is one of the best dog paw wax products on the market.
Best value
Easy and convenient to use
Moisturizes and conditions
Protects the paws from damage
Free of mineral oil, parabens, dyes, and artificial fragrances
- Best value
- Easy and convenient to use
- Moisturizes and conditions
- Protects the paws from damage
- Free of mineral oil, parabens, dyes, and artificial fragrances
Strong smell
- Strong smell
3. Petsmont Organic Paw Balm – Premium Choice
Primary ingredient: Organic shea butter
Package size: 2 oz.
Price: $$
The Petsmont Organic Paw Balm is the premium paw balm pick. This paw balm protects the paws against the elements, including sand, ice, hot surfaces, and rough surfaces. It’s hypoallergenic and made with sensitive skin in mind, containing soothing ingredients like aloe vera, vitamin E, and collagen booster. It can also be used on hot spots, itchy areas, and callouses. It’s USDA Certified Organic and absorbs quickly, softening the paws without causing buildup. Not only does it soften the paws, but it can also increase the grip your dog has on slick surfaces, like hardwood floors. Multiple users report their dogs enjoying the taste of this balm and licking it off quickly after applying, so it may be difficult to keep it on your dog’s paws.
Protects the paws against the elements
Hypoallergenic
Soothes irritated skin, including hot spots and callouses
USDA Certified Organic
Absorbs quickly
May increase dog’s ability to grip slick surfaces
- Protects the paws against the elements
- Hypoallergenic
- Soothes irritated skin, including hot spots and callouses
- USDA Certified Organic
- Absorbs quickly
- May increase dog’s ability to grip slick surfaces
Premium price
May be difficult to keep on paws long enough to absorb
- Premium price
- May be difficult to keep on paws long enough to absorb
4. Project Paws Nature’s Butter Paw Balm
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Primary ingredient: Shea butter
Package size: 2 oz.
Price: $$$
The Project Paws Nature’s Butter Paw Balm contains rich, soothing ingredients for irritated paws and to protect the paws. It’s made in Minnesota and can protect your dog’s paws against ice, heat, snow, salt, gravel, and other rough surfaces. It’s easy to apply and can be used on rough, irritated skin almost anywhere on your dog’s body, as well as on dry, flaky nails. For maximum efficacy, this product should be applied 2–3 times per day for at least 2–3 consecutive days. It sells for a premium price, so it is more expensive than most other options.
Soothing ingredients
Protects the paws against the elements
Easy to apply
Multipurpose
Can be used to soften flaky, dry claws
- Soothing ingredients
- Protects the paws against the elements
- Easy to apply
- Multipurpose
- Can be used to soften flaky, dry claws
Needs multiple applications per day for multiple consecutive days
Premium price
- Needs multiple applications per day for multiple consecutive days
- Premium price
5. Petsonik Paw Repair Lavender Scented Paw Balm
Primary ingredient: Shea butter
Package size: 2 oz.
Price: $$
The Petsonik Paw Repair Lavender Scented Paw Balm protects and heals rough, irritated paws and skin, making it a great multipurpose product. It’s non-greasy and doesn’t leave a residue, so it shouldn’t track on your floors or leave a film on your dog’s paws. It’s easy to apply, and a little bit goes a long way. It features a soothing lavender scent that will soothe your dog’s skin and mind. The scent is pleasant and not overwhelming. It’s made with an easy to open lid, so this may be a good option for people with arthritis and other difficulty opening products. The manufacturer doesn’t recommend continuing to use this balm once paws are healed, and they recommend switching to their paw moisturizer product.
Protects paws against rough surfaces
Multipurpose
Non-greasy and won’t leave a residue on floors
Easy to apply and a little goes a long way
Pleasant lavender scent isn’t overwhelming
Lid is easy to open
- Protects paws against rough surfaces
- Multipurpose
- Non-greasy and won’t leave a residue on floors
- Easy to apply and a little goes a long way
- Pleasant lavender scent isn’t overwhelming
- Lid is easy to open
Manufacturer doesn’t recommend continuing to use once paws are healed
- Manufacturer doesn’t recommend continuing to use once paws are healed
6. Pet MD 3-in-1 Pet Balm
The Pet MD 3-in-1 Pet Balm contains multiple rich ingredients to keep your dog’s paws soft and supple, including avocado oil, shea butter, olive oil, and almond oil. It absorbs quickly, but the manufacturer recommends melting the product in your hands before use for maximum efficacy. They also recommend distracting your dog until the product absorbs because they are likely to try to lick it off. It’s great for hyperkeratosis, itchy skin, callouses, and cracked paws. Regular use can help prevent infections caused by damage to the skin on the paws. It’s made in the USA and can protect your dog’s paws from the elements.
Contains multiple rich ingredients
Great for hyperkeratosis
May help prevent infections from cracked paws
Protects paws against the elements
- Contains multiple rich ingredients
- Great for hyperkeratosis
- May help prevent infections from cracked paws
- Protects paws against the elements
Works best if melted in hands before use
Likely to be licked off paws by your dog
- Works best if melted in hands before use
- Likely to be licked off paws by your dog
7. Dogphora Detox Diva Paw Souffle
Primary ingredient: Coconut oil
Package size: 4 oz.
Price: $$
The Dogphora Detox Diva Paw Souffle is one of the more expensive products reviewed, but it contains more product per container than most paw balms, making it a budget-friendly pick. This rich formula supports the health of your dog’s paws by healing and soothing irritated and damaged skin. It won’t leave stains on furniture and won’t leave residue on your floor. It protects against the elements and is made in the USA. It does not list other uses on the packaging, so this may not be the top pick for a multipurpose product. Also, the price may be a deterrent for some people, even though more product is included.
Good value
Soothes and heals cracked and irritated skin
Won’t stain furniture or leave residue on floors
Protects paws against the elements
- Good value
- Soothes and heals cracked and irritated skin
- Won’t stain furniture or leave residue on floors
- Protects paws against the elements
May not work well as a multipurpose product
Premium price
- May not work well as a multipurpose product
- Premium price
8. Hemp Well Hemp Balm
Primary ingredient: Shea butter
Package size: 75 oz.
Price: $$
The Hemp Well Hemp Balm is organic and made with USA-grown hemp. It’s free of THC and forms a protective barrier on your dog’s paws, holding moisture in and preventing new damage from occurring. It can aid in healing irritated skin and is a multipurpose product. It won’t stain fur or leave a residue behind, and it’s made with hypoallergenic ingredients. It contains multiple ingredients that support overall skin health. This is one of the more expensive products reviewed, especially since it comes with a little less product than most other paw balms.
Organic and made with USA grown hemp
THC free
Protects paws against the elements
Doesn’t stain fur or leave residue behind
Hypoallergenic
- Organic and made with USA grown hemp
- THC free
- Protects paws against the elements
- Doesn’t stain fur or leave residue behind
- Hypoallergenic
Premium price
Contains less product than most paw balms
- Premium price
- Contains less product than most paw balms
9. Vets Preferred Paw Balm
Primary ingredient: Mineral oil
Package size: 2 oz.
Price: $$
The Vets Preferred Paw Balm is safe and non-toxic, and it features multiple skin soothing and protecting ingredients, like coconut oil, white beeswax, and yellow beeswax. It soothes and heals cracked paws, and it protects against the elements. It creates a breathable barrier on the feet to allow for airflow without losing protection. This balm is thicker than most, making it difficult to use. Some users also report the packaging to be difficult to open, which can make things very frustrating when trying to access the product. It’s prone to separating in the container, especially in warm temperatures.
Safe and non-toxic
Soothes and protects skin
Creates a breathable barrier
Protects paws against the elements
- Safe and non-toxic
- Soothes and protects skin
- Creates a breathable barrier
- Protects paws against the elements
May be difficult to use due to thick consistency
Packaging may be difficult to open
May separate in the container
- May be difficult to use due to thick consistency
- Packaging may be difficult to open
- May separate in the container
10. Forticept Paw-Forte Antimicrobial Protection Balm
Primary ingredient: Benzethonium chloride
Package size: 3 oz.
Price: $$
The Forticept Paw-Forte Antimicrobial Protection Balm is a nice pick for dogs with irritated skin prone to infections. It creates a barrier to help skin heal and is made with hypoallergenic ingredients. It contains antimicrobials, which can help heal skin with pyoderma, hot spots, dermatitis, and rashes. It helps maintain an optimal moisture balance in the skin and protects against the elements. Some people report this balm making their dog’s feet prone to slipping on smooth surfaces, like hardwood and tile floors. It does have a distinct smell, which some people find unappealing or report their pets finding unappealing.
Good for skin that is irritated or prone to infections
Hypoallergenic
Antimicrobial ingredients help heal infections
Supports an optimal moisture balance
- Good for skin that is irritated or prone to infections
- Hypoallergenic
- Antimicrobial ingredients help heal infections
- Supports an optimal moisture balance
May increase slipping on slick surfaces
Distinct smell may be unpleasant to some people
Some pets may not tolerate the smell
- May increase slipping on slick surfaces
- Distinct smell may be unpleasant to some people
- Some pets may not tolerate the smell
Buyer’s Guide – How to Pick The Best Paw Balms for Dogs
Choosing the Right Paw Balm for Your Dog
Paw balms aren’t rocket science, thankfully! However, this also means that it may take some trial and error to find the best dog paw protector. Some factors can impact how effective a product is for your dog, and there’s more to it than just the state of your dog’s paws. Allergies, infections, injuries, the environment, diet, humidity, and more factors can impact your dog’s needs.
To pick the right paw balm for your dog, start by identifying the first ingredient in the products you’re most interested in. If you’ve found a coconut oil-based product not a good fit in the past, then you’ll know to avoid that as one of the first few ingredients in the product you need. However, shea butter or avocado oil may make a great substitute if coconut oil failed in the past.
When all else fails, talk to your dog’s vet! They will be able to narrow down the reasons that your dog’s paws may need a paw balm in the first place. Medical conditions, environmental factors, and age-related factors can all play a part in your dog’s paw health, and it may be necessary to rule out a serious or complex issue.
- Related Read: 6 Best Dog Boots – Reviews & Top Picks
Conclusion
Hopefully, you found these reviews useful in your search for the right paw balm for your dog. The top pick is the Dermoscent BioBalm, which is pricey but very effective in protecting and healing irritated paws. The most budget-friendly option is the Frisco Paw Balm Stick, which is easy and convenient to use and travel with. For the premium product pick, you’ll love the Petsmont Organic Paw Balm, which is a great option for protecting and healing your dog’s paws.
Featured Image Credit: Miriam Doerr Martin Frommherz, Shutterstock
