The Dog Days of Summer – Part 5

Happy Wednesday! I’m looking forward to heading to the farmers’ market on Saturday with my dog, No Sir’ee Bob. My favorite vendors are the ones that offer vegetable produce for my kitchen, and No Sir’ee Bob’s favorite vendors are the ones who offer canine hydration stations (water bowls) or edible foods that he might eat.

No Sir’ee Bob’s partially used tin of paw balm next to his foot.

While the sidewalks at the farmers’ market are shaded and can be cooler, No Sir’ee Bob only goes with me on days that I know the pavement isn’t going to burn his feet. On days that I do take him to the market with me, I still treat No Sir’ee Bob to a pawdicure after visiting to check his feet for scratches or irritation.

Today, I’ll share a recipe for No Sir’ee Bob’s paw balm. Since this was formulated with a dog in mind, I picked ingredients that wouldn’t be harmful to my canine companion and could be licked off the paws. I also created this paw balm to not make his feet so slick that he slips around on my wood floors.

Let’s pop over to the blog kitchen and whip up a batch of paw balm for our furry friends!

Recipe: Yields 100 grams or 3.53 ounces.

Carefully weigh all ingredients in a microwave-safe container except for the Calendula, Orchid, and Chamomile Extracts. Microwave in short bursts (30-45 seconds) until the Beeswax is completely melted. The mixture will be a brilliant, clear, orange color and extremely hot when completely melted. Wait until the mixture cools down and is warm to the touch before adding the extracts. Stir and immediately pour into jars or bottles. Let cool and set overnight to completely firm.

For the container, I used our 0.75 oz tins. I love this container because it is small and easy to carry in a shopping bag or backpack but large enough to hold a lot of material for paws. If you are considering making this recipe, maybe you will want to make two sizes. One that is small and can be carried out and about and one that is larger that can stay at home.

Note: This recipe has also worked on cat and human feet. If you are making this recipe for human use, feel free to lightly scent with any scents of your choice. I highly recommend leaving this recipe unscented if you are going to use on any pets.

Application: Using your fingers, scoop or sweep out a little paw balm. Gently apply and leave a light coating of balm on the paws. Always be aware of your pet’s emotions because they may or may not like their feet being touched and massaged.