The 7 Best Dog Paw Balms for Chapped Toes (And Even Noses!)

Best Overall

Musher's Secret Paw Protection Wax

View On Amazon $16 At Chewy $21 At Walmart

This product has long been a favorite with pet owners for its effectiveness and non-greasy texture. Plus, it dries in seconds after you massage it into your dog’s paw pads. Originally created in Canada specifically for sled dogs, it contains food-grade waxes, including white and yellow beeswax and vitamin E.

The product absorbs quickly to prevent it from spreading to floors and carpets (hint: If it’s greasy, you’re applying too much). It moisturizes and soothes paw pads but also protects against ice and snowball build up between toes and salt residue. Another plus is that it can be used on other areas, including the snout, ears, nipples, elbows, and other hot spots. Speaking of hot, Musher’s Secret Paw helps on hot pavement, too.

The convenient screw-on lid container comes in three sizes and the product has an indefinite shelf life. It’s safe for use on dogs and cats, as well as on the sole, heel, fetlock, base of tail and ears of horses. For best results apply two to three times a week.

 _{Primary ingredients: White and yellow beeswax, carnauba, candelilla wax, vegetable oils, vitamin E | Sizes: 60g, 200g, one-pound jars}

Best Organic

Dermoscent BioBalm Skin Repairing Dog Balm

$25 At Amazon $25 At Chewy

This product, created by a French musher for his sled dogs, absorbs rapidly into paw pads and noses. It contains all natural ingredients and is made without mineral oil or petroleum-based ingredients, which is appealing to some pet parents. The ingredients are organic-certified and grown in Europe, and the product is made in France.

Most pet owners report there’s almost no scent so that it doesn’t seem to bother dogs, even when rubbed onto the nose. It also can be rubbed between the toes to prevent snowball buildup, or used for protecting paw pads from hot asphalt or sand.

_{Primary ingredients: Soybean oil, essential oil of cajputi, glycine max seed oil | Sizes: 1.67 ounce jar}

Best Budget

Bag Balm Skin Moisturizer

$9 At Amazon $8 At Chewy $8 At Walmart

This moisturizing balm has been around since 1899, when it was originally created to protect cows’ udders. The long-lasting moisturizer works on paws and noses to treat cracked and damaged skin and is still made in Vermont today.

The product contains petrolatum for moisturizing and lanolin to soften. Containing only four ingredients total, it’s a popular option for an inexpensive paw balm, and the long-lasting moisturizer works on paws and noses to treat cracked and damaged skin.In fact, it can even be used on your own dry skin—such as heels and elbows—or on minor cuts and abrasions.

There is one downside to Bag Balm: Its strong scent, which is formulated to discourage your pet from licking it off, but takes a little getting used to. 

_{Ingredients: Petrolatum, lanolin, 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate, paraffin wax | Sizes: .25 ounce, .33-ounce, 2-ounce tubes or 1-, 4- or 8-ounce tins}

Best for Noses

Natural Dog Company Snout Soother Stick

$18 At Amazon $18 At Chewy $18 At Walmart

If your pup’s nose is dry and scaly, this handy stick makes it super-easy to apply to his snout. It’s made from natural ingredients, such as shea nut butter, jojoba oil, grapeseed oil, and vitamin E. It’s also non-toxic and fragrance-free so it’s less likely to be irritating to an already-sensitive snout.

It also contains no artificial ingredients or preservatives and is a favorite of vets and pet parents alike. 

_{Ingredients: Kukui nut oil, grapeseed oil, coconut oil, chamomile, hempseed oil, shea nut butter, jojoba oil, candelilla wax, vitamin E, rosemary extract | Sizes: 2-ounce stick, 1, 2 or 4-ounce tin}

Best Stick

PetLab Co. PetLab Co. Paw Balm

$20 At Amazon View On Thepetlabco.com

Stick forms of paw balms can be easier for some pet parents to apply than formulas that come in a tin or jar. All you need to do is rub the stick onto their paw pads, then lightly massage in.

PetLab Co's Paw Balm combines carnauba wax and shea butter with coconut, sunflower, hemp, rosemary, sweet almond, and grape seed oil, providing not only skin moisturizing, but a multi-factor protective layer that enables healing of your dog's paws.

It contains no dyes and is manufactured in the United States with globally-sourced ingredients.

_{Ingredients: Sweet almond oil, carnauba wax, coconut oil, sunflower oil, rosemary oil | Sizes: 2.4-ounce stick}

Best Gel

VetriMAX Solva-Ker Dry Nose and Paw Soother

$19 At Amazon View On Vetrimaxproducts.com

This gel product works on cracked paw pads, noses, and elbows, and can be used on dogs, cats and horses. The clear, greaseless gel consistency is easy to apply on some dogs, especially squirmy dogs because it absorbs quickly. It doesn’t leave a residue behind (residues may stimulate your dog to lick even more, aggravating the problem).

The product not only soothes dry skin, but also reduces excess keratin. It’s often recommended by vets for dogs that have hyperkeratosis.

_{Ingredients: Microencapsulated salicylic acid (6.6 percent) and urea | Sizes: 1-ounce tube}

Best Pocket-Sized

Natural Dog Company Paw Soother Stick

$18 At Amazon $18 At Chewy View On PETCO

If you need a pocket-sized paw-soothing product for when you’re on-on-the-go with your pooch, this lip-balm sized container is just right. It’s made from all natural ingredients, including coconut oil, mango butter, calendula extra and jojoba oil.

This plant-based product is easy to apply, but it’s only for use on paw pads.

_{Ingredients: Cajeput essential oil, calendula extract, rosemary extract, jojoba oil, hempseed oil, coconut oil, mango butter, cocoa butter, candelilla wax, vitamin E | Sizes: .15 and 2-ounce sticks and 1, 2, and 4-ounce tins; 5-pack travel sticks}