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The Paw-Care Cheat Sheet
Everything you need to keep your dog's paws soft, healthy, and crack-free — all year.
The 60-Second Daily Routine
1
Wipe. After every walk, wipe paws with a damp cloth to clear salt, grit, and allergens before they irritate the pads.
2
Check. Spread the toes and look for cracks, redness, foreign objects, or dryness between the pads.
3
Balm. Swipe a thin layer of paw balm across each pad and the nose. Best done when your dog is calm or sleepy so it absorbs.
When Paws Need Extra Help
- Hot pavement If you can't hold the back of your hand on the ground for 7 seconds, it's too hot — balm before, walk on grass/shade, or go at dawn/dusk.
- Winter Ice-melt salt burns and dries pads. Balm before walks to create a barrier, and always wipe after.
- Dry/cracked Apply balm morning and night until healed; the pad should soften within a few days.
- Licking Constant paw-licking often means dryness, allergy, or irritation — moisturize and check between the toes.
The 7-Second Pavement Test
Press the back of your hand flat to the pavement for 7 seconds. Too hot for you = too hot for paws. Asphalt on a 77°F day can hit 125°F. Balm + timing + shade beats a burned pad every time.
Signs to Call the Vet (don't DIY these)
- Deep cuts, bleeding that won't stop, or embedded objects you can't safely remove
- Swelling, pus, strong odor, or limping that lasts more than a day
- Pads that are raw, blistered, or peeling in sheets
Do's & Don'ts
Do use a lick-safe, natural balm · trim the fur between pads · keep nails short.
Don't use human lotion (not lick-safe) · walk on scorching asphalt · ignore persistent licking.
Don't use human lotion (not lick-safe) · walk on scorching asphalt · ignore persistent licking.
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Pawsome Finds — happy dogs, healthy paws.
Pawsome Finds — happy dogs, healthy paws.