This natural DIY dog elbow balm is a good way to moisturize and treat your dog’s dry elbow. This balm can be used for other dry patches on the dog’s body, nose balm, and even on the pads of their paws. It’s one of my favorite home remedies that can be used for so many things.
All dog owners might need it at some point for their dog, plus it doesn’t take a lot of time to make!
Natural Ingredients
Coconut oil is a great natural moisturizer for dry skin, including your dog’s elbows as well as paws and nose! It’s also a natural thickener in the recipe. It also has antioxidant properties and a great oil that makes it great for many natural dog care recipes.
Shea butter is another natural moisturizer with a high concentration of fatty acids and vitamins A and E. These vitamins make it an antioxidant, making it great for helping your dog’s elbow calluses get back to a healthy condition.
Jojoba oil contains essential vitamins and minerals including vitamins E and B. It’s a great carrier oil that quickly soaks into the skin, which we want in any dog balm recipe.
There are several great alternatives for jojoba oil, although I would strongly recommend having this carrier oil if you are going to make natural recipes at home, for both you and your dog! I like using sweet almond oil, since it’s naturally rich in vitamins A, and E plus has antioxidant properties, while also soothing and nourishing the skin. However, you can also use olive oil, or avocado oil if you have those on hand.
Beeswax can also help serve as a protective barrier on the skin, helping to make this simple recipe water-resistant. It can also help in thickening homemade recipes. Beeswax is also known to hydrate, soothe, and have a calming effect on the skin. This may be especially helpful if your dog’s skin is itchy, has skin irritations, or needs help repairing damaged skin. This is a must-have ingredient for a natural dog balm recipe!
Supplies Needed for DIY Dog Elbow Balm
Here are the supplies needed for the recipe:
- 1/4 cup jojoba oil
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons shea butter
- 1 tablespoon beeswax
- glass measuring cup or large glass bowl
- double boiler or large saucepan
- small glass bowl
- whisk
- small glass jar
DIY Dog Elbow Balm Recipe
Let’s start making this DIY elbow balm recipe since it’s one of the best ways to soothe dog calluses. As with most of my recipes, this one is simple but it does require a little prep. It works best if you gather all your natural ingredients right away to ensure the recipe goes smoothly. I like making a smaller amount of balm since I never know how often we’re going to need them with our medium-sized dog. If you have large dogs or a dog with frequent dry elbow calluses, then I would suggest doubling the recipe to make your life easier!
STEP ONE: Measure out 2 tablespoons of shea butter and break it into smaller pieces so it will melt quickly. Next, add all remaining ingredients into a double builder on your stovetop with the shea butter. This includes 1/4 cup of jojoba oil, 1/4 cup of coconut oil, and 1 tablespoon of beeswax.
For mine, I used a large saucepan with water halfway and a 1-cup glass measuring cup to make pouring easier. Heat water to a gentle boil, whisking until they start to melt together. You also have the option of using your microwave to melt the ingredients. When using the microwave, heat for 30-second increments until melted, making sure to stir the mixture in between.
STEP TWO: Continue whisking the mixture until smooth and no pieces are left. Once that happens, remove the measuring cup from the stovetop and dry off the bottom. The measuring cup will be hot, so make sure to have towels and pot holders nearby. Turn off the stove.
STEP THREE: Pour mixture into a glass bowl. This allows the mixture to cool more quickly. Let sit for 5 minutes, mix well, and allow to cool completely.
STEP FOUR: Finally, store your finished homemade balm for dogs in a small glass mason jar with a tight-fitting lid.
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How to Use Balm on Dog’s Dry Skin & Elbow Pads
Depending on your dog, you will need to apply the balm to the dog’s calluses or affected area gently. This may be applied 3-4 times a day if needed initially. Ideally, for best results longer term, you’ll want to apply it on a daily basis going forward.
After applying the homemade dog balm to your furry friend, it’s a good idea to make sure they don’t lick it for the first 10-20 minutes while it’s absorbing into their dry patch.
For my dog, we usually give her a treat using licking mats with suction cups on the back. They work great at keeping them busy for 5-20 minutes depending on the treat you make for them. My dog loves plain greek yogurt, pumpkin puree, and peanut butter on her licking mats. Plus if you freeze them in advance, they last even longer!
This DIY dog balm is best stored in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid in a cool place in your home. Since there aren’t any preservatives, this balm is best used 6 months after making this recipe.
Long-Term Treatment and Prevention
Dog calluses are common for certain large dog breeds and giant breeds such as Mastiff, Great Dane, Irish Wolfhound, Newfoundlands, and St. Bernard’s. Other dogs may also develop dry elbows if they have short coats, are a heavy dog, or an older dog with health concerns such as arthritis.
1. Avoid Hard Surfaces. As pet owners, we can help prevent them by providing soft bedding and avoiding having them lay on hard surfaces. This includes hardwood floors, tile flooring, and rough surfaces such as concrete. You may consider getting them an orthopedic dog bed, a cooling pad, or an elevated dog bed for different places in your home. As this may be a transition, lots of treats, praise, and training may be required to encourage using their new dog bed!
2. Exercise Regularly. It’s also good for the dog to continue to get movement and exercise during the day to help your pet maintain a healthy weight. In addition, they should avoid lying down too long if they aren’t able to exercise regularly.
3. Moisturize. If your pet tends to have dry elbows, you can also continue to use this natural DIY balm on a daily or weekly basis to continue to moisturize the area. The good news is that with continued proper care your best friend won’t have to deal with these calluses anymore!
However, if you see any elbow bleeding or cracking these may be signs of a bacterial infection, and you will want to see your vet for these more serious cases.
More Natural Dog Care Recipes
Hi, I’m Kristin.
I am so glad you are here ready to make some really incredible diy recipes with simple ingredients. Join me in learning how to use essential oils in all of your homemade personal care products and creating a natural home.
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