Dr. Marta has over 16 years of veterinary experience, working across the UK and Spain as a remote veterinary consultant and in the clinic. She graduated from Cardenal Herrera-CEU University in Valencia, Spain. She holds two Ophthalmology Certificates, GPCert Ophthal from ESVPS and UAB. She has wide experience in small animal internal medicine and surgery with a soft spot for dogs. Marta is a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, and her main fields of interest are ophthalmology and critical care medicine. Dr. Marta loves being able to share the most helpful information with pet parents across the world as one of Pangolia's in-house veterinarians. She wants to provide details that can help in all aspects of pets' lives with their beloved ones. She loves knowing that she can support our readers and communicate about any medical topic that might be relevant to their pet's health and well-being.
Vaseline is a household product you probably already have on hand, and if you’re wondering if you can apply Vaseline to your dog’s paws, yes you can! Not only can you use Vaseline if your pup’s paws start to crack, but you can also use it to help keep it from cracking in the first place. But what else do you need to know when using Vaseline on your dog, and what else can you use it for? We’ll break it all down for you here.
Should You Put Vaseline on Your Dog’s Paw?
You certainly can! While there are other products out there that you can use on your dog’s paws to moisturize and protect them, Vaseline works great, is a common product, and is completely safe for dogs. These are reasons why veterinarians continue to recommend Vaseline after various procedures, and it’s why you should continue to use and trust Vaseline with your pup. However, you do need to be careful about how much they consume if they’re constantly licking it.
Image Credit: allian, Shutterstock
Can Dogs Eat Vaseline?
While you shouldn’t feed your dog Vaseline, there’s nothing wrong with your dog licking a little Vaseline off their paws once or twice. Vaseline, petroleum jelly, or soft paraffine is not toxic to dogs, although being a mixture of waxes and mineral oils, it can cause your dog digestive problems such as diarrhea.
When Should You Put Vaseline on Your Dog’s Paw?
There are a few different situations where putting Vaseline on your dog’s paw can have a few benefits. It’s incredibly helpful in the cold, and putting it on their paws and nose before taking them outside can help prevent cracking.
Another time when Vaseline can be beneficial is if your dog’s paw has a small crack that your vet has already checked and needs a little extra protection while healing.
Image Credit: Pearl PhotoPix, Shutterstock
The 4 Tips for Using Vaseline on Your Dog’s Paw
If you’re thinking about using Vaseline on your dog’s paws, there are a few things you can do to help make it a smooth and successful experience.
1. A Little Goes a Long Way
You might think you need to slather on Vaseline to get the protective benefits you want, but that’s really not the case. A little Vaseline goes a long way, so start with a small amount and cover your pup’s paws instead of scooping out globs of the stuff!
Image Credit: Pearl PhotoPix, Shutterstock
2. Apply It Outside if Possible
Vaseline is extremely effective, but it’s also messy. You can’t exactly tell your dog to stop moving all the time, so you might want to wait to apply the Vaseline until you’re outside. This will ensure they get all the benefits of Vaseline without any of the mess inside your home.
3. Wipe It Off When Coming Inside
Once you’re done outside, you’ll want to wipe the Vaseline off your pup’s paws when you’re coming inside. You don’t need to do this, but wiping off the extra will help ensure they don’t make a big mess simply by moving from room to room.
Image Credit: algae, Shutterstock
4. Consider Booties
After you put Vaseline on your dog, you could consider putting booties on them, even if they don’t have a wound that requires it. Your pup might not like the booties, but they can provide an extra layer of protection from the cold and they’ll help ensure your dog doesn’t lick the Vaseline off.
Final Thoughts
Vaseline is an excellent product for people, and it’s versatile and with the right precautions, safe to be used on dogs too! It provides a protective layer for your pup’s paws, can help them heal, and is usually safe if your pup happens to lick some. You should always go for a pet-specific product, but if you’re in a pinch and need a quick fix, you could use some Vaseline on your dog’s paws, but keep an eye on them so that it doesn’t become a problem.
Adam is a professional freelance writer and animal enthusiast who has rescued countless animals throughout the years. He's been a freelance writer for ten years and has been rescuing animals for even longer! Adam is also a proud father of three kids and is always up for a challenge and adventure!
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