Paw Butter Recipe

It's summer time and it is hot, hot, hot outside! To survive the summer heat, my sons and I have been swimming every day this summer and there are times when we get a little too much sun. Not to worry... it's nothing that a bit of aloe vera gel can't fix. But how do we help our dogs when they are exposed to a bit too much heat?

I read somewhere that pavement is around 10 or more degrees hotter than the temperature outside and asphalt is even hotter. Can you imagine walking barefoot on 120 degree asphalt? I can say with certainty that I would never want to experience that! I can only imagine it would feel comparable to a really awful sunburn. That's what our dogs feel when we take them for a walk on very hot streets or sidewalks during the summer time.

For us, paw butter has been something we use to help relieve the pain of too much heat exposure or just as a way of pampering our dogs. I can tell you for a fact, Molly loves it! And why wouldn't she? Our paw butter is made with only natural, nourishing ingredients that help calm inflammation and soothe dry skin.

There are many natural ingredients that are safe for dogs and can even be found in our local supermarkets or Amazon. The paw butter that I make for our dogs is made with ingredients that are natural and easy to find. Here is the list of ingredients we use for our paw butter and some of the benefits of each. Please stop using it if your dog's skin does not react well to this. Every dog is different. Our dogs love it, but that might not be the case with every dog.

Ingredients:

1. Mango Butter has natural anti-inflammatory properties that could work as a natural healing agent. It is rich in antioxidants and can help soothe dry skin. Mango butter is rich in Vitamin A, C, and E, and helps soothe dryness and cracking in skin.

2. Beeswax. Beeswax is all natural and helps seal in the moisture. It's a natural barrier between environmental damage and the skin. It is rich in Vitamin A and helps heal inflammation in the skin.

3. Grapeseed Oil. This oil is light and hydrating. It helps heal skin and can be absorbed fairly quickly. It is rich in antioxidants, including Vitamin C, which is wonderful for the skin.

4. Coconut Oil. Coconut Oil is hydrating and soothing to the skin. It also has antibacterial properties that can promote quicker healing of wounds on the skin.

5. Lavender Essential Oil. Lavender is one of the most soothing essential oils I have come across and smells wonderful. Lavender helps heal skin, while it's scent aids in relieving stress. It's a win, win!

Steps on making your own paw butter:

Step 1: Combine 1 cup of Mango Butter, 1/2 cup of Grapeseed Oil, 1/2 cup of Coconut Oil, and 2 tablespoons of Beeswax in a heat resistant glass container.

Step 2: Add water to a pot (water should be around the 1/3 mark) and place the glass container inside the pot. Heat on the stove on low heat until all the ingredients are melted. It's important to keep an eye on the level of the water. If it gets low, add more water to the pot. Please make sure to not accidentally add water to the container with the ingredients. Adding water will reduce the shelf life of the paw butter dramatically.

Step 3: Once all ingredients have melted and blended together, remove from heat, let cool to room temperature, and add 10 drops of Lavender Essential Oil. Once it has cooled off completely, you can store in a container with a lid. Our paw butter lasts at least 4-6 months.

Step 4: If you would like your paw butter to be a whipped paw butter, after it has cooled off and started to harden around the top and edges, you can use a hand mixer to mix and whip the paw butter. This will make it fluffy and light! If you notice it is not getting fluffy and light, place it in the refrigerator for about 30-45 min and try mixing it again.

After you are done making your very own paw butter, it's time to share it with your puppy! I hope they enjoy it as much as Molly does!

It's a ruff life! :)