It's was Spaw night...

[Onyxnox]

Troy got a padicure last night...



I reused small tea tins for the packaging, but could not resist adding some washi tape and handmade labels.  The three smaller tins are being given away to family and friends with dogs to try too.



I used the AKC recipe for paw balm, using the oils I had on hand.  It made for soft balm.



Troy was pretty patient with me putting on the balm, then Jim followed up with a nail trim - not a great night for the dog - he's not so fond of padicures - the paw massage OK - the clipping - not so much.  But he got a treat or two afterwards to ease his troubled soul (or is that soles?)



Little does he know, but it will stop his paws from getting chaffed, chapped, and cracked from the frozen, salt and sand covered sidewalks!

More pics on my blog and also the basic recipe I used.

[TheMistressT]

Oh Troy! Beauty is painful!

[fatewineroses]

Awesome. I have most of these ingredients left over from another project under my sink. I think I'll make some up and send out to some people I know who have dogs.

[Onyxnox]

He kept walking around afterwards like we lopped his toes off, with this totally betrayed look on his face.  He usually doesn't need his nails clipped - in the summer he digs so much he keeps his own nails down.  But in the winter, not so much.  Also, he cut one of his back toes badly on ice a couple of years ago, and since then, the one claw curves in - we call it his Raptor claw, and it was growing too long and curving in too much, so the clipping had to be done - the once a year one pretty much.

oh the HORROR!

All my dogs are/were drama queens.

Fatewineroses - I think I mentioned that I used an unfractionated coconut oil, which was liquid, and my balm is quite soft - like Bag Balm.  But if you use a solid coconut oil, it may be more solid in the end.  I don't remember why I bought the coconut oil I did, but I plan on using the stuff that solidifies at room temp in the future - just more easily accessible to me.  I also don't mind if it's a more solid consistency.

[bunny1kenobi]

What a great idea! My Sofie loves to have her paws rubbed. And she loves to dig, so she doesn't need her nails trimmed. Ah, the joys of living in AZ. 

[Onyxnox]

It could help condition for those hot dry paws from walking on hot sand, rock, asphalt, concrete, etc too... I will have to give it a try in the summer too!

[lindyv321]

What a pampered pooch! Great idea.

[Mistress Jennie]

This is such a fantastic idea.  Thank you for sharing!

[rackycoo]

Great idea, and your tins are the cutest!

[Onyxnox]

Troy doesn't think so

Whenever he sees me reach for things like the paw balm, he takes off on me - he has this thing about his paws being touched.