Dog Nose and Paw Balm vs Coconut Oil. Which Is Better For Dry Or Cracked Skin?

If you are wondering whether to use coconut oil or a paw balm on your dog’s dry or cracked paws (or crusty nose), the short answer is that both have their place, but they are not equal.

Coconut oil is fine if it is all you have got, and it can help in the short term for very mild dryness. But in my experience, it just does not last long enough to properly support the skin.

A nose and paw balm is designed to stay on, protect and support at the same time, which is why I would recommend it over coconut oil in most cases.

Can I use coconut oil on my dog’s paws or nose

Coconut oil may often the first thing people reach for, and I do understand why. It is easy to get hold of, you may even have it in the cupboard already and it does have some anti inflammatory properties. The issue is more in how it behaves in real life. It is quite thin, especially in warmer weather where it becomes very liquid. It can feel greasy, and it is very easy for dogs to lick off. Because it is food based, most dogs are more than happy to do that.

In practice, it does not stay where you put it. It disappears quite quickly once applied, and that makes it difficult to build any kind of consistency with it. Quite often, you end up reapplying it more than you would like, and even then it is not really offering much protection or helping to hold moisture in.

What I have seen from using both

From my time dog grooming, I saw a lot of dogs with dry noses and cracked paws.

There never really seemed to be a clear pattern. It was not just certain breeds or sizes. Some dogs are just more prone than others, a bit like us. That said, I did see it more often in flat faced breeds like pugs and bulldogs when it came to dry noses, and quite a few older dogs as well. Although my own older collie is the complete opposite and has always had a very wet nose to the point it is dripping. Sore and cracked paws are often more widespread with a whole host of different causes - more about that on this blog post.

The bottom line is that there is no real theme. It is very dependent on the individual dog.

What I did see quite often was owners trying coconut oil, or something similar and the issue was that it was not lasting long enough to properly support the skin. I have seen everything from mild dryness through to more cracked and sore paws, and in each of those cases, I would always recommend using something with more structure.

Why coconut oil is not always enough

The main issue with coconut oil is that it is doing one job, and not particularly well for this purpose. It might soften slightly while it is there, but it does not stay in place, it does not protect, and it does not help hold moisture in.

In a UK summer, it becomes very runny and greasy. You can end up with oily marks on floors and carpets, and most of it will not stay on the paw long enough to be useful or is readily licked off a nose. With anything like this, consistency is what makes the difference, and that is much harder to achieve with something that disappears so quickly. If you are wondering what I mean by all this try applying coconut oil as a lip balm - and then try a proper lip balm. The difference is huge.

What makes a good nose and paw balm

A good nose and paw balm is different because it is made up of multiple parts, and each one has a job.

There will usually be a liquid oil, which soaks into the skin and helps to soften and support it. There will be a butter, such as shea butter, which is thicker and more nourishing. This helps to soothe and moisturise. There will also be a wax, which creates a protective layer. This helps seal in moisture and protects against the environment, as well as making it harder for your dog to lick it straight off.

In my balm, there is also vitamin E, which has antioxidant properties, and hemp oil, which is high in omega 3 and helps support skin health.

It is actually quite a simple product, but each part of it is there for a reason.

Why a balm works better than coconut oil

The difference really comes down to structure. A balm has enough thickness to stay where you put it. It lasts longer, it protects, and it supports the skin at the same time.

Coconut oil is very thin, very easy to remove, and does not offer that same level of support.

So instead of one ingredient doing one job briefly, you have a combination of ingredients working together and lasting long enough to actually do something useful. The same applies whether you are using it on paws or on noses.

When using a product will help

In my experience, once you start using a product consistently, you will usually see an improvement in dryness and any damage very quickly.

That does depend on what is causing it. If there is a medical issue behind it, then it won't solve the root cause, but it can help relieve the symptoms and make your dog more comfortable.

For general dryness, having something that actually stays on the skin and does its job properly makes a big difference.

Read this and decided a balm is the product for you?, You can try my nose and paw balm with 10% off - just use code TRY10 at the checkout.