Salve Benefits for Dogs

Winter or hot summers, one thing is for sure - your dog needs care for its paws, skin, etc. Learn how salves can solve so many problems for dogs!

In today's article, we talk about a wonderful multipurpose solution that works amazingly great for dogs - salves. Salves are emollient balms that can solve a multitude of problems for you and your dog, without the toxic side-effects of antibiotic creams, the steroids (as in, to combat allergic skin inflammation), or the toxic, chemical filled shampoos that 'promise' to solve the dermatitis issue in your dog!

So, make note that if you have never used salves before for your dog, this is one new 'tool' that you will absolutely love and keep in your holistic dog cabinet! The best part?! You don't have to buy different salves for your dog and for yourself - in general, most salves work great for both the human and the dog. 

So, what is Salve?

Salves are emollient balms that are used for wound healing or for any condition that requires skin healing. They are made with natural ingredients like herbs, butters, oils, beeswax and are super safe to use, without any toxic side effects. Salves also contain essential oils and this is one of the reasons why many salves are used for pain relief as well.

Benefits of Salves - 

• Extremely Emollient - Because salves are made with oils, butters, and other 100 pure ingredients, they are rich in fatty acids and especially vitamin E. This is great news for all those dog owners who struggle daily with itchy dog skin, dander, dermatitis, rashes and dogs that are prone to getting wounds easily. 

 

• Treats Many Skin Conditions - As mentioned above, salves are rich in many herbs, butters, vitamin E, oils, etc. So, this means what? This means that salves are naturally full of vitamins and minerals (from herbs), they are naturally anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal (from herbs and essential oils), they are also powerful emollients (vitamin E as well as other oils and butters) and that they work very effectively due to all these qualities! This makes them suitable for treating many conditions like dry skin, dermatitis, itching, redness, hotspots, scrapes, bacterial and fungal infections, mange, acne or mini red bumps in dogs, wounds, sores, joint and muscle aches, and so on..in dogs. Therefore, I always say, salves are an essential part of a holistic dog owner's cabinet! Now you know why!

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• Safe if Licked by Dog - Another great aspect of salves is that they are super safe if licked by your dog! Unlike chemical filled creams and antibiotics like topical applications provided by the clueless vets, salves are so natural that if your dog licks it, they will do NO harm! Each ingredient (like tea tree oil) in a salve will be in minute quantity (since so many other ingredients are used along side it) and that means, it has no detrimental effect if your dog ingested it. 

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• Multipurpose - Dogs age; and this means, ailing joints, degenerative diseases like spinal deterioration or hind leg paralysis. In some dogs, it could also be hip pain as in hip dysplasia or weak muscles and bone loss. You get the idea - as dogs age, their need for therapeutic massages goes up and this means, an anti-inflammatory medium that contains hemp oil, MSM, arnica, coconut oil, menthol, neem oil, turmeric, castor oil, and so on. Salves are unique as they combine all different plant elements into one powerful relief soothing balm. 

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• Healing for Wounds and Aches and Pains - Not to be repetitive, but I do want to emphasize an important aspect of salves that most people do not know of or miss - salves heal wounds very fast. This is great information as dogs have a habit of licking where they are hurt and we all know how irritating it can be to the dog owner to keep watch all the time! This is where you bring in salves - apply on wounds and heal them fast. Also, as noted above, salves are great for aches and pains in dogs.

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• Great for Hunting Dogs, Active Dogs or Farm Dogs - We know how hard some dogs work - from hunting dogs to farm dogs to those rescuing people in the harsh cold weather conditions like snow and then, we have sled dogs, tirelessly running at the misery of humans. Well, if there is some relief for them, it is salves. For their paws and nose, for their tired legs, massaging salves is like a soothing balm that is much needed and appreciated! If you have a dog that has to work or if you regularly take your dog for hiking, please take care of their paws especially and apply salves wherever needed. 

 

• Excellent for Paws & Nose - Salves are excellent emollients for dog's paws and nose. Some places have hard rock concrete, some have more sand than normal, some have snow and some have wet roads - the weather can be a bit too much for dog's paws to adapt to. Dry and rough paws are painful and a huge discomfort for your dog. Applying salves on your dog's dry paw pads daily or according to the dog's needs will really help keep paws healthy and prevent them from bleeding, sores and being painful. Same goes for the nose - especially for dogs in dry or cold weather conditions. 

 

• Salves Stay On Unlike Oils! - One last point I want to highlight is that unlike oils, salves will stay on wherever you apply them. So, if applying on a dog's paws to protect from weather, well, rest assured the salve will stick long enough to protect the paws and not wash off due to wet roads, ice, etc. This one point makes them very unique as opposed to just taking bunch of oils and mixing them and applying on the dog! Because salves are made with thick butters and beeswax, they have excellent staying power, while being gentle enough to melt upon massaging. 

One More Thing - What is Drawing Salve?!

Drawing salve is one that 'draws out' boils, cysts, bumps, splinters, and such from the body. It can be used for cancerous bumps and tumors on the dog's body. Many owners who use drawing salves report excellent results. Please check with your holistic doctor if you need to and then, start applying drawing salve if your dog has some type of cancerous growth or bumps. It might help! 

Drawing salve is also a "must" for those dog owners who go hiking or in the woods (splinters). Make sure when you apply drawing salve, you bandage it and your dog does not lick it. It is much stronger than the salves discussed above. 

All in all, all dog owners should keep drawing salves as this type of salve will help draw out anything you do not want in your dog's skin! 

Ingredients used in Salves -

Beeswax - We all know how beeswax is so popular for its use in salves, balm, creams, etc. This is because it is solid at room temperature due to its high melting point. It is great on skin and provides consistent moisture since it is a humectant. These are the reasons why beeswax is used in salves - even ones made for dogs. 

Candelilla Wax - Derived from leaves of Candelilla shrub. It is a great ethical, vegan alternative to beeswax. It is 10% plant based wax and just like beeswax, has a high melting point. It is used in salves as a stabilizer and emulsifier. It is rich in nutrients and is very softening to the skin. The best part of Candelilla wax is that you save tons of money since you only need about half the amount of it as compared to beeswax in salve recipes. And yes! Candelilla wax is safe for dogs. 

Essential Oils - Rosemary, Lavender, Tea Tree, Mint, Chamomile, Oregano, Etc

Herbs - Catnip, Neem, Basil, Arnica, Comfrey, Calendula, Lavender, Mint, Ginger, Oregano, Turmeric, Chamomile, Cajeput, Etc.

Carrier Oils/Oils - Coconut oil, Hemp oil, Olive oil, Almond oil, Apricot oil,  Jojoba oil, Castor oil, Vitamin E, Avocado oil, Rice Bran oil, Etc

Butters - Shea butter, Mango butter, Cupuacu butter, Cocoa Seed butter, Aloe Vera butter (and gel), Etc.

Should I make salve or buy one?!

That is your choice - salves are easy to make at home and you can get recipes online. You can also buy them from any natural, organic, holistic store or online. I would advice checking them out in your holistic store first so you can see the variety at once and also, smell them to make sure that the salve is not too fragrant for YOUR dog. 

How do I apply it on my dog?

This is easy! Based on the purpose of the salve (whether for pain relief or skin condition or paws and so on), you will be given clear instructions on how to apply. But in general, salves are just like creams - apply where needed; when needed; and as needed. 

This is it! You can see how wonderful salves are for your dog's benefit. Do give them a try and the best part? You and your dog can share the salve and both can enjoy the benefits together! 

For any questions or comments that relate to this article, please post below and I will reply. Please do NOT send in e-mails.

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-Somyata