Suggestion for dry/cracking paws?

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Mackenzie Obermeyer

Mackenzie Obermeyer

Member Since 2016
We test Maytons BG using his paws not his ear. Every time before we poke we wipe it off with an alcohol wipe so it will be clean. However, we have noticed that his paws are getting pretty dry and cracked after doing this for a couple months. We could try his ear again, but we never had any luck with doing that so that's why we poke his paw. Any suggestions on how to treat dry paws? Are there any cat safe moisturizers or creams?
 
Mackenzie Obermeyer said:
We test Maytons BG using his paws not his ear. Every time before we poke we wipe it off with an alcohol wipe so it will be clean. However, we have noticed that his paws are getting pretty dry and cracked after doing this for a couple months. We could try his ear again, but we never had any luck with doing that so that's why we poke his paw. Any suggestions on how to treat dry paws? Are there any cat safe moisturizers or creams?
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What about plain old Vaseline - a thin layer rubbed in well. It won't hurt him if he licks his paws.
 
Alcohol will dry the pads more every time you use it and regular Vaseline is petroleum based. We had a dog that got a lot of ice caught between her pads, wouldn't tolerate wearing snow booties, so we used a beeswax based goop made just for that purpose. Non toxic and inert so no problem if she licked her paws. Maybe some warm water and a very mild detergent?
Petroleum jelly is just what the name implies, petroleum. Yechh!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/21/vaseline-petroleum-jelly_n_4136226.html
 
Sorry, should have been more clear about what detergent. I know there are biodegradable ones for washing veggys or taking a bath in a lake (not my idea) so maybe that makes more sense. I know kittie walking through litter after poking his paws can seem disgusting but if you're using a 33 gauge lancet I wouldn't consider that to be a 911 cleaning.
Even more disturbing! We grew up with Iodine for cuts, when mom made you eat liver and onions. I thought hydrogen peroxide was pretty harmless until I had 11 pins in my wrist. Post surgery the doctor told me NEVER repeatedly pour hydrogen peroxide on a cut. 100% hydrogen peroxide is used in torpedo motors and some rocket fuels so even if it's diluted there's still toxicity. Not really an answer is it?
 
I've been using this product on pets for close to twenty years: Halo Herbal Healing Salve. It's pricey, but a little bit goes a long way. I like it more than Neosporin because animals can ingest it and it's not a problem. It can be ordered online from several places. I've also found it at Whole Foods and Kroger Food Stores.

Ingredients: Vegetable Oils (Soy Oil, Almond Oil, Castor Oil, Coconut Oil, Avocado Oil), Beeswax, Squalene, Carnuba (Palm) Wax, Vitamin A (Beta-carotene)-5,000 iu, Vitamin D - 600 iu, Vitamin E (D-Alpha Tocopherol) - 5,000 iu, Calendula (Marigold), Aloe, Comfrey, Tea Tree Oil, Myrrh Gum Oil, Lavender Oil.

About vaseline/petroleum based products...
There's a whole lot of controversy surrounding vaseline-like products with petroleum in them. Some say it can cause cancer. Google vaseline without petroleum. There are several non-petroleum based products available.
 
I take care of feral and semi-feral cats not to mention my own indoor fur babies. So my hands are washed so many times a day that I have a problem with my hands getting so dry they crack even though I keep lotion on them. I recently found that apple cider vinegar (ACV) with the mother in it works wonders. If I slather my hands with apple cidar vinegar and let it soak in for about 20 seconds and then rinse in cool water it restores the moisture balance and the chapped redness is magically immediately reduced. Why not try wiping the pad with a cotton ball soaked in a ACV solution after the pin prick? I mix mine 1 part vinegar 4 parts water for a variety of uses with the cats. Safe and effective.
 
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