Dog nose and paw balm question

[BigDog]

Hello all,

Made up some Nose and Paw Balm for my dogs using a recipe from Martha Stewart’s website that was endorsed by the American Kennel Club. I see many similar recipes online, also with an almost 30% ratio of beeswax. This is so HARD (obviously) that it is extremely difficult to work with. Tried refrigerated cool down, room temp cool down and even whipping but it still is too firm.
I just cannot believe this is a good recipe and pictures I have seen with articles show a softer result.
I converted the recipe to percentages and added in a bit of Vitamin E. The only thing I can think is that I used solid coconut oil instead of fractionated (recipe did not specify fractionated) but I would not imagine that to make a great difference.

28.1% Refined Shea Butter
28.6% Coconut Oil
28.6% White Beeswax
14.2% Olive Oil
.5% Vitamin E

How can a recipe this stiff (rock hard almost) be popular?

Is there something I am missing?

Does someone here have a better recipe?

Any suggestions appreciated.

Thank you.

 

[bookworm42]

This looks very similar to a lotion bar recipe which is normally 1/3 of beeswax, hard oil (Shea), and soft oil(coconut/olive). They tend to be hard especially in the winter but do great once you rub it on skin and they start melting. Lots more info about them on this forum if you search for it.
The Shea and beeswax are the big contributers to the hardness. I would decrease one or both of them and increase the coconut oil or olive oil.

If you want something really soft you could look into doing a whipped body butter with the same ingredients minus the beeswax.

 

[AliOop]

The only thing I can think is that I used solid coconut oil instead of fractionated (recipe did not specify fractionated) but I would not imagine that to make a great difference.

Actually, using FCO instead of regular CO will make a huge difference to the final texture and hardness. You might want to give that a try.

 

[BigDog]

I ended up reformulating using Shea butter, mango butter, Jojoba Oil, Argan Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil, Vitamin E and reduced BEESWAX to 15%. These are products I have on hand always so giving it a go.
It is a very workable, stiff consistency and I feel I can likely up the beeswax to 20% and still be good.
I’ll have to test this out for a while. If anyone would like to critique my new formulation I’ll post it.

 

[MGM]

Hi @BigDog ! I was just thinking of making something for my pupper. I was going to just use one of my regular body bar recipes, but I have all of those oils (because of course I do....) so if you want to share your recipe, I'll make it and let you know what she thinks of it.

BTW, she doesn't look sad because she's locked out. She's sad because no one will throw the ball 24/7, which is what she wants. That and food.

 

[Shirley-D]

(Oh I know that look!)
Wont the dog just lick it off?

 

[BigDog]

Yes, my girls will lick at it but it soaks in quickly and does the job before they can do much. That’s normal and harmless behavior.

Both girls LOVE IT and will stick their paws out willingly for the massage. I coat the outside of their toes, in between the toes, the pads and in-between, dew claw and if course their noses.

I do their noses first and then put a smear across their lips. They enjoy licking that while I do their feet. Once a day in the morning. Cookies to follow as a reward.

This is a new recipe, but I have been doing this routine for about 6 months. Noses and paws soft and supple and one of our girls has some food allergy issues and this seems to help with her feet itching. She will still chew occasionally but seems to be doing much much better now. I AM NOT MAKING ANY CLAIMS OF MEDICINAL QUALITIES, just my opinion and observation. There is research of beeswax and other oils having some healing properties but do your own research.

I made this recipe using oils and butters from responsibly sourced suppliers and some of my criteria was because it’s what I have on hand. You can make this much cheaper with coconut oils and such but that was not my goal.

Let me get back to you on my formulation, have to look it up.

 

[dibbles]

BTW, she doesn't look sad because she's locked out. She's sad because no one will throw the ball 24/7, which is what she wants. That and food.

I love labs - had at least one in my life from the time I was 3 until a year ago. Your girl is beautiful.

One of our labs always, always carried something around in his mouth. He too wanted to retrieve and eat. In the winter the snow piles up higher around the walk where the shoveled snow gets dumped. I would throw the ball/toy while I shoveled and he would bring it back and drop it. I started just covering it with a shovelful of snow and he loved digging for it. Soon, I realized when he would find it, he would push it deeper into the snowbank to find it again. There is a pond with a steep bank in the yard that always gets drifted with snow. Dropping the ball there one time was all it took for him to amuse himself endlessly by dropping his toy, jumping to push it into the snow, find it, repeat. I'd finish shoveling, go inside and as long as I could see his wagging tail above the snowbank I knew exactly where he was and what he was up to all winter. Thanks for the great memory you made me think of today.

 

[Shirley-D]

Both girls LOVE IT and will stick their paws out willingly for the massage. I coat the outside of their toes, in between the toes, the pads and in-between, dew claw and if course their noses.

Sounds wonderful

 

[BigDog]

MGM, Here is my new formulation.

Refined Shea Butter - 30%
Mango Butter - 10%
White Beeswax - 12%
Clear Jojoba Oil - 15%
Grapeseed Oil - 12%
Sweet Almond Oil - 10%
Apricot Kernel Oil - 5%
Argan Oil - 5%
Vitamin E - 1%

Melt ingredients down and stir well, pour into containers, I use 120ml (4oz) tins. Allow to cool at room temp until around 105F and solidified on top, move to refrigeration (without lids) and cool for a couple hours until balm has reached frig temp. I have a dedicated convertible freezer/frig set to about 39 degrees. Reducing the temps before refrigeration eliminated my balms cracking during cure, and refrigeration (vs room temp cooling only) results in a creamier texture in my experience. Remove from frig and allow to warm to room temp before placing lids on to allow any condensation to dissipate.

Not sure if this is my final formulation. The consistency is thick enough and spreads/melts well during application but I may tinker with more beeswax for its (alleged) healing properties.

I start with their nose and then wipe a smear on their lips. They love licking their lips while I do the paws. Apply balm to tops of toes and in-between, pads and in-between and dew claws. Noses and paws soft and supple. Wipe pads with a paper towel so as to not leave oily paw prints on your floors.

As stated above, I make no claims on healing properties but one of our girls has food allergies and this has helped with her itching feet considerably.

 

[MGM]

Fantastic! I do have all the ingredients on hand. I will try this tomorrow or Weds and report back!

 

[Firefly24]

Here is a formula I have:
Mango butter - 29%
Shea butter - 24%
Bees wax or Carnauba wax - 6%
Coconut oil - 21%
Jojoba oil - 11%
Hemp oil - 5%
Arrowroot starch - 3%
Vitamin E oil - 1%

I haven't made it yet for my 2 dogs. Another vendor gave it to me.

 

[Mommawolfe]

I am just going to chime in with my 10 cents worth (inflation) I use the recipe on the AKC site. It works and sells well. I like not having to reinvent the wheel and keep the costs reasonable. I sell 2 ounce for the "big dogs" 1 ounce for "ankle biters", and lip balm tubes for on the go, with a "warning" to not store it in the pants pocket. Melting issues

 

[BigDog]

I am just going to chime in with my 10 cents worth (inflation) I use the recipe on the AKC site. It works and sells well. I like not having to reinvent the wheel and keep the costs reasonable. I sell 2 ounce for the "big dogs" 1 ounce for "ankle biters", and lip balm tubes for on the go, with a "warning" to not store it in the pants pocket. Melting issues

Hello, thanks for this reply! Can you tell me a little more about your process? The AKC approved formulas I saw contain around 30% beeswax and my attempts (using several cool down methods and even whipping) still result in a balm so hard that it is very difficult to use. As I mentioned earlier, the only thing I can think of is to try FCO instead of 'Hard' coconut oil. Coconut oil is so soft and has such a low melting point that I cannot imagine it to be a great difference in consistency vs Fractionated?
Thank you for chiming in, this interests me greatly if you could describe your particular recipe and process.