Humans use vaseline for a variety of reasons, but mostly to soothe dry, itchy skin. You might wonder, does it also work for dogs?
Vaseline isn’t the best product for dogs with dry, itchy skin as it can make them sick if they ingest it. It also doesn’t work as well as other products on the market, so it’s best to use an alternative.
In this article, we’ll talk about why you shouldn’t use vaseline on your dog and what you can use instead.
Table of Contents:
Is Vaseline Toxic to Dogs?
Whether your dog licks Vaseline off of you or themselves, it’s not toxic. However, it might cause minor digestive upset.
Keep in mind that your dog is likely to lick Vaseline off of themselves, and it can be difficult to prevent this. This is one reason it’s not the best product to use on dogs.
If your dog has gotten into a whole jar of vaseline, I recommend calling your veterinarian. Though Vaseline is non-toxic, eating very large amounts like this is likely to make your dog sick.
Does Vaseline Help Dogs’ Dry, Itchy Skin?
Vaseline is a petroleum jelly-based product that locks in moisture. This might seem like a good thing–and it can help in some situations.
However, Vaseline also locks out moisture from your dog’s skin, blocking its ability to take in moisture from the air. This can make your dog’s skin drier and itchier over time.
It can also hold debris to your dog’s skin, which isn’t a huge deal unless your dog has broken skin while itching–in this case, the wounds could become infected.
Is it Safe to Put Vaseline on My Dog’s Nose?
It’s generally safe to use Vaseline on your dog’s nose, but it’s not the best product for the job. Firstly, your dog is very likely to lick it off and can get an upset stomach from doing so.
Vaseline also isn’t the best product to moisturize your dog’s nose. We’ll dive into some alternatives below that’ll do a better job!
What Can I Put on my Dog’s Irritated Skin?
Before doing anything, it’s important to consult with your veterinarian. A dog with irritated skin could be suffering from allergies, dermatitis, or skin infection.
It’s important that your veterinarian finds the root cause, rather than you addressing just one symptom at home. If your dog needs medication, no over-the-counter ointment is going to do the job long-term.
If you’ve already seen a vet and are just looking to remedy the itchiness, or are looking to use vaseline for another reason, I’ll cover some great alternatives below.
Alternatives to Vaseline for Dogs
Here are some great alternatives to Vaseline broken down into sections. Whether you want to sooth itchy skin, moisturize your dog’s nose, or protect their paws, I have you covered!
For Dry, Itchy Skin:
- Prescriptions from your veterinarian are your best bet to help your dog. If you haven’t spoken to them yet, please have your pup seen so that you can find the cause of their irritated skin!
I also recommend talking through the options below with your veterinarian to see what they think. They may have other over-the-counter recommendations as well. - A high-quality dog food will also help to prevent skin irritation. The best place to go for food recommendations is to your vet! Mine recommends Purina Pro Plan for a balance of quality and affordability.
- Fish oil is a supplement that helps relieve allergies and support skin health. It’s also heart-healthy, promotes healthy coat growth, and can help relieve pain in dogs with arthritis.
Fish oil is sold in capsules and in liquid form. Many pet owners mix the liquid right into their dog’s food! I do recommend speaking to your vet before feeding it daily. - Vitamin E Oil is helpful for some dogs with dry skin. It can be given orally or applied to small areas of skin. As with any supplement, it’s best to discuss Vitamin E with your vet before giving it to your dog regularly.
- Oatmeal Shampoo soothes a dog’s coat and helps to prevent itching and irritation. Just be sure to rinse away all soap suds at the end of the bath, and not to overbathe your dog–as this can make their skin drier.
For a Dry Nose:
- Snout Soother is specifically made for a dog’s dry snout. It contains all natural, vegan ingredients including hemp seed oil, chamomile, jojoba oil, rosemary, and vitamin E.
- Natural Dog Company's Snout Soother Balm for Dogs is a paw and nose balm that treats and protects dry, chapped noses, windburned and dry skin with all natural ingredients.
- Ideal for healing, treating, and protecting against painful cracking, dryness, bleeding, or infected noses and several common ailments such as Hyperkeratosis and Discoid Lupus.
- Our nose butter for Dogs is not just a moisturizer; it also contains healing properties that help soothe and repair dry, scaly, and cracked snouts for all breeds.
- Made with vegan ingredients like shea butter, chamomile, coconut oil, grapeseed oil, jojoba oil, and rosemary extract to help alleviate any pain and itching on your pup's nose.
- Say goodbye to dry, cracked noses with our nose cream. This moisturizing and healing balm is perfect for dogs of all sizes, especially Frenchies, Bulldogs, and Pugs.
- Ruff Relief Balm is another natural and organic product that can be applied to your dog’s nose or paw pads. It contains extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, beeswax, carnauba wax, jojoba wax, Vitamin E.
Most of the solutions above will also work for your dog’s nose, minus the shampoo as you don’t want them breathing in soap!
Remember that dogs’ noses are sensitive, so opt for products with as little scent as possible–they’ll thank you for it!
To Protect Your Pup’s Paws:
- Musher's Secret was first developed to protect sled dogs’ feet, but it can also be used to keep your dog’s paw pads moisturized and protected. It contains natural and food-grade ingredients including candelilla wax, beeswax, carnauba wax, and vegetable oils.
- SAFE AND ALL-NATURAL - Our natural paw balm for dogs is made from food-safe oils and waxes, so it's A-OK even if they lick them. Our pet paw balm is safe to use even on the most sensitive pets.
- ALL SEASON PROTECTION - Musher's Secret creates invisible dog paw protectors so your furry friend's paws have protection against drying and cracking. Our awesome product is dog paw balm for snow, hot pavement, rough terrains, and more!
- SAFE FOR OTHER ANIMALS - Musher's Secret is a must in any animal first aid kit. It was originally formulated as dog protection, but it's safe to use on most domestic and exotic animals like cats, chickens, and horses.
- MOISTURIZING AND HEALING - Musher's Secret Dog Paw Wax relieves and soothes dry, cracked paws because it is made from uber-moisturizing oils and waxes. Our good dog paw balm is safe to apply on hot spots and cuts, too!
- MADE IN CANADA - We are a 3rd generation, family-owned business from Canada. Our recipe was originally developed for Canadian Sled Dogs, so it needed to be effective. We are honored to BRING OUR SECRET TO YOU and your pets.
- Paw Soother is made to soothe and protect paw pads but also works on noses and patches of dry skin. It contains natural, organic ingredients including coconut oil, cocoa butter, mango butter, jojoba oil, and Vitamin E.
- Give your furry friend the gift of healthy paws with Natural Dog Company Paw Soother, a paw cream that's made with plant-based ingredients like calendula extract, vitamin E, and coconut oil.
- Our paw balm for dogs is formulated to keep paws hydrated, flexible, and spongy, while also moisturizing and relieving redness and inflammation. Plus, it's lick safe, so your pup can safely lick their paws after applying the balm.
- Natural Dog Company Paw Soother isn't just a cream for dogs' paw pads—it's also a paw wax for dogs, and a paw lotion all rolled into one! No matter what kind of paw-related issue your dog is experiencing, our balm can help.
- Our paw cream for dogs is made in the USA with high-quality ingredients and is designed to protect against scars and wounds, keeping your pup's paws healthy and comfortable.
- Say goodbye to cracked, dry, and irritated paws with Natural Dog Company Paw Soother. Our plant-based ingredients like rosemary extract and mango butter are gentle on sensitive skin and provide a natural, effective solution for paw care.
- Dog booties won’t keep your dog’s feet moisturized, but they will protect them from things like hot pavement, salt in the winter, cold temperatures, and more. If that’s why you’re looking at vaseline, booties are the way to go!
- Please be sure to measure the width of your dog's paws carefully, it is key to choosing the correct size for your dog, weight can only be used as an additional reference; Size 1: 1.7''x2.2''(W*L) for 12-23 lbs; size 2: 1.8''x2.4''(W*L) for 18-27 lbs; size 3: 2.0''x2.5''(W*L) for 23-33 lb; size 4: 2.2''x2.6''(W*L) for 31-40 lbs; size 5: 2.4''x2.8''(W*L) for 40-55 lbs; size 6: 2.6''x3.0''(W*L) for 52-65 lbs; size 7: 2.8''x3.2"(W*L) for 63-75 lbs; size 8: 3.0''x3.3"(W*L) for 74-88 lbs
- SECURE and ADJUSTABLE: Easy to put on / off. These dog shoes expands with a wide split seam opening and two adjustable and reflective straps to ensure a tight fit, also make your dog safe at night
- RUGGED: Tough anti-slip sole of dog boots provides stability and traction, protection from sharp thorns and hot pavement
- QUALITY: The dog boots have a rugged sole and high quality fabrics that are then sewn together to ensure they are ready for your adventure
- FASHIONABLE: QUMY dog boots are with cute pet paw embroidery, paws side is the outside, soft and hand washable
We hope this has helped you find alternatives to vaseline for your dog. In general, it’s best to use another product, but it’s typically not going to hurt your dog to use vaseline or even if they lick it off of your skin.
Last update on 2022-01-11 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
