Best ways to take care of dry dog paws

Black people's medicine cabinets are stocked ahead of time

Although Junee was supposed to be playing with the red ball near her, she decided to enjoy the grass instead. (Photo credit: Shamontiel L. Vaughn)

When I got my first tattoo, I remember talking to the tattoo artist about how to treat it afterward. Pretty much everything this brotha suggested using was already in my medicine cabinet and the cosmetics drawer of my closet. I’m fairly certain that these supplies are in any black person’s medicine cabinet or cosmetics drawer: shea butter, cocoa butter and aloe vera*. The only thing we’re missing is Neosporin. (Note: Petroleum jelly is now a controversial after-tattoo ointment to use, but we still have Vaseline an arm reach away.)

Do NOT use aloe vera on a dog’s paws or anywhere else without consulting a veterinarian. Read below to find out why.

I mentioned shea butter and cocoa butter to my second tattoo artist—a white guy—who looked at me in absolute confusion and asked, “What is that? Do you use it for cooking?” In retrospect, I wish I’d have gotten up and left right then. That told me how often he works on tattoos for darker-skinned black people. I paid the price—and $900 in tattoo removals—later.

Recommended Read: “Want a tattoo? Wait until you’re 30 ~ What melanin-rich people need to know about tattoos, tattoo removal”

Still, it taught me a valuable lesson. Be prepared for skin problems and skin care before they can happen. The same goes for pet health. When it comes to dry dog paws and scrapes on the paw pads, this is one of those dog treatment issues that should be fully stocked in your cabinet before it can happen. The best part is those same supplies I mentioned are often part of the daily skin care regimen for black folks anyway.

Here’s what else you need to know about pet care during the transition from autumn to winter—and beyond.