Plenty of different pet owners are now also using products that are all-natural and organic for their dogs. One such substance that these products are made of is beeswax, which is becoming quite popular not only for people but also for dogs because of how it is purely organic and natural. That said, do dogs and beeswax do well together? Is it safe for you to use beeswax on your dogs?
Beeswax is completely safe for dogs because it doesn’t have anything that can be toxic to these animals. In fact, there are plenty of different dog products that are made from beeswax because of how safe this substance is for them. This includes paw protectors and cosmetic products for your dog’s skin.
So, as you can see, dogs and beeswax go well together as beeswax has always been used by people and animals alike for thousands of years already. This only means that you too can use beeswax on your dog. That said, let us get to know more about beeswax and how helpful and beneficial it is for dogs.
Can you use beeswax on dogs?
The organic movement has taken a quick turn in recent years due to the fact that more and more people are now using organic products instead of those full of synthetic ingredients that can have harmful effects. That said, beeswax has become quite popular among people because it can be made into different natural products that are safe and effective. These include soaps, candles, lotions, and lip balms.
In case you didn’t know what beeswax is, this is actually a natural wax-like substance that is made by bees to construct or draw their honeycomb or for capping off their honey. They produce beeswax by ingesting honey and then having another bee combine the beeswax with the enzymes in their saliva to make it moldable. And beeswax has been in use by people for thousands of years already as it can be dated back to the time of the Ancient Egyptian pharaohs, who have been using different beeswax products as well.
So, if you are someone who uses beeswax in most of the different products that you use on your skin, it might also be a good idea to use beeswax-based products on your dog, right? After all, if beeswax is safe and effective for you, it could also be safe and effective on your dog too, right? After all, if you want to go all-natural and organic with your products, your pet should also live the same kind of lifestyle.
The good news is that, yes, you can use beeswax on your dogs because this is a substance that is perfectly safe for your canine friends. There are plenty of different beeswax products that you can use on your dogs. And the best part is that these products were specifically made and designed to be used by dogs. No one would be making beeswax products for dogs if they weren’t even safe for them in the first place.
As mentioned, there are different beeswax products that were specifically made for dogs. All of these products are made using beeswax, which is organic and safe enough for your dogs. And you can even store beeswax products for dogs for a long time without them going to waste. That said, they are not only safe for your dogs but are also easy on your pocket because you can be sure that these beeswax products will last for a long time.
The products that we are talking about range from all sorts of different products that you can use for your dogs on a regular basis. This can include balms for their skin, paw protection products, and other cosmetic products that can provide plenty of benefits for your furry pal. As such, if you are someone who is into all-natural and organic products, your dog can also enjoy the same kind of lifestyle with the help of beeswax products that are entirely non-toxic for your dog.
What are the benefits of beeswax on my dog?
Now that we know that beeswax is safe for dogs and that you can use different beeswax products for your dogs, you have to know that this substance is not only safe for dogs but also comes with a lot of different benefits that can help make your dog healthier. That means that beeswax is not merely something that is useful for cosmetic purposes but is also great at keeping your dog happy and healthy.
So, in that regard, let’s talk more about the different benefits that beeswax has on your dog.
Skin benefits
- Minor injuries
It isn’t uncommon for dogs to experience minor skin injuries similar to how children can get scrapes and small wounds whenever they become too playful outdoors. This is something that dogs usually experience on a regular basis, as they can be quite playful and clumsy as well. But while minor injuries such as small wounds won’t affect your dog that much, they can still end up getting infected. You wouldn’t want that to happen to your dog, would you?
So, one of the many benefits that beeswax has on your dog’s skin is that it is great at promoting the healing of minor skin wounds such as scrapes and scratches. That’s because beeswax has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties that can clean the wound, decrease the growth of bacteria and harmful micro-organisms, and reduce the inflammation on such minor wounds.
On top of that, beeswax is also rich in vitamin A, which is supposed to be great at cell rebuilding. So, by using beeswax to treat minor wounds on your dog’s skin, the vitamin A found in beeswax can help cell rebuilding on the wounded area. This will help speed up the healing process of that wound as the antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties of beeswax decrease the chances of infection.
In this regard, here are some applications for beeswax as a way for you to help heal your dog’s minor wounds and injuries:
- Small lesions
- Cracked elbows
- Cold and dry air cracks
- Crackle pads
- Itching and irritation
- Skin protection
Like us, dogs also need their skin protected because they are regularly exposed to different things that can easily damage their skin or leave wounds. In fact, because dogs are bare and unprotected by clothes, they are more prone to skin damage and wounds than we are. This becomes important when you are walking on rocky paths or when the concrete is frozen during the winter season as your dog’s skin and footpads can easily get wounded from such conditions.
So, what beeswax can do for your dog’s skin is that it can help protect it from all sorts of wounds or scratches. That’s because it forms a protective barrier over the dog’s skin without clogging its pores so that it has a layer of protection that can minimize the damage that the environment can cause to the dog’s skin.
For example, if you were to walk your dog on the hot pavement during a sunny summer day, the pavement won’t be able to damage your dog’s footpads as much as it should because the beeswax protected its skin.
Beeswax becomes perfect for skin protection in the following instances:
- Long hours of walking
- Walk on a rocky path
- Frozen ground
- Snow
- Hot ground
- Softens the skin
We use all sorts of different products that can help soften our skin. For those who don’t use organic products, lotions that are chemical-based are the usual go-to products. Meanwhile, for those who only use organic skin products, beeswax has become a good choice because there are actually beeswax lotions out there that can help soften our skin. The same can be said when it comes to your dog.
Yes, that’s right. There are beeswax products that are meant to help soften your dog’s skin similar to what lotion can do. What it does is that it helps keep a protective layer over your dog’s skin so that it basically traps the moisture in the skin as the outside air will make it more difficult to dry up your dog’s skin.
The more moist the dog’s skin is, the better and softer it will be. No one wants their dogs to have dry skin because this can possibly lead to skin conditions or even diseases that can affect the dog’s overall health.
So, if you want to soften your dog’s skin, beeswax is applicable in the following instances:
- Skin dryness
- Dry muzzle
- Dehydrated area
- Antibacterial
Bacteria can lead to a lot of different problems in your dog’s skin. We know for a fact that we, as humans, keep the bad bacteria out of our skin because this can lead to certain skin conditions or even health problems when we do ingest the bacteria. The same thing applies to your dog as we need to make sure that our dogs are also protected from harmful bacteria. Of course, because dogs are more prone to bacteria due to their less-hygienic approach, it is essential for us to find an effective way to fend off bacteria.
So, one of the reasons why we use beeswax as the base for our soaps is that it actually has antibacterial properties that will allow it to kill off harmful bacteria on the skin. The same can be said of beeswax soaps that are made for dogs as their antibacterial properties can keep your dog’s skin clean and free of harmful bacteria. This can greatly reduce the risk of contamination and infections.
There are studies that prove that beeswax can actually inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi on any kind of surface such as the skin. This means that beeswax can be great at fighting certain conditions that are born from harmful bacteria.
This is the exact reason why beeswax has been in use for thousands of years as it has been helping humans and dogs alike in keeping their skin and bodies clean and free from bacteria as much as possible.
Hair benefits
- Hydration
It is important for our hair and scalp to stay hydrated because this can lead to certain hair problems such as hair loss or dandruff if we don’t take care of our hair properly. And, to some extent, the same principle applies to our dog’s hair as canines also need healthy hair to stay healthy.
This is where beeswax comes in as it has vitamin A, which is great at hydrating the hair. As such, the dog’s hairs will be able to retain their moisture for an extended period of time and will stay healthy and fresh. No more dogs with dry, dull, and brittle hair because of how beeswax is great at hydrating their fur.
Beeswax can be effective for those who have dogs and are living in dry and arid areas because of how such conditions can easily cause your dogs to have dry and dull hair. By applying beeswax on their hair or by using a beeswax dog shampoo, you can easily counteract the effects the environment has on your dog’s hair.
- Easier brushing
It isn’t uncommon for dog owners to complain about brushing their dog’s hair, as there are some long-haired dogs that tend to have hairs that tangle up together or even matt. This becomes a chore for any dog owner to brush the dog’s hair. You would want to make sure that the brush simply glides through the dog’s hair without any difficulties whatsoever.
So, if you have a dog with hair that is difficult to brush, it will be easier for you to tame it with the help of beeswax because of how beeswax can make your dog’s hair smoother. This can also help keep the groomer’s cut intact so that it will be easier for you to glide the brush through the dog’s hair whenever you are brushing it.
- Soothes the scalp
There are also plenty of different dog owners with dogs that have scalp problems. And such problems are not only common among dogs but also in humans as well. This is why we sometimes use beeswax as a product for the hair as it helps soothes the scalp.
The same product can also be as effective to your dog’s scalp as beeswax has plenty of properties that will allow it to soothe the scalp and treat certain problems and issues such as psoriasis, eczema, and dandruff. Any dog with scalp problems will most likely end up scratching and scratching without rest. But beeswax can help ease those problems and even treat them.
How to use beeswax for your dog?
So, while there are plenty of beeswax products that you can buy for yourself such as shampoos, soaps, lotions, and lip balms, you can also use the same products for your dogs to a certain extent because of how safe beeswax is. However, because these products are usually formulated for humans and not for dogs, is there a better way for you to use beeswax for your dog?
Yes, there are better ways for you to use beeswax for your dog. The most popular way is by using shampoos that are formulated for your dogs and have all of the necessary natural ingredients that work well with beeswax to provide your dog with the kind of pampering and soothing product that it needs for its hair.
One of our favorite beeswax shampoos made for dogs is Burt’s Bees for Dogs Shampoo. This shampoo comes with natural ingredients such as beeswax, oatmeal, and honey. All of these natural ingredients are perfectly safe for your dog. The same shampoo is also recommended by veterinarians all over the world, as it can be suitable for dogs and puppies alike.
However, the best way for you to use beeswax for your dogs is by using it as a balm. A beeswax balm is perfect to use for a lot of different situations as it is by far the most versatile beeswax product that you can use for your dog.
The reason why a beeswax balm is so versatile is that you can simply dab it on your dog’s footpads, skin, or hair while expecting the same results that you can get from all of the other beeswax products that you can buy on the market.
You can make your own homemade beeswax balm yourself if you have a good recipe to follow or if you have the ingredients and the tools that will allow you to make a good beeswax balm at home. However, we do recommend that you try your hand at buying a beeswax balm first before you try making one.
Our favorite beeswax balm for dogs is YAY PET Dog Paw Balm, which is mostly used for your dog’s footpads but can also be used for a lot of different purposes as well. This product is made with all-natural oils and ingredients and is free from chemicals that can be dangerous for your dog. It also is quite easy to apply and dries up pretty fast. So, if you are interested in this beeswax balm for dogs, you can get it here.
But, if you do insist on making your own beeswax balm at home, the best ingredients are always organic and natural ones. Of course, beeswax should always be in the picture but other ingredients such as shea butter and coconut oil are great additions as well because they also have their own benefits that can help improve the effects of beeswax or add additional advantages that can help improve your dog’s health.
When using beeswax products or balms on your dog, here are some quick tips:
- Always use a small amount of beeswax product, as using too much beeswax balm on your dog will cause its coat to go greasy (for example).
- Because some of the oils in the balm can naturally rise to the surface, it is better to mix the balm with your hands first before you apply it to your dog so that the oils will incorporate with the rest of the ingredients.
- If you are using the beeswax balm on your dog’s footpads, cover them up with socks after. This ensures that you don’t end up greasing the floor. Of course, the socks will also allow the beeswax to dry up quickly without the dog licking it.
Is beeswax safe for your dog?
While we did say that you can use beeswax for your dog, we never really fully discussed whether or not it is actually safe for your dog. After all, your dog’s health should always be your primary concern when it comes to using products that are designed and made for dogs.
So, when you apply beeswax on your dog’s skin, the consensus is that it is considered completely safe as nothing bad will happen to the dog’s skin or hair (aside from it becoming greasy) when you apply beeswax on its skin. That said, the primary use of beeswax for dogs is as a balm or a shampoo that should make direct contact with its skin or hair.
Still, before you do indeed use beeswax on your dog, the best way to be sure that it is safe is to perform a skin test first. This is to ensure that your dog is not allergic to beeswax or that the beeswax product you are using does not contain any ingredients that can be harmful to a dog or can trigger its allergies.
So, what you need to do here is to apply a small amount of the beeswax product on your dog’s elbow because this is the part that dogs can’t normally reach with their mouth. The elbow area also has a thick skin that should be able to withstand any adverse effects if ever your dog may not handle beeswax well. After applying the small dab of beeswax on the elbow, leave it there untouched for two days and observe what happens. When doing this test, do not apply the beeswax anywhere close to the mouth or eyes on any tender or sensitive skin areas on your dog.
While negative effects are indeed quite rare when it comes to beeswax and dogs in general, some of the potential effects can include tenderness, itching, rashes, and redness. If you do indeed notice that these effects are present after doing the test, do not use the beeswax product on your dog or have your dog checked by a vet to see what the underlying cause of the problem is. It could be because your dog is allergic to honey or any other bee products.
Of course, it will always be better for you to go to a vet and consult his expertise first before you try out a new beeswax product on your dog. The vet’s expert opinion will be invaluable in this situation.
What happens if my dog eats beeswax?
We did say that there is a chance of your dog licking the beeswax on its body if you apply it anywhere near its mouth. After all, dogs try to get to know things by smelling them or by tasting them. This is their way of knowing what beeswax is. And of course, beeswax comes with the sweet smell of honey, which might be appealing for your dog.
So, if your dog does indeed eat or ingest beeswax, what will happen to it?
If you used an all-natural beeswax product that is pure, then there shouldn’t be any problem because beeswax will easily pass through its digestive system without getting digested by the dog. Your dog will just end up defecating it later on. And, if you use a beeswax balm that comes with natural oils such as coconut oil or shea butter, you shouldn’t have any worries as well because these oils are perfectly safe for your dog as well.
However, there are still cases wherein you need to worry when your dog does indeed ingest beeswax:
- If it ate a large chunk of beeswax that is dry, there is a chance that it might end up blocking the intestinal passage. As such, always use beeswax in a balm form because it won’t end up hardening up into chunks.
- Dogs that are allergic to beeswax or honey will naturally see adverse effects after ingesting beeswax. Take your dog to the vet immediately when this happens.
- Beeswax products mixed with synthetic materials, such as beeswax candles that have paraffin are, of course, dangerous when ingested due to the chemical ingredients.
Are beeswax candles safe for dogs?
Lastly, it isn’t rare for people to be lighting up a beeswax candle in their homes from time to time because of how it is great at eliminating toxic odors. But are beeswax candles actually safe for your dog? After all, there are studies that show that not all candles are safe for dogs when they inhale the fumes that come from such candles.
As long as you are using a candle that is made from pure beeswax and does not have artificial or synthetic scents and other ingredients, these candles are perfectly safe for your dogs. And if ever your dog actually ingests the beeswax candle, you shouldn’t worry as well except when the candles are mixed with chemical ingredients or when the candles have huge chunks that may end up causing intestinal blockage.
Aside from those, beeswax candles are generally safe for dogs as long as you make sure they don’t end up eating the candles and as long as you use beeswax candles that are completely natural.
Sources:
https://www.whole-dog-journal.com/care/bee-products-have-a-special-meaning-for-dogs/
https://topdogtips.com/best-bee-products-for-dogs/
https://dogpack.com/blog/dog-care/can-dogs-eat-honey
https://www.shelterapet.com/dog-hygiene/beeswax-7-benefits-for-dogs/
