Dry, irritated patches turn up in odd places on a pet, whether an elbow callus, a bald spot behind an ear or a scaly bit at the base of the tail, and a paw balm is often the only thing in the cupboard that suits. This one is made as a general skin balm as much as a pad treatment, which sensibly widens where you can use it without reaching for something else.

The formula is plant-based and absorbs quickly, and that matters for two reasons. A greasy balm collects grit and gets walked across the carpet, and a slippery pad on a laminate floor is exactly how an older dog goes down. Worked into the pads it softens cracks and leaves a barrier against grit, salt and cold ground; worked into a dry elbow or a rough patch it does the same job on ordinary skin. Bedtime gives it the longest uninterrupted stretch.

• Plant-based formula
• For dry, irritated skin as well as rough paw pads
• Absorbs quickly without leaving paws slippery
• Creates a barrier against grit, salt and cold ground
• Suitable for everyday dry patches and rough spots
• For dogs and cats

Be careful what you treat with it. A soothing balm is for dry skin, not for lumps. Anything new, spreading, weeping, bleeding or hot, and anything your pet will not stop licking, needs a vet, because covering it with a balm mainly delays a diagnosis.

Who it's for: Owners dealing with everyday dry patches, elbow calluses and rough pads who would rather have one balm than three.