The difference between a tin and a stick is who has to hold still. A tin needs a finger, and a finger needs a pet willing to wait while you dip, warm and work the balm in. A twist-up stick goes on in a single swipe with nothing on your hands at all, and that is often the difference between a job you actually do and one you keep meaning to get round to.

This is a 40g stick from EelJoy, wound up like a lip balm and swiped straight over paw pads, around the claws, or across a dry nose. Noses are the part most owners neglect, and crusting or flaking is common in older dogs and in flat-faced breeds who cannot reach to lick them. Because nothing is scooped or decanted, the stick stays clean enough to live in a coat pocket or the car door.

• 40g twist-up balm stick
• EelJoy branded
• For paw pads, around the claws and on dry noses
• No mess and no greasy fingers
• Suitable for both cats and dogs

Two things worth knowing. Balm helps with dryness and light cracking. It does nothing for cuts, for burns from hot pavement, or for a nose that has changed appearance suddenly, and all three want a vet rather than a stick. Pets also lick, so apply thinly and give it a minute or two to sink in before you let them settle down and wash it straight off again.

Who it's for: Owners who want paw and nose care to take five seconds, and anyone with a pet who will not sit still long enough for a tin.