Pads are tougher than skin but they are not armour, and they take a beating from grit, from salted winter pavements and from summer tarmac that has been sitting in the sun all afternoon. Once a pad actually cracks it keeps catching and reopening, so the useful moment to step in is before that happens, with something rubbed in as a routine after every walk.

The base is coconut oil, which sinks in rather than sitting on top, and it works on noses as well as pads, so the dry crusty nose some dogs develop responds to the same treatment. Rub it in properly rather than smearing it on. Warm a little between your fingers, work it into each pad and between the toes, and give it a minute before your pet walks off. Applying at bedtime helps, since it stays put rather than being licked away.

• Coconut oil base
• For dry, rough and cracked paw pads
• Also suitable for dry noses
• Rubs in easily after walks or before heading out
• Helps protect against hot pavements, grit and cold ground
• Suitable for dogs and cats

What it will not do. A balm softens and protects skin that is dry but healthy. It does not treat an infection, a foreign body, a burn or an allergy, and a pet who is licking one paw obsessively, limping, or showing a pad that is red, swollen or weeping needs a vet rather than a tin of balm.

Who it's for: Owners of active dogs and outdoor cats who want a simple after-walk routine for pads that dry out and crack each winter.