When we started trying to find relief for our dog, we didn't care whether something was "natural" or "herbal" or anything else. We just wanted to help our dog and we tried anything we thought might help. We spent months researching and testing ingredients on our own Sheltie. If there was any possibility of side effects, we ruled it out immediately.

Once we knew it was safe, we would apply each ingredient individually to one leg and watch his behavior, whether he seemed to feel better and stopped itching, or whether he would appear more irritated or bite, lick or chew at his leg. The next morning, after an entire night's exposure to each ingredient, we would compare it to his other legs to see if that leg looked better: less red, less flaky, less inflamed, and then we would watch him throughout the next few days to see if there were any residual side effects.

Several natural ingredients we read about, even some that were recommended by dermatologists had adverse effects, so we chose to leave them out. Two examples are flaxseed oil and safflower oil. Both are recommended for human skin conditions, but in both cases, we found they caused increased redness and itching in our dog when they were applied topically. They are both great when given orally, but not on the skin itself. 

During the experimental phase of developing DermaPaw, we took Godrick to the veterinarian and told him exactly what we were doing. He was not only in agreement with many of our ideas, he was enthusiastic when he saw the results. In the end, we found many ingredients used in human and animal skin products can actually make rashes and itching worse. We tested nearly 30 different ingredients that were "known" to have beneficial effects and left most of them out because they either didn't help, or made things worse.

The next problem was how to keep our Sheltie from paw chewing long enough to give them time to heal and to stop him from licking the salve off his legs. We tried a dozen brands of dog socks, but in every case, he was able to pull them off within minutes. There are some dog shoes that don't come off, but they don't cover the entire leg, and they certainly don't look comfortable to sleep in. Eventually we came up with the idea of a harness made from soft elastic. The socks prevent further irritation of the affected area from paw chewing and within minutes, most dogs don't even seem to notice they are wearing them (Except Jack Russell terriers and Australian cattle dogs. They usually won't tolerate the socks and will chew them off in minutes. As far as we know, all other breeds tolerate to socks.

Obviously every dog is unique and we don't know if your dog will be willing to wear socks, but most do. We call them Stay-Put, because they don't come off like every other design we've ever seen or heard about. With that in mind, any dog could chew just about anything off its paw if it wanted to. The idea is that the sock harness doesn't bother the dog enough to bother chewing it off. Big dogs like mastiffs could chew a truck tire off, but for some reason they don't mind the socks and some seem to enjoy them. Even if your dog won't wear the socks, owners say that it works just as well. Most of it has soaked in by the time the dog can lick it off and most people tell us they can't really tell a difference inn effectiveness with the socks. The socks primarily keep your dog from doing further or continuing damage to his or her skin by paw chewing and paw licking. Many owners tell us their dog settles down after they rub DermaPaw on and they don't need the socks. The dog stops licking or chewing on its own. We know everyone won't have the same experience, but sincerely hope your dog feels better.

We have now been using the final formula for close to a year on our own dog and a few thousand other dogs with similar problems. We are satisfied that not only is this the best combination of ingredients available, they are all in the right proportions. We were hoping it might help a percentage of other dogs, but we had no idea how well it worked for so many people that wrote to us.

We found the best results come from using DermaPaw at night with the stay-put socks.

About one night in every three or four seems to work best. Allowing your dog's skin exposure to oxygen produces better results than using DermaPaw every night or keeping the socks on during the day. This keeps your dog's skin dry and clean when he or she goes outside, and it keeps the socks from getting dirty or wearing out too quickly.

By using DermaPaw at night, the socks stay dry, and your best friend can get a good night's sleep without itching or chewing. If you're like us, and your dogs sleep in the bedroom with you, it also means their licking and chewing won't keep you up all night as they try to relieve their itching. We hope you'll both sleep better. We know our dog does, and so do we. 

DermaPaw Contains: 

• Cod liver oil - a natural source of vitamin A, and vitamin D and has been clinically proven to nourish skin and hair. It is often used in the treatment of burns to prevent blistering and scarring.
• Lavender oil - works as an antiseptic, itch and pain reliever. The scent has a calming effect which may aid in relaxation and the reduction of anxiety.
• Chamomile oil - an effective antiseptic, which has also been shown to speed wound healing.
• Evening primrose oil - contains gamma linolenic acid, used to nourish and build new skin cells. GLA is a fatty acid that helps to heal skin but does not itch. 
• Vitamin E - an anti-oxidant used to promote skin healing.
• Sage oil - anti-inflmatory and anti-histamine to reduce swelling, itching and symptoms of dog skin allergies.
• Beeswax - provides a protective layer that covers the skin and helps prevent further cell damage from licking.
• Petrolatum - moisturizes and protects skin.
  
  All ingredients have been approved by numerous veterinarians as completely safe for your dog. Additionally, we have tested DermaPaw on ourselves to see what it felt like on abrasions, scratches, insect bites, scabs, heel cracks, small cuts and rashes. We have also tested it in our own eyes by rubbing DermaPaw directly in them and on our eyelids. There was absolutely no sting, irritation, dryness, redness or any unpleasant feeling. The only side effect we could determine is that now Scott barks when the doorbell rings.
  

DermaPaw DOES NOT CONTAIN these ingredients often found in other animal skin medications, lotions, and balms.

• Hydrocortisone - commonly found in topical medications to prevent itching and promote healing, this steroid if licked or ingested by your dog, can cause colitis, internal bleeding, diarrhea and additional serious, toxic effects.
• Eucalyptus - although this is a powerful natural disinfectant, it can be toxic if ingested and can cause irritation to a dog’s eyes and delicate olfactory sense.
• Tea Tree oil - This can kill your dog. Although it has a well-deserved reputation for excellent anti-microbial, anti-fungal and flea killing properties, it is dangerous and possibly deadly for dogs and cats. According to National Animal Poison Control Center, the use of tea tree oil in dogs has been associated with hypothermia, muscle weakness, ataxia, tremors, altered behavior, and paralysis. According to the American Cancer Society: "Tea tree oil is toxic when swallowed. It has been reported to cause drowsiness, confusion, hallucinations, coma, unsteadiness, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach upset, blood cell abnormalities, and severe rashes. It should be kept away from pets and children."
• Menthol - usually added to discourage licking because of its taste, menthol can also cause eye irritation and is much too strong for a dog’s sensitive nose. Both menthol and eucalyptus can cause anxiety in dogs by overwhelming their highly sensitive and delicate sense of smell. Anxious dogs tend to lick and chew their paws. This is actually thought to be the origin of the phrase, “to worry” a wound.
• Alpha linolenic acid - although this fatty acid has been found to have beneficial effects on human skin, it can cause increased itching in dogs when applied topically, causing them to bite and chew on their paws and legs, preventing healing and often making the problem worse. We recommend giving dogs fish oil, flaxseed and other sources of Omega fatty acids orally, but they usually have itchy results when applied topically in dogs.
• Grape seed oil - Toxic to many dog breeds. In some breeds a very small amount can cause permanent liver damage.
• Benzocaine - although this is relatively safe topical anesthetic, it can quickly cause contact dermatitis when applied to skin.
• Clove oil - also an excellent topical anesthetic with other favorable properties, clove oil causes dermatitis and is allergenic.
• Coconut oil and Safflower oil - both of these contain omega fatty acids that have been found to have significant results when ingested orally in dogs and applied topically in humans. In dogs, however, when applied topically they can cause redness, further inflammation and itching. They are fine to give orally, but not applied directly to the skin.
• Antibiotics - Some vets prescribe antibiotics to relieve secondary bacterial skin infections caused by repeated licking and chewing. We certainly agree with the use of antibiotics if a bacterial infection warrants it, but each time a dog is given an antibiotic, the natural bacteria that survive are more resistant to its use. Eventually, the vet has to switch to a different antibiotic to control the new infection. Antibiotics can be life savers, but their repeated or over use can eventually produce mutated strains of bacteria that are highly resistant to treatment. As with any drug, they should be used with caution and the dosage instructions should be followed diligently.
• Steroids including Prednisone, Depo Medrol and hydrocortisone - steroids can be life savers by improving a dog's natural immune system's ability to deal with allergens and speeding re-growth of skin cells. They can also have serious side effects in some dogs which vary from loss of bone density, interference of kidney function, aggressive behavior, weight gain, and increased thirst. Short term use of steroids is sometimes necessary, but long-term use can have consequences that may be worse than the benefits, including Cushing's syndrome among others. 
• Learn as much as possible about your dog's condition and bring up concerns with your vet. Dermapaw is not a substitute for a veterinarian. If your dog develops serious symptoms, always consult a veterinarian. Dermapaw is meant to be an additional option for symptom treatment of certain skin disorders and allergic reactions. Serious infections, sores, obsessive licking and all skin problems can have uncountable causes, and if in doubt, always take your dog to the vet for diagnosis and treatment.