Tree sap is sticky and hard, which makes it difficult to remove from clothing or human hair. For a dog, however, this adhesive material can cause major problems if it gets embedded between the pads of their paws.
Fortunately, there are many ways to remove this stubborn substance from your dog's fur without resorting to painful and potentially harmful scissors. Follow these steps to get the sap off your pet's fur in no time:
Rinse your dog’s paws in vinegar and water. This will help loosen the adhesive quality of the sap, and make it easier for your pet to comb it out.
The next step is to apply a small amount of oil to the sap-covered area. You can use olive oil, mineral oil or smooth peanut butter (xylitol free).
3. Gently massage the oil into your pet’s fur to break down the sticky sap.
4. Leave for several minutes, and then repeat if necessary to ensure that all of the sap has been removed from your dog’s fur.
5. Work slowly and carefully with a wide-toothed comb
As the sap on your dog’s fur begins to dry out, it can become more difficult to remove. If the sap is too dried out, re-soften it by using a hair dryer on the lowest setting.