In Sight: Formulating For Fido
By: Katie Schaefer, Cosmetics & Toiletries
Posted: August 1, 2007, from the August 2007 issue of Cosmetics & Toiletries.
Formulating for pet care is not that different from formulating personal care. Tony De Vos, the president and owner of Cardinal Laboratories Inc., knows this fact all too well, as he has spent nearly his entire career wedged between the two. Although it may seem that formulating for pet care would be simpler than personal care, the truth may astonish some.
In addition to being president and founder of Cardinal Laboratories Inc., a pet care supplier, De Vos is also president and founder of Westwood Laboratories Inc. a company that formulates pet care and personal care in addition to serving as a contract manufacturer. According to De Vos, formulating for pet care products, specifically dog-grooming products, is more difficult due to the variance in the dog breeds.
“There are only a few types of human hair in the personal care industry—you have African hair, European hair and Asian hair; in the world of dogs, there are many different coats,” said Devos.
Therefore, when formulating dog care products, many variables must be considered. Groomability is an example of such a variable, according to De Vos.
“Groomability is when a person uses a product on their dog and they get the desired result.” Also, dog care formulators must consider the pH structure of the dog’s skin. Dogs’ skin is more alkaline than humans and has a higher pH, therefore products can be irritating if not correctly formulated.