In Sight: Formulating For Fido

By: Katie Schaefer, Cosmetics & Toiletries

Posted: August 1, 2007, from the August 2007 issue of Cosmetics & Toiletries.

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Ingredients for Pet Care
Consumers expect dog care products to cost less than personal care products, which is unrealistic, according to De Vos. Dog care products are priced similarly to personal care products because they incorporate similar, if not the same ingredients. In addition, the same amount of research and testing must be performed on dog care products as on human care products if not more because of the large number of breeds being treated.

Natural extracts are becoming popular in the dog care industry. For example, some of De Vos’ dog care products are formulated with birch leaf extract to add luster and shine to a dog’s coat, wheat- or oat-derived surfactants are used to help calm skin and reduce irritation, and chamomile flower extract is included to add vitamins to the dog’s skin and coat.

Formulators for dog care products typically look for proteins, antioxidants and silk amino acid to add to their products, according to De Vos. He believes that attention to detail during the procedure by which the ingredients are formulated together makes certain dog care products stand out. According to De Vos, some dog care companies do not take the time to properly formulate their products to truly be efficacious.

Trends
Trends in personal care closely relate to pet care, according to De Vos; for example, the emergence of luxury or high-end personal care products is being seen in pet care.

 “Just like in the cosmetic industry, the pet care industry has different consumers. Some consumers are willing to pay more for better ingredients for their pets while there are those who are not willing to spend a lot on their animals,” added De Vos.