Things to consider when choosing dog-care products

We love our dogs.   Their devotion and loyalty pierce us to the depths of our souls.  After eons of evolving together, they have become members of our families.  And for many of us, they’re our number-one companion.

I rescued my childhood dog from the pound, Max, who I named after the dog in the How the Grinch Stole Christmas (I did a better job than the Grinch). When we discovered that he was really a she, Max became Maxine (see attached photo). She passed away at 12 (that’s 61 in dog years) about a week before I moved to California, almost 25 years ago.  It was a new beginning for both of us; me, as a lifelong East Coast boy, and Maxine, who I hoped was in dog heaven, with endless chew toys and scratches behind her ears. You’ll see a photo of Max below.

When I became an expert on making healthy personal care products for humans, making similar products for dogs was a natural next step. I was particularly motivated because, although many of the products available for dogs like to use words like “natural” and “organic”, most of them just aren’t. And so, EO Dog was born.  We’re really proud of our foray into spreading the EO love to the dog world, and we think you’ll be happy too.  Take a look below for more information on how to make healthy choices for the snoring, opportunistic, snack-grabbing members of your household.  And no, we don’t mean Grandpa.

Things to consider when choosing dog-care products (and people products too).

1.       Is it colored? A colored product most likely means the addition of FD&C dyes.  These dyes are approved by the FDA for the Food, Pharmaceuticals, Cosmetics and Personal Care industry, BUT, the FDA does not test or formally approve products before they are released to the public.  Safety and consumer health is up to the manufacturer, who might be more motivated by profit margins than by their customers’ well-being.  And, FD & C colors are made from coal tar, a by-product of petroleum and a suspected carcinogen. Not good for any of us.

2.       Does the product smells like your grandmother? I loved my grandmother, but the cloud of eau de pretend-flowers around her, well, not so much.  Synthetic fragrances were very popular 50+ years ago (as they are today), so while these smells may bring back wonderful memories, they have been associated with allergies, dermatitis, respiratory distress and potential effects on the reproductive system.* And, because manufacturers are not required by the FDA to disclose their ingredients in synthetic fragrances, consumers are left in the dark on what they are really choosing.

3.      Is organic important to you? If you look for organic products to protect both your dog and our planet, be sure that the USDA-certified organic logo is included as well.  If not, then the product isn’t organic as defined by the USDA, the organic regulator. Many companies claim that their product is organic when it’s not, hence the need for government regulation. My personal position on this is if a company states “organic” on the front panel and they are not certified by the USDA, they are deliberately misleading consumers or are ignorant of the rules. In either case, I wouldn’t buy the product.

4.       Is Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate or Ammonium Lauryl or Laureth Sulfate in the product? These ingredients are harsh irritants and don’t belong on your pet, or you. Not healthy. Don’t buy.

5.       Is Paraben used as a preservative? According to the Environmental Working Group**, parabens may alter hormone levels and increase the risk for certain kinds of cancer.  They aren’t allowed in natural products for humans, so why they in are dog products?

6.        Take a minute to understand the way ingredients are labeled. Ingredients should be listed by their INCI name (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients), a standardized system of ingredient names. This means that “renewable coconut-based cleansers” or “natural preservative”, may sound good, but can indicate the manufacturer is using Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Methyl Paraben or other unnecessary and toxic ingredients. Companies also claim that their formulas and ingredients are “proprietary” and “secret” – unfortunately for them, this is an outdated, “good ole boy” way of hiding nasty ingredients in products. When a product is claimed to be “natural”, the manufacturer must then prove this by listing the ingredients by standardized INCI names. There are many sources to find them; a good place to start is www.cosmeticsdatabase.com

7.       Who is ensuring a quality product?  Most companies have their products manufactured in third-party facilities, which means they have third-hand information on the integrity of their ingredients and formulas. I have been manufacturing products for 15 years and I can tell you that the interpretations of “natural” are very broad and often not very natural at all. I prefer to buy my food directly from the farmer and local whenever possible – and I prefer to buy my products from companies that make the products themselves – and yes I have a problem with water and apples coming from Fiji.

8.       Is the bottle made from recycled plastic AND is it recyclable? Using bottles made from recycled content that can be recycled again is an easy win. To me, this shows that the manufacturer’s commitment to protect the earth and support sustainability is a sincere one.

I hope that this is helpful. You, your dogs and our planet deserve products that are effective, safe and kind to our environment.   Now you know where to find them.

*Environmental Working Group – Artificial Fragrance:  http://www.ewg.org/reports/scentedsecrets

**Environment Working Group – Paraben:   http://www.ewg.org/chemindex/term/563