August Feature: The Best for Pets

Written on: August 5, 2015 by Ava Caridad

pet care

August Cover Story

August Cover Story

According to the 2015-2016 American Pet Products Association (APPA) National Pet Owners Survey, 65% of U.S. households own a pet, which equates to 79.7 million homes. In 1988, the first year the survey was conducted, 56% of U.S. households owned a pet.

In 2015, APPA estimates that $60.59 billion will be spent on pets in the U.S. This will include food ($23.04 billion), veterinarian care ($15.73 billion), live animal purchases ($2.19 billion) and grooming/boarding ($5.24 billion).

Burt's_Bees_DogPet supplies and over-the-counter medicine is estimated to reach sales of $14.39 billion in 2015. New this year is Burt’s Bees for Dogs Waterless Shampoo with Apple & Honey. According to the company, it’s 99.8% natural, pH balanced for dogs, cruelty-free and contains no sulfates or colorants. The 10 fl. oz. product is suitable for spot cleaning muddy paws or grooming the entire dog. It has a gentle spray application provided by the EuroMist spray pump from Aptar.

CAW Industries, Inc., parent company and manufacturer of Willard Water and all Dr. Willard’s brand products, announced the launch of Dr. Willard’s Natural Restorative Pet Care Kit, which includes three new, holistic pet care products designed specifically to help improve dogs’ health as well as address a wide variety of ailments facing dogs today. The natural, patented, safe and reliable kit includes Rejuvenating Skin & Coat Spray, a topical spray that restores moisture and beauty to dogs’ skin and coat and relieves discomfort from a variety of conditions such as hot spots, scrapes, burns, abrasions and cuts. Also in the kit is Vibrant Pet Water Drops and Soothing Aloe Gel for Pets—cruelty-free products that contain no artificial colors, flavors, parabens or phthalates. To honor National Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month last April, CAW Industries and Dr. Willard’s announced it will donate a portion of the new products’ sales to help the thousands of animal shelters and rescues in the U.S.Dr. Willards

Magic_Coat_SprayOn_ShampooMagic Coat Hypo Allergenic Continuous Spray On Shampoo from Four Paws Products Ltd. is suitable for all dogs and sprays on quickly and easily for no mess. The targeted spray applies evenly from any direction to get hard-to-reach places. Formulated with oatmeal to moisturize coat, soothe and relieve skin irritations. Spray on generously, work into lather and rinse off. Leaving the coat clean, shiny and refreshed, the product is packaged in the airless Bag-on-Valve and dispensed by the Twist-To-Lock Moritz accessory, both supplied by Aptar Beauty + Home.

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Vets BestVet’s Best Flea + Tick Home Spray kills fleas and flea eggs, ticks and mosquitoes on contact. Safe around dogs 12 weeks or older, the blend of peppermint oil and clove oil extract (eugenol) was formulated to kill fleas and ticks naturally and safely with botanical extracts. The product has a fresh, natural scent and contains no pyrethrins or cedar oil.

In case your dog brings home fleas anyway, Control Solutions launched Pivot Ultra, a quick, knockdown insecticide with an insect growth regulator to break the pests’ life cycle. Pivot Ultra kills adult fleas and prevents flea infestations for up to seven months. Even if adult fleas are reintroduced into a treated area, a population will not develop. For indoor use, the convenient inverted aerosol sprays upside-down and the 20 oz. can treats up to 2,625 square feet of carpet, floors and furniture. In addition to fleas, Pivot Ultra kills ticks, ants, roaches and spiders.

trixie-aerosol-sprayerTo keep your lizards moist, Trixie Aerosol Sprayer (1.5L) is a pressure sprayer suitable for daily moistening of small terrariums, with the large size especially handy when one has several enclosures to mist. The sprayer is ideally suited for species such as Chameleons, Anoles, Water Dragons and Amphibians, according to Trixie.

pgiPets of the future…
The future looks bright in the pet industry, according to APPA. The economic downturn of the past years is now being followed by a slow recovery, which is promising. For small stores, the impact of competition from supermarkets and mass merchandisers has been strong and will continue. Larger pet retailers will continue to have a strong showing.

Customers will continue to pamper their pets and as they experience an increase in disposable income will also be looking for more than low prices. Small business will benefit the most from this shift. Independent operators tend to be the most knowledgeable and experienced in the industry and are able to offer expert advice on a variety of pet-related issues, said APPA.

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