Pet Product News - June 2018

Safety First in Pest Control
Consumers demand safe and effective alternatives in the natural flea
and tick products they choose for their dogs and cats.

SH UT TE RSTO CK

BY SANDY CHEBAT

When it comes to protecting pets from fleas and ticks, consumer concerns center on safety and efficacy, with ease of use and the variety of options coming into play as well. “Over the past seven years, the purchase of natural, chemical-free flea and tick solutions
among dog-owning households increased by 300 percent, according to the American Pet Products
Association,” said James Brandly, content writer and public relations manager at TropiClean Pet
Products in Wentzville, Mo. “We believe this is driven by pet parents’ desire for natural pet products
and overall product awareness. Pet parents seek products [for which] they can understand the ingre-
dients and see results.”
The demand for natural solutions is driving sales at retail, industry participants report.

“Sales are most certainly on the rise as we see more and more new customers every day, and a good
amount of those people are becoming increasingly aware of the dangers of chemical applications,”
said Betsy Head, owner and operator of Family Dog Naturals in Leland, N.C. “We see that the trends
are moving more and more toward oils and herbs, both topically and internally.”
Essential oils as well as topical and internal remedies are popular items at Holistic Hound in
Berkeley, Calif., according to Kelly Pierce, sales associate.

“People are becoming more self-educated on what is safe and beneficial for their pets,” she said.
“It seems that essential oils to help kill and repel insects are common, as well as use of certain herbs
to help build immunity and repel insects from the inside out.”
Vicki Rae Thorne, certified aromatherapist and herbalist, and founder and owner of Earth Heart in
Dundee, Ill., said that while customers want botanical-based flea and tick products, they prefer those
made in the USA and with substantiated safety and efficacy.

“They want to know that the botanicals, such as essential oils of citronella or geranium and neem seed oil, have a proven track record for repelling fleas and ticks and won’t be toxic to their pet,” she explained.

Educated consumers seek to protect their pets as well as the environment with their flea and tick purchases, pet specialty retailers reported. And there are much more products to choose from now.

“Clients want to safely repel fleas and ticks without exposing themselves or the pet to toxic substances,” said Karen Conell, owner of The Bark Market in Delavan, Wis. “Being safe for the environment is also a concern. We are seeing an increase [in sales] for sure as a number of really great products are hitting the market, giving clients many options.”