Pet products - Chemists Corner

Formulating

Pet products

Posted by Ella on November 7, 2014 at 6:05 am

Hi everyone,

i want to make shampoo for pets (mostly cats and dogs). Just a regular shampoo, not anti-flea type.

I have never done anything like it…people yes, but animals? I know that their hair and skin isn`t that different…but.

Has anyone had any experience in such products? Maybe you could give me some ideas on surfactants…anything.

How much surfactants would you suggest? 15% Maybe more?

What could i use as conditioning agent? Same as for my hair?

Maybe this seems really funny, but i worry more about my two kittens than myself…i dont want to experiment on them

Any kind of help wil be appreciated.

Ella

belassi replied 9 years, 6 months ago 8 Members · 15 Replies
15 Replies

Bobzchemist

Member
November 7, 2014 at 11:03 am

Ella,

If you can access commercial products, get the SugaNate 160NC from Colonial Chemicals and use it alone at 20 - 30 % in distilled or deionized water.
Ella

Member
November 7, 2014 at 11:56 am

Uf…i come from Slovenia…i`m not sure i can get this in europe…is this simmilar to coco glucoside?
Ella

Member
November 7, 2014 at 11:59 am

Awsome sufactant thou…thank you Bobzchemist.
belassi

Member
November 7, 2014 at 12:18 pm

I have heard that pet shampoo unlike human shampoo should be neutral (pH=7) but otherwise similar. Keep it simple to avoid allergic reactions. I’ve studied the LOI of several pet shampoos and they are quite simple. I wouldn’t use SLS though, too irritating. A sulphate free would be best but would of course be more expensive.
Bill_Toge

Member
November 7, 2014 at 7:01 pm

I work for a company which occasionally makes shampoo for dogs

we use a combination of SLES, TEA lauryl sulphate (an efficient cleaner, but more mild than ALS or SLS) and cocamidopropyl betaine at about pH 8, and nothing else apart from the preservative

also you’re totally right not to experiment on your kittens; ethical issues aside, it’s best for your own safety
Bobzchemist

Member
November 7, 2014 at 8:46 pm

@Ella, this is a modified alkyl poly glucoside that is a little milder than APG’s.

http://knowledge.ulprospector.com/198/alkyl-polyglucosides/ 

In the EU, I’d suggest BASF’s

@Belassi is right, you need a neutral pH.
ozgirl

Member
November 9, 2014 at 5:12 pm

As others have mentioned you need to have a pH around 7.

Be careful about using fragrances especially for cats as many fragrance ingredients and essential oils that are ok for humans can be toxic for animals.
Sarah

Member
November 10, 2014 at 2:48 pm

I am looking into formulating products for dogs - in addition to the neutral pH is there anything else which should be taken into consideration from a safety perspective?

I am using the old fashioned suttocide preservative b/c it is effective at pH 7.
belassi

Member
November 10, 2014 at 6:32 pm

From this web site - I would need to research this claim.

Sulfates like SLES (Sodium lauryl Ether Sulfate) are potent detergents that have been shown to harm the developing structure of the eye in young animals. This raises concerns regarding ocular damage in both

infants and younger children. SLES and SLS have been shown to be absorbed and retained in

the eyes, liver, and brain of undeveloped animals for up to 5 days longer than in adults.

Based on this evidence and on the fact that SLS can be absorbed anywhere through the skin,

exposure with sulfates in shampoo may cause abnormal development of the eyes in younger

animals.
hishine1

Member
November 13, 2014 at 7:40 pm

Neutral pH is paramount. The pH of animals skin (fur covered mammals) is generally a lot lower than human skin, and varies from breed to breed also. Domestic pets are also prone to all sorts of dermatitis so the more mild surfactants you can use the better.
David

Member
November 14, 2014 at 11:49 am

Here are some facts regarding pH of animals.

https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jjvc2001/24/1/24_1_9/_pdf
hishine1

Member
November 14, 2014 at 8:17 pm

@David… wow thank you for that link! This is a particular area of interest for me, and I’m always on the lookout for different papers/trials and findings
Different results from other studies but these are veterinary based (Colorado St Uni), obviously lots more to look into!
Thanks again!
hishine1

Member
November 14, 2014 at 8:41 pm

eg; Zoological Institute (Hanover) - Dogs skin pH (Abdominal) ranged from 4.84 - 6.97, but under stress could be much higher (this could include bathing! LOL) Cats 5.4-6.7.
Ella

Member
November 19, 2014 at 10:49 am

Guys, you are awsome! So much info-the more the better.

About pH…i assume that it has to be neutral so it doesn`t sting their eyes…like baby shampoo.

I could go lower, to be closer to natural pH of the skin thou…

I tried combination of cocamydopropyl betain and decil glucoside. Other ingridient are some hydrolized oat protein and glycerin-for now. I am wondering if some detangling ingredients would be ok…but above all-that is preety simple recipe for mild pet shampoo, with only few ingredients to minimize allergic reactions and neutral pH. It has some proteins for shiny coat and a humectant for that skin that is underneath. I think i wont change it-maybe just add something for easier combing
belassi

Member
November 19, 2014 at 7:24 pm

Sounds fine. No nasty SLS. Let us know how it goes!