About Furbabies™ Botanicals

 

FurBabies Botanicals is a veterinary dermatology informed skin & oral care brand for pets with damaged sensitive skin due to allergies, environment or genetic predisposition. Our products are tailored to address a myriad of skin concerns in dogs, cats, and even rabbits, including but not limited to oral hygeine, itching, dryness, redness, dandruff, unpleasant odours, tear stains, sores, excessive paw licking, and ear discharge. 

The range is designed specifically to repair, fortify, protect & nourish the skin barrier of pets. Each of our products are vegan, not tested on laboratory animals & free from fillers and bulking agents, artificial chemicals & fragrances.

Pets enduring skin & dental discomfort often grapple with emotional distress and mood fluctuations. Harnessing the potency of botanical extracts, every application of our products not only works towards soothing and repairing the skin but also bestows a serene aromatherapy experience, promoting a sense of calm and equilibrium.

Dexter the Smelly Matted Tear Stained Lhasa Aphso

Our Story: The Birth of FurBabies™ Botanicals

Our journey began with Dexter, our beloved Lhasa Apso, who was just 2.5 years old. On the surface, Dexter appeared to be well-groomed, but beneath his fluffy coat, we discovered multiple matted areas and a persistent "wet dog" smell. Determined to help him, we tried a range of products from the usual pet stores, hoping to improve his condition.

Unfortunately, instead of relief, the shampoos we used left Dexter feeling more itchy. His paws became smelly, his coat turned brittle and dry, and he started shedding excessively. We even resorted to using baby powder pet cologne to mask the odor, but it only led to further distress. Dexter's behaviour began to change. He was agressive at times and withdrawn. We noticed these changes in his behavior along with the worsening condition of his skin and coat. Despite frequent washes, the unpleasant smell always returned, seemingly stronger than before.

We were alarmed to discover that many grooming products contained harsh and potentially harmful chemicals. We had trusted that there would be regulations in place to ensure only safe products were available on the market, but this experience opened our eyes to a harsh reality. Many natural pet brands also miss out or use vague ingredient names to avoid mentioning use of harsh chemicals. 

Dexter also struggled with yeasty ears, usually caused by moisture in the ears promoting fungal growth. Most ear cleaners on the market are however water-based, which  exacerbate the problem. To address this, we developed a unique multipurpose balm designed not only to clean ears effectively but also to tackle the myriad causes of smelly and incessant tear stains. Our balm is free from bleaches, powders, and harmful chemicals, ensuring the safety of sensitive areas near their eyes.

Motivated by our love for Dexter and our commitment to his well-being, we set out to create a better solution. Thus, FurBabies™ Botanicals was born. We leveraged our background in clinical research and pharmaceutical knowledge to develop a line of gentle, effective, and natural skincare solutions for pets.

Our products are specially formulated to combat yeasty skin and coats, adding a brilliant shine that turns heads wherever your pet goes. We use high-grade, premium ingredients known for their nourishing properties. Our formulas incorporate aromatherapy, which uses natural therapeutic grade scents to calm and soothe pets, reducing anxiety and promoting a sense of well-being.

Additionally, our long-lasting formulas are designed to keep your pet looking and feeling their best without the need for daily application, offering convenience and peace of mind for pet parents.

Our commitment to using only the finest ingredients ensures that our products promote healthy skin and coats without compromising the safety and happiness of our furry friends. With Dexter as our inspiration, we strive to make the dogs and cats of the UK the most stylish and well-groomed companions. We are dedicated to helping every pet look and feel their best, bringing joy and confidence to both pets and their owners.

Thank you for joining us on this journey toward better pet care.

A Little Bit More On Species inappropropriate chemicals

We found, that grooming products on the market are based on human cosmetic regulations & not on veterinary regulations (as they don't exist). They are in fact designed to appeal to the human buyer by way of scent, look & feel. Human cosmetic regulations also only permit topical use of these chemicals due to their irritant & harmful characteristics, pets however end up ingesting these chemicals through self grooming which upset the gut microbiome. Furthermore pet skin is actually 4 to 5 times thinner than human skin, these products end up disrupting their skin barrier by stripping off lipid matrix that hold the cells together. 

Why is it important to maintain a healthy skin barrier?

Think of skin as bricks and mortar. The cells being the bricks and the mortar is the lipid matrix made off protective fatty acids. Shampoos containing Cocoamidoproply betaine or SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate) esentially wash off the lipid matrix along with the dirt. It is the feeling of dry sandpapery hands after using handwash or a shower gel causing us to reach for the moisturiser. Now imagine the damage that does to pet skin which is 5 times more delicate (thinner than ours). 

When everything becomes an allergen.

The skin barrier is damaged with open gaps between cells (where the lipid matrix used to be). Any foreign material is now free to penetrate the skin (gates are open) and once they have passed the main barrier (skin) the immune system (body's soldiers) launch a response to eliminate the foreign body. You see it does not belong there. This response is an inflammatory attack. 

If the skin barrier is not repaired in time to close of the 'gates' everything becomes a potential allergen from grass, to dust to pollen. The inflammation then becomes chronic and hard to manage. 

Two main building blocks lacking in defective skin barrier are EFAs (Essential Fatty Acids & Ceramides). Our products not only replace these but promote skin rejuvenation, repair & promote skin microbiome balance to fortify the skin barrier against further assaults. 

There is more.

Pet sense of smell & how they perceive the world around them

We also know that pets have highly sensitised sense of smell (given their larger olfactory lobes), and many pet grooming products contain strong artificial fragrances which overpower a pet's own scent identity. Your pet's scent identity is critical to their well-being as this is how they interact with other pet species & the environment. Masking or removing a pet's scent identity is in fact the most overlooked form of pet welfare.

Skin conditions on the rise

It is therefore no surprise that research from the Royal Veterinary College (2023) has shown that skin conditions are the second most prevalent condition costing an average of £1000/ presentation &  8.8Mn dogs according to Dogs Hearing Guide survey  (2022) are showing signs of mental health problems.

 "The first line treatment for any human presenting with skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis or eczema for example are topical emollient applications not oral steroids or biologics. The latter are only considered as a final resort due to their adverse effects & are dermatologist specialist initiated."