About Dog Skin Problems and Other FAQs

Yes. We did thorough research on the plants, oils and herbs that went into our products to find those that are most effective on a sensitive-skin dog. Aloe vera, a main ingredient in Organic Oscar® products, is known for its soothing properties.

Before putting our products to market, we conducted a study under veterinarian supervision. Canines from different breeds, different age groups and with different dog skin problems were washed every two weeks with their regular shampoo for a few months. Then, a veterinarian would check them monthly.

The pet owners then switched to Organic Oscar® brand shampoo and conditioner. A veterinarian continued checking the dogs monthly. A survey was conducted by the pet owner and the veterinarian, and the results showed shinier coats and softer skin for all dogs and decreased irritation, redness and itchiness for some dogs.

When your dog is showing signs of skin irritation, there are factors other than a product’s ingredients (such as shampoo) you’ll want to take into consideration when trying to assess dog skin problems. First, a good diet is the key to healthy skin and coat. It’s important that your dog gets a balanced diet that provides sufficient calories to meet their daily needs for growth, activities and repair.

Grooming comes next. In addition to identifying ingredients causing dog skin allergies, there are other causes of skin irritation. One is an easy fix: In many cases, some shampoo residue is left because it was not properly rinsed, which can irritate the skin. That’s why it’s really important that you rinse your dog well when you bath it.

If you are concerned about your dog skin problems or dog skin allergies, you should understand one basic fact: there is no such thing as a "non-allergenic" product. The FDA failed to regulate the use of the claim hypoallergenic. For the most part, the basic ingredients in so-called "hypoallergenic" pet care are the same as those used in other pet care products sold for the same purposes.

You can take steps to protect your pet by establishing whether or not your dog is allergic to a certain product. When this has been determined, you can try to find out which ingredients your dog is allergic to and look for alternatives that are more suitable for your sensitive-skin dog.

One way to figure out allergies is to work with your vet to analyze the dog’s routine, including the food it eats, the shampoo it uses (if any), the air quality in its environment, and so on. When shopping for products for your allergic dog carefully scrutinize the label of ingredients or request more information from the company on its products before purchasing them.

Organic Oscar® does not use the term hypoallergenic because we don’t want to propagate a term that is not properly regulated. We do, however, have extremely gentle products that are safe for most dogs unless they have been diagnosed as allergic to one of the ingredients in our shampoo or conditioner, specifically.

Yes, you can use our products on your cat. If it’s gentle enough for your dog’s sensitive skin, it’s gentle enough for your cat. Dogs and cats have almost the same skin pH. Remember, dogs and cats have a different skin pH than humans. Human personal care products are made so they are suitable for us. That’s also why it’s important that you never use human shampoo or conditioner on an animal. Some human products might have a very low pH, which is not suitable for your pets and could cause dog skin allergies. For more information, contact a veterinarian.

The frequency that you should bathe your dog really depends on different factors: the length of your canine’s coat, type of coat, dog skin problems, if you have a sensitive-skin dog, etc. It also depends on the lifestyle that your dog leads. If your dog is outdoors more than indoors, you’ll probably want to bathe it more often.

In general, bathing your dog once a month is good; however, you will be the judge of that. Just remember that dogs have protective natural oils that build over time and moisten their skin. If they are bathed too often, it will increase dryness and irritation. It’s highly recommended not to wash the dog every week (unless it’s very dirty).

Since Organic Oscar® is mild, it’s OK to use in your dog’s face area. If shampoo or conditioner goes into your dog’s eyes, rinse immediately. Because the ingredients are gentle, it shouldn’t cause any harm to their eyes. If you notice irritation that lasts for a significant amount of time, contact a veterinarian as soon as possible.

One way to decrease the likelihood the shampoo or conditioner will go into a dog’s eyes when bathing it is to use a wet washcloth with a little bit of the product on it to apply to the face area. This will allow you to control where the product goes. Always rinse thoroughly; a clean washcloth can help you remove the excess product before rinsing.

Organic Oscar® ingredients are certified by third-party organizations. BCS Oko-Garantie Ingredient, Quality Assurance International, Stellar Certification Services, California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) are few examples.

There are no regulations for pet products. That is why you must be skeptical about any labeling you see. Many companies in the pet products business may not necessarily think about what’s best for your pet. They might market their products in such a way that you believe they are natural or organic. However, since they aren’t required to do any tests or comply with any standards, there is no guarantee the products are in fact natural or organic.

This is why Organic Oscar® followed the strict regulations intended for human cosmetic and organic products in developing this collection. We have ensured our pet products exceed even such strict regulations because we understand that pets have sensitive skin. We performed lab tests and washed several dogs under the supervision of veterinarians before the product went on the market. And of course, we guarantee premium ingredients.

Such a rigorous development process was needed because we recognize that pets are an integral part of our lives. They are members of our families. Organic Oscar® believes that they deserve as good as we do!

Organic Oscar® products are all made in the USA at certified USDA manufacturing facilities. A USDA certified manufacturer guarantees a strict production process and high-quality products.

The recycling symbol typically means that the product is made of recyclable materials. The packaging for Organic Oscar products is 100 percent recyclable! Please recycle the bottles with your plastic waste. However, Organic Oscar®’s wants to go one step further and is currently developing biodegradable bottles! Meanwhile, Organic Oscar® will be offering an interim solution. You will be able to refill your bottles at our distributors in order to re-use the bottles and save money! Coming soon!

Organic Oscar® earned the leaping bunny logo, certifying that our dog grooming products never underwent animal testing. This logo represents the Coalition for Consumer Information on Cosmetics’ (CCIC) Leaping Bunny Program. The OCIC program promotes a cruelty-free standard for companies producing cosmetic, personal care, and household products. The Leaping Bunny Program provides the best assurance that no animal testing is used in any phase of product development by the company, its laboratories, or suppliers.

First, we are not just a product manufacturer. We are people like you, who love dogs and treat them as family members. We advance health consciousness, promote environmental awareness, and work towards doing better for people, pets, and our planet. In the end, we aim to leave a better society and earth to our children.

Our products have been formulated in this spirit. We use only organic and premium ingredients. We spend time listening to your comments, responding to your concerns, and sharing ideas. We will always create the best-quality product possible.

What can you do to ensure a pet shampoo, which claims to contain all natural ingredients, does not contain synthetic chemicals? How can you make sure that you are purchasing a dog shampoo which contains certified organic ingredients?

The FDA requires ingredients used in cosmetic products to be listed on the product’s label so consumers can avoid using potentially harmful substances. In the pet industry, such disclosure is not required. Most companies do not provide a complete list of ingredients. Many give certain ingredients marketing or ambiguous names instead of pharmaceutical names, providing little clue as to the identity and intended use of the material. If a complete ingredient list is not provided, then you should ask questions about the contents of a product.

Organic Oscar® believes you should be able to know what is contained in the shampoo you will be using to wash your pet. And because it may be difficult for someone without a chemistry background to make sense of the information, we will be happy to explain each ingredient included in our products.

After reading our material, you will know all about dog products, aloe dog shampoo, chamomile dog shampoo, certified organic ingredients, and much more! If you have any questions, please feel free to email us or speak with one of our specialists. You can count on them to give you an honest answer!

In addition, if you want to know more about cosmetic ingredients in general, the Personal Care Products Council sponsors the following excellent website:

www.cosmeticsinfo.org

“Organic” and “Natural” are not interchangeable and just because certain products have the label “natural” or “organic” does not necessarily they belong to that category.

What is Organic?

In general, certified organic products are made according to specific production standards. This process ensures production without the use of conventional pesticides and artificial ingredients. It also allows you to know that a product is free from human or industrial waste contamination and processed without ionizing radiation.

Personal care items labeled “organic” have been certified to meet USDA organic standards. When products contain at least 95% of organic ingredients, they are eligible for the USDA Seal. (What is the USDA Organic Seal). In addition, the remaining 5% must be USDA approved ingredients, including the ingredients contained in the fragrance.

There are currently no shampoos or conditioners on the market eligible to be USDA certified. That is because there are no USDA certified conditioning agents or surface-active substances (known as surfactants).

Beware of mislabeling and stay informed! Find out more about the regulation of certified organic products - including cosmetics, body care, and personal care products - from the USDA’s National Organic Program:

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5068442

What is Natural?

If you look in the dictionary, the word “natural” has several definitions creating confusion as to what natural really constitutes.

“Natural” can mean:

• having undergone little or no processing and containing no chemical additives
• existing in or formed by nature (as opposed to artificial)
• in a state of nature; uncultivated, untouched, as in land

As if these varying definitions weren’t confusing enough, there are no official regulations that define a “natural” product. The term “natural” suggests products have been minimally processed or are free of synthetic ingredients. Natural ingredients were produced or existed in nature.

So what is the difference with “organic”?

Sometimes the line between organic and natural ingredients are confused. This is because it would make sense to think of ingredients that are minimally processed as containing no pesticides.

The main difference between organic and natural is the way the government defines these terms. When you buy organic products, you can be sure these items meet certain defined standards as explained above. However, when you buy a “natural” product, you have no such assurance. Therefore, companies use the term “natural” for marketing reasons, even without justification.

An organic ingredient is a natural ingredient but a natural ingredient may not be organic. Take the example of a tomato. A tomato grown with water, sun, and no pesticides is both natural and organic. However, if the tomato is grown with water, sun, and pesticide, it may still be naturally but it will then not be organic.

Because of the variation in meaning and the fact that the term “natural” is not subject to regulations, the label “natural” does not guarantee that a product’s ingredients have been grown free of chemicals.

In addition, products are often labeled “natural” even though they contain as few as one or two natural ingredients. So you should be careful when considering a product that claims to be an “all natural dog shampoo.” You must also pay attention to where “natural” ingredients fall on the ingredients list. The first seven ingredients listed usually contain 90% of the product’s contents. If a product doesn’t fall into this category, its proportion in the product is limited.

As explained in the “organic vs. natural” question, there are currently no shampoos or conditioners on the market eligible to be 100% certified organic. 85% is one of the highest percentages of organic content possible, so your pet can be properly washed for a reasonable price. As soon as we find good organic active substances and conditioning agents, we will be one of the industry leaders in including them into our products.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

These standards regulate how such products are grown, handled and processed. When you purchase a USDA certified product, you can be assured the ingredients meet those exacting requirements. Please visit the the USDA’s National Organic Program to learn about the regulation of cosmetics, body care and personal care products.

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5068442

Organic Oscar® believes small yet important changes in our daily lives can make a big difference over time.

Employing certified organic products reduces exposure to highly toxic pesticides. Using Organic Oscar ® exposes your dog’s skin to fewer harmful chemicals. It will also be good for your own hands - don’t forget your skin needs to be kept away from toxic chemicals as well!

Organic products also help the planet. Products like Organic Oscar® reduce the amount of pollution you create. The ingredients are biodegradable, so every time you wash your dog, you are not doing damage to the environment.

Organic Oscar® currently charges a flat rate of $5.50 per flat rate box.