Gentle, Fair & Responsible Pet Care

Product Safety Evaluation

Is a Product Safe for an animal?

Are there safer solutions available that carry less risk?

As a pet owner or a pet care professional, below are some criteria you can use when evaluating safety factors of products. Here is some criteria below that may make a product unfit to use. 

• Warnings: Products for which the FDA or USDA has issued safety warnings regarding severe adverse reactions—including ataxia, tremors, seizures, death, or other serious reactions.

• Manufacturer Warnings: Products whose own manufacturers have issued warnings regarding severe adverse reactions being associated with the use of their products including neurological or systemic adverse reactions and death.

• Letters to Veterinarians: Products the FDA or USDA has specifically cautioned veterinarians about significant risks, including seizures, death, or other severe side effects.

• Post-Marketing Reports: Products associated with large numbers of pet owner reports involving serious harm, suffering, or loss. These real-world reports are essential, as they reveal the actual risk performance outside controlled studies. Some products are associated with unreasonable risk with numerous pet owners reporting severe adverse reactions, suffering and loss.

• Research & Studies: Scientific findings or independent research indicating an unreasonable risk of severe adverse reactions may exist or be associated with the use of a product.

• Negative Benefit-to-Risk Ratio: Products that offer limited benefit while presenting significant potential harm—particularly when safer or more effective alternatives exist.

• Class Action Law Suits: Products that have been associated with pet injury class action lawsuits may present a higher level of risk, as such legal actions often indicate elevated concerns about the product’s safety or potential to cause injury to pets.

• Unethical or Cruel Testing Practices: Products developed using unusually cruel or excessive animal testing, or companies that engage in or contract for such testing.
• Safety standards should apply for both Humans and Pets: Products found to be too dangerous for human but allowed for use on animals; such as systemic neuro toxic anti-parasitic pesticides and other similar products.  If not safe for human use why would it be acceptable for animal use?  Applying common sense logic in deciding safety standards.

Veterinarians have a professional responsibility to select only safe, reliable products and procedures and reject using products associated with unreasonable Product Safety Risk or unnecessary because other safer alternatives may exist without exposing animal to higher risk.

Because pets can’t advocate for themselves, the veterinarian’s independent judgment becomes the animals safeguard. Find a gifted veterinarian who is compassionate and knowledgable about safe products and gentle care to give your pet their best chance of living a long, healthy life.

Ask your veterinarian to fully explain; how a drug works, why it is being prescribed and the risk associated with the suggested product.  The content and resources provided on the website are for informational purposes only and are not meant to diagnose, treat, or replace consulting with your veterinarian.