Everlasting Organics · Shepherd & Shepherd's Refuge
Ingredients to Avoid
in Pet Care.
Your pets can't read labels — but you can. The pet grooming and care industry is largely unregulated, with no requirement to disclose full ingredient lists. These are the chemicals most commonly found in conventional pet products that have no place near the animals you love.
They Trust You Completely
Pets groom themselves — licking their fur, paws, and skin — which means what goes on them also goes in them. Dogs and cats metabolize chemicals very differently than humans, making many ingredients that are safe for people genuinely toxic to animals. This guide is your starting point for reading pet product labels with the same scrutiny you apply to your own.
Warning Classification Legend
Essential Oils — Natural Doesn't Always Mean Safe for Pets
This is one of the most misunderstood areas of pet safety. Many essential oils that are beneficial for humans are genuinely toxic to cats and dogs — particularly cats, who lack the liver enzymes needed to metabolize certain compounds. Always dilute, always research species-specific safety, and when in doubt, consult your vet.
Tea tree oil is one of the most commonly misused ingredients in DIY pet care. While it has antimicrobial properties, it contains terpenes that are toxic to both cats and dogs — especially when undiluted or used in high concentrations. Even small amounts applied topically can cause serious toxicity, including neurological symptoms.
Cats lack glucuronyl transferase — a liver enzyme that metabolizes many compounds found in essential oils. This makes them significantly more vulnerable than dogs or humans to essential oil toxicity. Even diffusing these oils in a home with cats carries risk through inhalation and surface contact.
While dogs are generally more tolerant of essential oils than cats, several are still toxic — especially at higher concentrations or with prolonged exposure. Dogs also lick their coats after grooming, meaning topical applications can become ingested.
Pesticides & Insecticides — The Most Dangerous Category
Flea and tick prevention products contain some of the most acutely toxic chemicals found in any pet care product. Many conventional flea treatments use synthetic pesticides that work by attacking the nervous system of insects — and can do the same to your pet and your family.
A synthetic pyrethroid insecticide widely used in dog flea treatments that is acutely toxic to cats — even in very small amounts. Permethrin poisoning is one of the most common causes of feline emergency presentations at veterinary clinics. It is never safe to use dog flea products containing permethrin on or near cats.
Older classes of pesticides still found in some flea collars and topical treatments. These work by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase — an enzyme critical to nerve function — and can cause serious neurological damage in pets and humans who handle the products. Particularly dangerous for young animals, elderly pets, and those with health conditions.
Shampoo & Grooming Ingredients — What's Hiding in the Lather
The pet grooming product industry has no requirement to follow INCI labeling standards or disclose full ingredient lists. This means the same harmful synthetic surfactants, preservatives, and fragrances found in low-quality human products often appear in pet shampoos — without any transparency.
Synthetic colorants serve no functional purpose in pet grooming products — they exist purely for visual appeal. Many are derived from coal tar and petroleum, and can cause skin irritation, allergic reactions, and contact dermatitis in pets with sensitive skin. Some have been linked to cancer in animal studies.
The same paraben preservatives that raise concerns in human skincare appear widely in pet grooming products. Parabens mimic estrogen and can disrupt hormone function — a particular concern for intact (not spayed/neutered) animals and those with hormone-sensitive conditions.
A harsh surfactant that strips the skin's natural oils and disrupts the moisture barrier. Pets already have thinner, more pH-sensitive skin than humans — making them even more vulnerable to the drying, irritating effects of SLS. Many cases of chronic dry, flaky, or itchy skin in pets are worsened by SLS-containing shampoos.
Pets have a vastly more sensitive sense of smell than humans — dogs have up to 300 million olfactory receptors compared to our 6 million. Synthetic fragrance chemicals that are merely unpleasant to us can be genuinely overwhelming and stressful to animals. Additionally, the undisclosed chemical cocktail within "fragrance" includes phthalates and allergens that can cause skin reactions and hormonal disruption.
The same formaldehyde-releasing preservatives found in human personal care products appear in some pet shampoos and grooming products. Since pets lick their coats, the risk of ingestion is significantly higher than for humans — making the presence of potential carcinogens in grooming products a serious concern.
Household Hazards — Everyday Items That Put Pets at Risk
Beyond grooming products, many common household substances are acutely toxic to pets — yet are found in homes everywhere. Awareness is the first line of defense.
A natural sugar substitute that is safe for humans but acutely toxic to dogs. Even small amounts can cause a rapid and life-threatening drop in blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and liver failure. Xylitol is increasingly found in a wide range of products beyond just chewing gum — making label reading critical.
Phenol-based disinfectants and pine oil cleaners are widely used for household cleaning but are highly toxic to cats. Cats walk through cleaned surfaces and lick their paws — making residual phenol exposure a significant risk. Cats cannot efficiently metabolize phenols due to their limited glucuronidation capacity.
Ethylene glycol has a sweet taste that attracts pets but is acutely lethal in very small amounts. Even a teaspoon can be fatal to a cat. Found in automotive antifreeze and some de-icing products, it is one of the most common causes of accidental pet poisoning.
They can't protect themselves. You can.
The Shepherd and Shepherd's Refuge lines were born from a belief that the animals in our care deserve the same ingredient transparency and nontoxic standards as the people who love them. Because a righteous person cares for the needs of their animal.