Wet wipes offer much convenience—even for our furry friends. While wipes for pets have been around for more than 20 years, companies have introduced a number of applications in which to use them. Here’s a look at a few companies that have left a big “paw-print” on the industry.
 
Petkin
Petkin was founded in 1989 when its founder David Goldberg was looking for an easy way to keep pets clean without giving them a bath. The idea for using moist wipes seemed natural, and, according to the company, the very first brand of pet wipes was born.
 
“Our first two pet wipes were called Doggywipes and Kittywipes and were packaged in individual packets,” says Goldberg. “These same wipes still exist today and are packed in flow packs.”
 
The company claims to have the largest assortment of pet wipes in the world, and they can be used on dogs, cats, small animals and even on people. “We’ve got pets covered from head to tail and in between,” adds Goldberg.
 
Current product offerings include Petwipes, Ear Wipes, Eye Wipes, Tooth Wipes, Itch Wipes, Paw Wipes, Tushie Wipes, Flea Wipes, Pet Stain Wipes and Sunscreen Wipes. The wipes are made of a spunlace rayon/pulp for the company’s original line and bamboo fiber for its new bamboo line.
 
Petkin’s Bamboo line is made of 100% organically grown bamboo; a completely renewable resource. By incorporating bamboo in its products, the company says it’s able to “reduce the environmental effects of deforestation and provide a superior and sustainable product.”
 
Another nonwoven offered in Petkin’s Bamboo line is its Pottypads. According to its website, the Pottypads feature a quick drying, tear resistant top sheet, an absorbent layer, a “triple action” super absorbent bamboo core that includes superabsorbent polymers, an extra absorbent layer and a plastic backing.
 
www.petkin.com
 
John Paul Pet
The brand John Paul Pet may sound familiar—that’s because John Paul DeJoria, CEO and co-founder of the well-known hair care brand Paul Mitchell, founded it. According to the company, Paul Mitchell was the “first hair care brand to publicly oppose animal testing for beauty products,” and John Paul Pet, which launched in 2005, follows animal-friendly policies and strategies.
 

John Paul Pet features a line of grooming and hygiene products made especially for pets. Following extensive hair and skin research, the company introduced shampoos, conditioners and pet wipes that contain an optimum pH balance for dogs and cats alike, which meet the needs of their sensitive skin and coats.
 
The company encourages pet owners to be more active in the grooming and care for their pets, and says that daily grooming is a great way to bond with pets, while also helping in the “early detection of lumps, bruises, skin irritations or infections that could be early symptoms of a larger issue.”
 
In describing the brand’s line of pet wipes, Gina Dial, John Paul Pet’s vice president of sales and marketing, says the company uses a term from Paul Mitchell Systems—“Take Home.” In the salon sense, it describes items that can be taken home to maintain hair color or a cut at home after visiting the salon, while in the pet industry, the company’s pet wipes provide hygiene care at home between grooming visits, or just maintaining pets’ cleanliness and health. “The wipes are an easy, convenient way to achieve this concept,” says Dial.
 
John Paul Pet offers Body & Paw wipes, Tooth & Gum wipes and Ear & Eye wipes. All three wipes products, made up of 30% rayon and 70% PET, are pH balanced for use on dogs and cats, but can also be used on horses.
 
John Paul Pet’s Body & Paw pet wipes are designed to keep pets fresh smelling and moisturized between baths, while its Tooth & Gum wipes were made to help promote a pet’s tooth and gum hygiene. According to the company, “80% of dogs over the age of three suffer from periodontal disease.”
 
The Tooth & Gum wipes use sodium bicarbonate—aka baking soda—to clean, and use mint to reduce odor. John Paul Pet’s Ear & Eye pet wipes keep ears and eyes clean and free from odor and build up. The company uses sodium chloride (saline solution) as a gentle, natural astringent; boric acid, which is biodegradable, as a mild antiseptic; and aloe vera gel, which provides soothing hydration. “All of John Paul Pet products contain gentle botanical ingredients,” Dial adds.
 
In addition to its consumer line, John Paul Pet offers veterinarian formulas of the three wipes, which are only available from veterinary clinics. Dial says the veterinarian products contain added vitamins to sooth and moisturize skin and coat.
 
www.johnpaulpet.com
 
earthbath
In 1995, Earthwhile Endeavors, Inc., was founded by Paul Armstrong, after friends of his developed a natural, effective pet shampoo, but weren’t sure what to do with it. Armstrong thought it was a great product and wanted to share it with “pet lovers everywhere.” Following this encounter, earthbath was born.
 
“Over ten years ago, we saw a trend toward convenience products, particularly pet owners wanting a quick and easy way to clean their pets without having to put them into the bathtub or get out a hose,” says Yvonne Roth, head of marketing.
 
Earthbath offers grooming and specialty wipes, made from a rayon/PET blend, for dogs, cats and small pets like hamsters that are over six weeks old, according to Roth. Green Tea, Hypo-Allergenic, Mango Tango and Especially for Puppies are the products in its line of dog grooming wipes, while the company’s cat wipes are available in Green Tea and Hypo-Allergenic. Earthbath’s specialty wipes for both dogs and cats include Ear Wipes, Eye Wipes, Facial Wipes and Tooth & Gum Wipes.
 
The company emphasizes its commitment to the environment on its website: “We at earthbath have a genuine love for pets and concern for the environment. These passions are at the heart of everything we do, from the thought we put into our products to our commitment to putting principles on par with profits.”
 
According to earthbath’s website, the company’s products have been developed and manufactured in California since inception, using “only the safest, finest ingredients from nature.”
 
www.earthbath.com