Product Development Support for Companies Manufacturing Animal Health Products

Companies manufacturing animal health products often face various barriers to their success. Their test audience isn’t exactly capable of providing detailed feedback, material options may be limited, and they have to consider innovative ways to train their target consumers (i.e. animals) to effectively use their products. In the development of veterinary products, these factors are often overlooked.

The number of contract manufacturers that cater specifically to animal-centric products is limited, but developing these unique devices requires expert guidance. By reviewing the case study of Susan Hansen, the developer of unique CrittEar earplugs for dogs, creators can better understand the key factors involved in developing veterinary products.

A Case Study

All companies manufacturing animal health products have a similar goal in mind; they want to create products that improve pet health and happiness. All that starts when they recognize a common problem and seek solutions. This was the case for Susan Hansen, the creator of the veterinary product CrittEar.

The Problem

Susan Hansen first came up with the CrittEar concept when she noticed her golden retriever was becoming more sound sensitive as he aged. As she was researching solutions for ways to help him, she discovered what an incredibly common problem it was. Dogs hear, on average, five times better than humans. As a result, those loud noises become particularly unbearable.

In the US alone, families and individuals own more than 89 million dogs, and as much as one-third of those dogs suffer from some form of noise anxiety or storm phobia. This isn’t just a short term problem. The regular stress felt during these events can lead to long term complications, in some cases, even leading to increased rates of infections and organ damage.

There’s also the issue that noise distractions can create for service dogs and dogs employed in the military, police forces, search and rescue operations and even as assistants for hunters. Constant exposure to loud noises has the potential to create long term damage. Standard calming methods like pheromones and vests aren’t appropriate.

The Solution

Susan’s idea to resolve the problem came from a simple slogan; “Dogs can’t fear what they can’t hear.” If earplugs were available to protect the ears of people, then why not dogs?

Of course, developing earplugs for dogs involved taking certain canine-specific issues into account, including:

The size and shape of the dog’s ear canal
Issues with dogs attempting to remove the devices from discomfort
The inability to gain feedback from the end-user

To manage these problems, Susan chose a medical-grade memory foam material that provided comfort and conformed to the shape and size of the dog’s ear easily. She also provided detailed instructions for use, mirroring the process of teaching a dog to sit or shake hands. This ensured that even non-specialists could use the products with ease and prevent dogs from attempting to remove them.

The Results

Overall, the products were such a success that Susan had to seek out a larger manufacturing partner to create a greater range of products to meet increased demand. The simple use, efficacy, and affordability of the product made them ideal for resolving the common issues with noise phobia in dogs of all sizes. Results have been so positive in dogs that the team at CrittEar is exploring lines for cats, horses, and other animals who commonly suffer noise phobias.

Susan’s unique solution acts as a great study in the development of veterinary products because she went in with such a clear vision in mind. In some cases, the developer may be more of a novice when it comes to manufacturing, which is why they should be aware of some common differences with companies manufacturing animal health products.

Tips for Companies Manufacturing Animal Health Products

One of the big problems for companies manufacturing animal health products is the limited feedback from the end-user. It’s not as though a dog or cat can openly voice specific issues, so monitoring reactions across a wide variety of animals is crucial. It’s also ideal to speak to a veterinary expert, as Susan did when she was developing the CrittEar. This consultation can help the creator locate and resolve issues with the product to ensure it’s safe and effective.

Another factor to consider is choosing a manufacturing partner with specific experience in designing veterinary products. This is vital because they can use that history to approach common issues specific to these devices proactively. For example, it’s not unusual for some dogs to have plastic allergies, while rubber is a common problem for cats. Such allergies would make some materials unsuitable for use in products. A manufacturer unfamiliar with pet products won’t know this and won’t be prepared to work around the issue.

Companies manufacturing animal health products need to be aware of the unique needs of their target market. By partnering with an experienced provider, as Susan Hansen did, they can build a solution to a significant pet problem while avoiding common missteps.

Working with the Best Animal Health Product Company in the USA

Pacific Research Laboratories helps companies manufacturing animal health products by drawing on our years of industry-specific experience to create the best possible solutions. Visit our contact page or call (206) 408-7603 for more information.