Know the BASICS​

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Many pet owners are concerned about their beloved pets becoming the germs carrier. Over the years, there has been a major increase of the incidents of skin infections on pets. However, many do not know how to choose the right sanitizer and the consequence of using the "wrong" sanitizer. 

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Traditional Method

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Since the last centuries,  traditional sanitizer played a major role in treating wounds and cleaning all things by killing the pathogens. (1) Traditional sanitizer kills the pathogen over applied surfaces. (2) Within 1-5mins, the active ingredients are mostly being oxidized or evaporated after reacting with the pathogen. (3) When the reaction is over, pathogen could invade the infected area again, which is why most sanitizer requires re-application over time (3-5 times per day).

  

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GOLDSHIELD

Goldshield is a new particles invented by the scientists in United States. It is a silane based compound that could form a antimicrobial nano-layer over any surfaces like wound, skin, hair, stainless steel, plastic or other surfaces. (1) Once in contact with any surfaces, formation of nano-layer is active in killing pathogens continuously for i) 24-hr on skin; ii) 7 days on hair; iii) more than 14 days on surfaces like stainless, plastic, ceramic tiles or other surfaces. (2) Goldshield is active and stable over time in contact of air. (3) After certain period of time, the protection remains stable and active against pathogen.

 

 

 

 

 

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This new formula fulfills the market's need in three ways:

i) Effective
Goldshield is a broad-spectrum sanitizer and kills 99.99%  bacteria.

ii) Long-lasting

The residual protection allows wounds to heal faster under condition of germs free.

iii) Safe

Goldshield remains its nano-layer on skin and is safe if ingested. It does not leach into blood and will not cause any damage to skin tissue.

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Factors to consider

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First we need to understand that pet skin is unlike human skin. The epidermis of dog and cat skin is way thinner than human's, hence the faster absorption rate and more intense reaction against chemicals. Knowing this fact, there are a few factors to consider when we buy the sanitizer for pet.

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i) Does the ingredient harm our pet?

Most of the human sanitizer are not pet friendly simply because the ingredients are too strong for pets. Oxidizer like bleach and Dettol are considered as corrosive to pets even after diluted. After repeated contact with such strong chemical will lead to dermal damage on pets. Many will suffer from inflammation and even dermal infection. One of the examples is using alcohol. Alcohol dehydrates the epidermis during oxidation and leads to thickening epidermis layer. Bacteria and fungus could then replicate inside the thick epidermis where the alcohol or other sanitizer can no longer contact with.

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ii) Is there any remnants after application?

In the process of killing the pathogens (most of the available method is to oxidize them), there are most of the times leftovers after reaction. Over time, the leftover builds up to a concentration that  

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iii) Is this product as safe as it claims to be?

Many brands and factories are very tricky in claiming their products as SAFE.

a) Hypochlorous acid / hypochlorite (Active ingredient of Vetericyn / Microcyn)

Their claim: Do not contain the ingredient of BLEACH, Sodium Hypochlorite, and hypochlorous acid is safe because it is found in human body.  

It is true that hypochlorous acid is not sodium hypochlorite and is found in human body. However, hypochlorous acid shares the same chemical property with sodium hypochlorite. Chlorine gas is produced from both chemical, hence the chlorine smell when you use the product. Hypochlorous acid is only available and stored in white blood cell as a weapon against pathogens. You may not see hypochlorous acid flowing in blood because it damages the cells and tissue through direct contact. Thus making the claim of "if you find this chemical in human, it is safe" is somewhat misleading.

Afterall, hypochlorous acid is a strong sanitizer, yet, the active ingredients are unstable and cannot last long.

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b) Herbal extract/ Essential oil

Their claim: Ingredients are good for pets because they are natural.

First, natural products are good because it is free from chemical contaminants. But saying natural products are always good for the skin is ambiguous when pet skin is intolerance to chemicals in plants. Essential oil is most of the time concentrated from processing and becomes "artificial" afterwards. Many are toxic and corrosive to pets and human.

After all, some natural products act as a very nice sanitizer and moisturizer. Yet, the effect most of the time does not last long. 

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c) pH water

Their claim: It is safe for pets when there is no chemical added and everything originates from water.

There became popular worldwide in using electrolysis to generate highly reactive high/low pH water. The process of electrolysis generates highly reactive free ions. Increase in hydrogen ion makes acidic water (pH less than 7) and increase in hydroxide ion makes alkaline water (pH greater than 7). It is misleading to claim acidic water or alkaline water is harmless. It is very DANGEROUS to direct contact with high pH or low pH water because these water can burn the skin and cause dermal damage.

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d) Nanosilver / Colloidal Silver

Their claim:  Silver is safe and widely used for centuries. 

Although silver is safe for human, nanosilver, also known as colloidal silver, is another story. Scientists have found that the nanosilver particles are small enough to get into cell nucleus and potentially interfere with the DNA causing potential issues like abnormal cell behavior or even cancer. This is why Europe started to ban the use of nanosilver not long ago. 

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