Vet’s Best is a pet-care brand primarily recognized for its plant-based flea and tick control, grooming products, dental care solutions, and general pet wellness aids. The company positions itself at the intersection of natural botanical ingredients and veterinary science, designing its product range mainly for dogs and cats. 1

The brand was founded in 1989 by veterinarian Dr. Dawn Curie Thomas. According to company history, Dr. Thomas established the brand to meet demand for gentle, effective, plant-based pet wellness products that reduced reliance on harsher conventional treatments. 2

Note: There is a separate Australian entity named Vet’s Best Products Pty Ltd, which produces pet foods and treats. This business traces its origins to veterinarian Dr. Marie Rowe and began operations around 1997. It was subsequently acquired by The Real Pet Food Company. This Australian business is distinct from the U.S.-focused Vet’s Best pet-wellness brand described in this article.

Founding (1989)

Vet’s Best traces its origins to 1989, when Dr. Dawn Curie Thomas, DVM, founded the brand. Her goal was to develop gentler, plant-based solutions that provided effective pet care while minimizing the use of harsh chemical treatments.

One of the brand’s early offerings was Hot Spot, a topical treatment designed to soothe itchy and irritated skin, including reactions associated with flea problems.

Expansion into pet wellness

Over subsequent decades, Vet’s Best expanded beyond topical skin products into a broader portfolio covering various aspects of pet health. Current product categories include:

• Flea & tick control
• Grooming
• Dental care
• Health aids
• Supplements
• Home pest protection

The company’s catalog is currently divided primarily between dog products, cat products, and home protection products. 3

Long-standing presence

Vet’s Best describes itself as having more than 35 years of history in the pet wellness sector. Its modern positioning emphasizes a combination of botanical ingredients, scientific formulation, and veterinary review.

Flea & tick control

This category represents a core strength of the brand. Vet’s Best offers products intended to address fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, other household insects, and flea-related itching.

The range includes sprays, shampoos, wipes, collars, spot-on treatments, waterless baths, and home or yard treatments. 3 The brand particularly emphasizes plant-derived active ingredients such as essential oils and botanical extracts. For instance, newer lines like Cotton Spice utilize clove oil and cottonseed oil as primary actives.

Dog dental care

Vet’s Best has developed a substantial dental-care range specifically for dogs, aiming to simplify routine hygiene for pet owners while addressing plaque, tartar, and bad breath.

Products in this category include:

• Enzymatic toothpaste
• Toothbrush and toothpaste kits
• Puppy dental kits
• Dental powder
• Finger wipes
• Breath-freshening water additives

Grooming

The grooming line addresses common issues such as itchy skin, hot spots, allergies, ear problems, and general bathing needs.

Examples of products in this category include oatmeal shampoos, hypoallergenic shampoos, ear-relief solutions, hot-spot sprays, and waterless bath options.

Supplements and health aids

The brand also offers wellness supplements and health-support products, predominantly for dogs, though there is a dedicated range for cats as well.

Dog supplements target:

• Skin and coat health
• Seasonal allergies
• Digestive and probiotic support
• Hip and joint health
• General vitamins
• Calm and comfort
• Aches and pains
• Shedding and itching

Cat supplements include urinary-tract support and hairball/digestive aid products.

“Where Nature Meets Science”

Vet’s Best defines its identity through the integration of nature, veterinary expertise, and science. The company states that its formulas combine plant-based ingredients with science-based formulation and undergo veterinary review. 1

The brand highlights the exclusion of certain ingredients from its products, including phthalates, artificial dyes, DEA, sulfates, and parabens. This positioning distinguishes Vet’s Best from conventional pet-health brands by appealing to owners seeking naturally derived alternatives, while maintaining a stance that these products are scientifically formulated rather than merely “natural remedies.”

Importance of botanical ingredients

Botanical components are central to Vet’s Best branding. Flea-and-tick products, for example, rely on ingredients such as peppermint oil, clove oil, cottonseed oil, and other botanical extracts depending on the specific formulation.

The company argues that plant-based ingredients can provide effective pest control as an alternative to some synthetic approaches. However, the brand instructs customers to use products only for the species they are designed for, noting that essential oils and active ingredients can be harmful if misused, particularly in cats.

Market positioning

Vet’s Best occupies a middle ground between traditional pet health products and holistic lifestyle brands. Its core message asserts that natural ingredients can be effectively combined with scientific formulation and veterinary credibility. The company describes its formulas as “strong but never harsh,” emphasizing safety and effectiveness alongside powerful natural ingredients.

Vet’s Best primarily targets pet owners who seek convenient, accessible wellness products for their dogs and cats, with a particular interest in plant-based ingredients. Key consumer concerns addressed by the brand include:

• Keeping pets free from fleas and ticks
• Maintaining healthy skin and coats
• Home grooming
• Improving dental hygiene
• Supporting joint health and general wellness
• Finding alternatives to harsher-feeling conventional products

The products are distributed through major pet retailers and online channels. Retailers listed on the brand’s website include Amazon, Chewy, Petco, PetSmart, and Tractor Supply.

In 2026, Vet’s Best’s flea-and-tick product lineup was named a Top Flea & Tick Product of 2026 in Pet Age‘s Editors’ Select list. This recognition reflects industry visibility within the pet-products sector.

Several characteristics define the Vet’s Best brand:

• Veterinarian-founded: Originated by Dr. Dawn Curie Thomas, DVM.
• Plant-based: Botanical ingredients are central to formulation and marketing.
• Pet wellness focused: Covers flea/tick control, grooming, dental, and supplements.
• Dog and cat oriented: Portfolio designed primarily for these companion animals.
• Science-oriented: Emphasizes formulation efficacy and veterinary review.
• Consumer-friendly: Products intended for everyday home use.
• Long-established: Over 35 years of development in pet wellness.

1. Vet’s Best | Where Nature Meets Science
2. Vet’s Best – Real Pet Food Company
3. Collections | Vet’s Best