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7 Pet Industry Trends from SuperZoo 2022

7 Pet Industry Trends from SuperZoo 2022
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Last month I had the opportunity to attend SuperZoo 2022, a large pet trade show and retail event held in Las Vegas, NV. With over 1000 exhibitors, there was SO much to see – more than I could have possibly taken in over a 3-day show. But there were some pet industry trends that really stood out across multiple vendors.

This is one of the most fascinating parts of attending a trade show like this!

Now that I’m home (the pets are happy about this fact), I wanted to sit down and share some of these trends with all of you.

Dental Treats and Products

With periodontal disease (or gum disease) affecting more than 80% of dogs and cats, there has been a push in recent years to prioritize dental care including both professional cleanings by a veterinarian as well as brushing your pet’s teeth at home.

Unfortunately, not every pet is interested in having their teeth brushed. In fact, it causes so much stress and anxiety in some pets that it’s impossible to do.

Recognizing this, the pet industry has been focusing on products that make dental care a little easier to incorporate into our daily routines.

More specifically, I saw a lot of dental treats and toys that will help to clean your pet’s teeth while they enjoy them. While these are not an alternative to proper professional cleaning, they are going to make it much easier for pet parents to keep pet teeth clean between appointments.

My favourites include:

Pet Enrichment

The importance of pet enrichment is nothing new here on Shed Happens. We have long recognized that incorporating interactive toys and other enrichment opportunities is a necessary part of giving your pet the best possible quality of life.

This became even more evident to me when we adopted our little man Lucifer and had to navigate 6 weeks of crate rest with a German Shepherd/Australian Cattle Dog puppy!

But it caught my attention that even more companies than ever before were making enrichment a top priority for our pets at this year’s show.

For example, Learning Resources, the company behind the Hunger for Words talking buttons that we are training Lucifer on (you can see him in action on Instagram) launched the Brightkins line of enrichment toys including treat dispensers and food puzzles.

Meanwhile, LickiMat won an award at the show for their Indoor Keeper and Outdoor Keeper.

These hold the popular lick mats in place to keep them from sliding around. The Outdoor Keeper even prevents crawling insects from joining the fun (We’re going to need to get one for camping!)

I also saw a growing interest in offering enrichment toys for other pets besides just dogs including enrichment games for rabbits and plenty of cat enrichment products. It makes me SO happy to see companies educating pet parents on the importance of daily enrichment for health and happiness.

My favourites include:

RC Pets Drift Kitty Coat | 7 Pet Industry Trends from SuperZoo 2022

Outdoor Travel Gear (Including Cats!)

The idea of camping and hiking with dogs is not a new one – people have been bringing their canine companions along on their adventures for years. But there has been a growing interest in the world of Adventure Cats.

My husband and I even started a new blog recently focused on outdoor travel with dogs AND cats (The Kas Pack).

This was definitely evident at this year’s Super Zoo with brands introducing new products to make exploring the great outdoors with your pet even easier.

This included breaking down boundaries for pets with mobility issues with new carriers, backpacks, and strollers. There were also some companies, like RC Pets, that acknowledged the needs that cats have that differ from their canine friends with cat-specific outdoor gear.  

My favourites include:

At-Home Health Care and Testing

As pet parents, it’s our job to prioritize the health and well-being of our pets. But this isn’t always easy. With busy schedules, high medical costs, and a veterinarian shortage, many pet parents feel as though they are drowning trying to make it all work.

One of the pet industry trends that we saw gaining popularity in response to this was the move to empower pet parents with at-home health care options.

These products weren’t designed to replace veterinary care. Instead, they allow pet parents to be more active in their partnership with their pet’s veterinarian.

For example, the testing kits from CheckUp are designed to collect and test urine samples, while using a process that also allows pet parents to bring a urine sample with them to their veterinary appointment if a problem is discovered.

My favourites include:

Earth Animal No Hide dog chews | 7 Pet Industry Trends from SuperZoo 2022

Rawhide Alternatives

Once a popular choice for dog chews, we have learned in recent years that rawhide poses some serious health risks for our pups. If your dog is chewing a rawhide bone and swallows a piece, they are unable to digest it. Instead, it swells in the stomach or intestine and can cause a life-threatening blockage. As the industry moves to leave rawhide in the past, we have seen a new wave of rawhide alternatives emerging.

There were many interesting alternatives to check out at this year’s SuperZoo. We have always been a fan of the Earth Animal No-Hide chews and were excited to see a new flavour. But the most interesting trend we saw was the use of collagen to create a tasty and digestible dog chew.

My favourites include:

Single-Ingredient Foods and Treats

One of the pet industry trends that we have been following closely is the shift in pet food to limit ingredients and account for potential food allergies. Studies have shown that many of the most common food ingredients are also the most common food allergies in dogs. This includes proteins like chicken, beef, and lamb.

Our sweet girl Daviana is allergic to all protein sources except for vegetables and fish. In searching for Dav-friendly food options in the past, I had a chance to see first-hand how hard it is to find.

Even foods that were marketed as fish-based foods often included chicken meal or other potential allergens.

As the pet industry began to recognize this problem, we have seen several brands creating single-ingredient or limited-ingredient food and treats for both dogs and cats. I even named one of them (Boss Dog) as my Britt’s Choice “BlogPaws Best” Award for the work they are doing to provide quality food for pets that need allergy-friendly food options.

My favourites include:

pet products collage | 7 Pet Industry Trends from SuperZoo 2022

Pet-Related Technology

We live in the Information Age, a time characterized by technology and access to information. As technology develops and changes, we see new tech emerging in our daily lives – smart watches, smart home technology, extended reality, and more.

It only makes sense that this technological advancement would also carry over to the pet industry.

This year, we saw a new round-up of smart technology. By tracking key data and sending it to a phone app, these products allow pet parents to learn more about their pets.

For example, the Catit Pixi Smart Feeder allows you to schedule or adjust meals from your phone on the go. These products can also be used to alert you when the feeder is running out of food, or the water fountain is running dry.

Other tech that we saw at the show included body scanners, wearable pet trackers and health monitors, and cameras that allow you to watch and interact with your pet when you’re not home.

My favourites include:

Moving forward, I am excited to see how the pet industry continues to grow and shape the way that we care for our pets. It’s heartwarming to see all the ways that we are empowered as pet parents to give our pets the best possible life – the happy, healthy life that they deserve.

Are there any pet industry trends that you have been following? What are you most excited about in the pet industry right now?