Exclusive Interview with Dave Louvet, Founder of Innovet Pet Products

Stacey Chillemi: Hi David! Can you start by telling us a little about yourself and your business?

Dave Louvet: Let’s see. I met one of my best friends in college and he has a Labrador named Maximus. I didn’t have any money to finish my last semester of college and my good friend, Matt allowed me to crash on his couch. His dog would just not leave me alone. Like always! He wanted my food and did not like that I was sleeping in his territory and always nudged me to move. I hated him at first but I eventually fell for this dog and would take him on daily 6-8mile runs, share my meals and take him on car rides to the beach.  Then one day I asked Matt if I could have one of Maximus’s puppies. Story short they found out he was going blind and couldn’t have puppies so Tracerz was created. Then Ear issues occurred, so PurOtic was created. Then fleas so BioPel was created.  The company pretty much started because of Maximus. I didn’t want to go to med school or work for a pharmaceutical company and Matt didn’t want to go to law school. There’s been a lot of ups and downs but I wouldn’t change it for the world, and Max is still here going on his 15th birthday!

Stacey Chillemi: Founded in 2005, Innovet Pet Products focused on the singular distinction of focusing on the treatment of pets that are hard to train or medicate.  Is that still your primary focus?  

Dave Louvet: Our goal is to combine the best of western medicine and natural medicine to treat pets. For example, there’s no reason to put an animal down just because they’re blind. They can adapt. It’s just our job to make it easier for them. That’s what we try to provide. It’s an easier way to help your pet adjust from being blind to ear cleanings.

Stacey Chillemi: Have you expanded your line of products since then?

Dave Louvet: We’ve grown tremendously since 2005. At first we thought it was a get rich quick scheme and boy was I wrong. The amount of work that has gone into R&D, production, marketing, sales is just crazy! We’re always thinking and always working. I can honestly say that Matt and I put in around 60-80hours of work a week. Right now we have over 100 skews and growing. We will launch over 17 new consumer products this year from natural dental care, natural tear stain remover, natural shampoo, etc. We will eventually get more involved into technical applications and can’t wait to iron out a few things.

Stacey Chillemi: Are there any products that your company manufactures that you feel deserve special attention?

Dave Louvet: The 2 newest products I’m most proud of are PurBreath and PurEyes. They’re both 100% natural and have excellent results. It removes plaque and tartar by simply wiping the gel into your pet’s mouth. We make it easy to clean your pet’s teeth. Then there’s no reason to be giving your pet antibiotics every day for cosmetics. We developed a formula that removes and kills the bacteria from tear stains. My English bulldog as seen on the bottle swears by it and I am happy to have helped him look 3 years younger without the need of costly antibiotics.

Stacey Chillemi: How do your products help animals with special needs?

Dave Louvet: All our products are intended to help people make their lives and pet’s lives easier. That’s pretty much the premise of our company. We know pets hate getting medicated or groomed. So we try to make it easier for everyone

Stacey Chillemi: What has been the most rewarding moment in your business career at Innovet?

Dave Louvet: The most rewarding thing is getting private messages from our Facebook fans about how our products saved them. The funny thing is we’re not in a lot of big box stores so people really have to look for us or hear about us by word of mouth. So to get the sales and feedback that we have been getting is encouraging that we are on the right track

Stacey Chillemi: Do you think people tend to overlook the importance of quality water for their dogs? What is your favorite water source?

Dave Louvet: Water is huge for pets. I don’t understand why people don’t change their pets water bowls daily. The amount of bacteria that grows in a warm environment is just not something you want to ingest. Would you want to drink your water from a green, slimy bowl? No thanks!

Stacey Chillemi: If you had to choose, what is the order of importance to begin improving dog health?

Dave Louvet:  Improving a pet’s life is simple 1. Love. 2. Diet. 3. Exercise. Maximus is by far the healthiest 15year lab I know. He is blind and still loves to go on 1-2 mile daily walks. He is just as stubborn as when I first met him as a puppy and that’s what I love about him. He refuses to give up

StaceyChillemi: How important is dental care for dogs and cats?

Dave Louvet:  Dental care is probably one of the biggest reasons pets prematurely pass away. The amount of bacteria that can build up and enter the bloodstream can wreak havoc on their heart and immune system. Plus cleaning your pet’s teeth is just not easy. No pet wants to get their teeth brushed and you have maybe 2-3 seconds tops to clean their teeth. So that’s why PurBreath was created. It makes it fast, safe, painless and easier on you and your pet.

Stacey Chillemi: How can your product PurBreath help dogs and cats?

Dave Louvet:  Our product breaks down the plaque and tartar before/ after it builds up. It can be used as a preventative measure or also for pets that are too old and unstable to have their teeth cleaned professionally. Our product may save you thousands in preventative dental care from tooth extractions, etc. we’re by no means a cure for no dental visits. But cleaning your pets teeth should be a weekly thing.

Stacey Chillemi: Where can people find Innovet’s products if they want to learn more about them or if they are interested in purchasing them?

Dave Louvet:  PurBreath can be found on innovetpet.com or Amazon.com as of now and will hopefully be bringing it to a store near you.