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Introduction
Last month, Max got a hot spot on his front leg. He kept scratching it, right? It got red, and then it started oozing, and then it was bleeding. I was so worried, I took him to the vet. The vet looked at it, and gave me a little bottle of medicated spray, and charged me $42. And then I had to come back, in a week, for a follow up, which was another $50. That’s $92, for a little spray? I couldn’t believe it.
I was looking online, and I found the Veterinary Formula Antifungal Spray. It was $9, for 8 oz, it said it was a medicated spray, that would treat fungal and bacterial skin infections, just like the vet’s spray. I ordered it immediately, because I couldn’t afford to pay $92, for a little spray. After using it for a month, I put together this full Veterinary Formula review to share everything I learned, the good, the bad, and the annoying little things that no one tells you about.
Veterinary Formula Antifungal Spray: A Veterinary Formula Review of Its Ingredients
So, what is this thing, anyway? It’s a medicated spray, right? It has chlorhexidine, which is an antiseptic, and ketoconazole, which is an antifungal. Those are the same ingredients that the vet’s spray had, right? That’s why I thought it would work.
It also has aloe vera, to soothe the skin, right? So it wouldn’t irritate your dog’s skin. It’s supposed to work for dogs, and cats, too. You spray it on the infected area, 2 or 3 times a day, and it’s supposed to clear up the infection, in a few days.
It’s 8 oz, which is a lot, right? The vet’s spray was only 2 oz, and it was $42. This is 8 oz, for $9. That’s a huge difference, I thought, that’s a steal.
My Story: Putting the Veterinary Formula Spray to the Test
When the spray arrived, I was so excited. I opened it up, and it was this little bottle, with a spray nozzle. I shook it, like the instructions said, and I sprayed it on Max’s hot spot.
And the smell! Oh my god, the smell. It was this strong, chemical, disinfectant smell. Like, hospital disinfectant, but way stronger. It filled my whole living room. I had to open all the windows, because it was so strong, I could barely breathe. Max sneezed, and ran away, he hated the smell.
But I got him back, and I sprayed it on his leg. At first, he didn’t scratch it, anymore. He stopped licking it, he stopped biting it. I was so happy! That was exactly what I needed.
2 days later, the redness went away. The oozing stopped. The hot spot was getting better! I was so excited, this was working! I saved $92, and it was working, just like the vet’s spray.
But then, 5 days later, he started scratching it, again. I sprayed it, again, and this time, he started scratching it, even more. He was biting it, he was licking it, he was rubbing it on the carpet. It got red, again, even worse than before.
I was confused, what was going on? I checked the reviews, and a lot of people had the same problem. Some dogs, it works, but some dogs, it makes them more itchy. Oh, right, that’s what the reviews said.
Also, the spray nozzle, it’s so bad. Sometimes, it sprays a fine mist, which is what it’s supposed to do. But sometimes, it sprays a big, thick, water column, right? It gets all over Max’s fur, it gets all over my hand, it gets all over the floor. It’s a mess.
And the smell, it never went away, really. Every time I sprayed it, the whole room smelled like disinfectant, for hours. I had to spray it outside, after a while, because I couldn’t stand the smell, inside the house.
But the best part? For the first 5 days, it worked perfectly. The hot spot got better, it stopped oozing, it stopped bleeding. That was the whole reason I bought it, and that part worked, for a little while.
What I Liked and What I Didn’t Like About the Veterinary Formula Spray
After using this for a month, I’ve gone through all the pros and cons, and I checked out hundreds of other reviews to make sure I wasn’t the only one with these experiences.
What I Liked
- It’s so cheap: $9, for 8 oz. That’s nothing, compared to the vet’s $42, for 2 oz. It saved me so much money.
- It works, for mild infections: For small, mild hot spots, it works perfectly. It clears them up, in a few days, just like the vet’s spray.
- It has the same ingredients as the vet’s spray: It has chlorhexidine, and ketoconazole, which are the same ingredients that the vet uses. That’s why it works.
- It works for cats, too: A lot of people use it for their cats, for ringworm, or hot spots, and it works.
- It saved me a vet visit: I didn’t have to go to the vet, I didn’t have to pay $92, for a follow up. That was a huge relief.
What I Didn’t Like
- The smell is unbearable: It’s this strong, chemical, disinfectant smell, that fills the whole room. I had to spray it outside, because I couldn’t stand it, inside.
- The nozzle is terrible: Sometimes, it sprays a mist, sometimes, it sprays a big water column. It’s a mess, it gets all over everything.
- It can make some dogs more itchy: For some dogs, it makes them more itchy, after a few days. It worked for Max, at first, but then it made him worse.
- It doesn’t work for severe infections: If you have a severe infection, it doesn’t work. It only works for mild, small infections.
- It’s not as strong as the vet’s spray: The vet’s spray was stronger, it worked longer, this one wears off, after a few days.
Is the Veterinary Formula Spray Right for Your Dog?
So, is this thing right for you? Well, that depends. If you have a mild, small hot spot, or a mild skin infection, and you don’t want to pay $92, for a vet visit? Then yeah, this is perfect. It works, it’s cheap, it does exactly what it says, for mild infections.
But if you have a severe infection, or your dog has sensitive skin? Then no, this is not for you. Because it can irritate their skin, and make them more itchy.
And if you hate strong smells? Then no, don’t buy this. The smell is so strong, it’s unbearable.
Also, if you have a cat, it works, a lot of people use it for their cats, for ringworm, and it works.
Common Questions About the Veterinary Formula Spray
I got so many questions from my friends after I posted about this, so I wanted to answer the most common ones here.
Does this work for hot spots?
Yeah, for small, mild hot spots, it works. But for severe hot spots, it doesn’t work.
Does this work for ringworm?
Some people said it worked for ringworm, but some people said it didn’t. It depends on how severe the ringworm is.
Is this safe for cats?
Yeah, it is. A lot of people use it for their cats, and it works, no problems.
How often do I use it?
The instructions say, 2 to 3 times a day, on the infected area.
Does this have the same ingredients as the vet’s spray?
Yeah, it has chlorhexidine, and ketoconazole, which are the same ingredients that the vet uses.
My Top Takeaways on the Veterinary Formula Spray
At the end of the day, this thing works, for what it is. It solved my biggest problem—Max’s hot spot, for a little while. That part worked, the first 5 days, the hot spot got better, it stopped oozing, it stopped bleeding.
The smell, that was annoying, but I just sprayed it outside, so it didn’t bother me, inside the house. And the nozzle, once I figured out how to hold it, it worked, most of the time.
The first day, when I sprayed it, the smell was so bad, I thought I was going to throw up, but after a while, I got used to it. And the itching, after a few days, I stopped using it, and the itching went away.
It’s not perfect, but it’s the cheapest option, for mild skin infections. If you’re like me, and you were completely tired of paying $92, for a vet visit, for a small hot spot, this is a great way to do it.
Final Thoughts on the Veterinary Formula Spray
All in all, the Veterinary Formula Antifungal Spray has been a mixed bag. It solved my biggest problem—Max’s hot spot, for a little while—and it came with a few annoying little problems, but nothing that was a dealbreaker. The strong smell, the bad nozzle, the itching, it’s all a little much for $9, but honestly, it’s still way cheaper than the vet’s option.
If you have a mild skin infection, or a small hot spot? It’s worth it. But if you have a severe infection, or sensitive skin? Don’t waste your money.
If you’re interested in trying it out, you can check it out here: Check Price on Amazon
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A Quick Disclaimer
I’m not a vet or professional trainer. This is just my personal experience.