Dolce & Gabbana launches a new perfume for dogs, but some vets and pet-owners are skeptical

Fashion house Dolce & Gabbana has launched a new alcohol-free perfume for dogs called 'Fefé' in honor of Domenico Dolce's poodle, but not all vets and pet owners agree it's safe or appropriate. The perfume costs 99 euros ($108) for 100 milliliters (3.4 ounces) and has been certified suitable for animal use. It follows a Safe Pet Cosmetics protocol designed to ensure a degree of safety of cosmetic products for animals comparable to that required for humans, Dolce & Gabbana said. "Through a compliance recognition to this protocol granted by Bureau Veritas Italia, participating companies demonstrate their sensitivity in creating products that ensure the safety and respect of the animal, in accordance with established standards," the company said in the statement issued for the launch of the perfume. Bureau Veritas Italia is a publicly held company that provides inspection, laboratory verification and certification services. All of the dog owners consulted agree that the fragrance is "gentle and well accepted by their pets," and veterinarians approve of the product, according to the company web page dedicated to 'Fefé', which cites performance reviews by veterinarians and customers. But not all veterinarians agree on the use of perfumes for dogs, as they may interfere with the animal's sense of smell and cover up bad odors that could be a symptom of diseases. "Dogs recognize themselves by smells, they recognize a person by a smell," said Federico Coccía, a veterinarian in Rome who holds a doctorate from the University of Teramo. "When the dog arrives, he sees you, wags his tail, but first smells you and then recognizes you because you are stored in one of his 'smell drawers.' Therefore, this world of smells should not be changed," Coccía added. Coccía said becoming aware of an ongoing dermatological disease can be problematic if dogs' natural odors are covered up. "In the case of sebaceous dermatitis, for instance, the smell somehow completes my diagnosis." "The smell of breath, the smell of earwax are disguised by the perfume. So, it could be a problem even for us vets," Coccía said. This article was provided by The Associated Press.