Iv San Bernard PEK Conditioner, 30 ml is a cream conditioner for dogs and cats that helps deal with mats. According to the manufacturer, it gives the coat elasticity, removes dryness and maintains the right moisture balance in skin and coat, revives the coat and adds volume. The cream is applied to the mat, left for 3 minutes and worked out by hand or with a comb, after which the animal is washed with shampoo. PEK is also used as a leave-in solution when preparing for a show.
Ingredients
Water, cetearyl alcohol, cetrimonium chloride, imidazolidinyl urea, parfum, phenoxyethanol, propylene glycol, methylparaben, ethylparaben, citric acid, amyl cinnamal, butylphenyl methylpropional, benzyl salicylate, propylparaben, butylparaben, colourants CI 19140 (yellow 5), CI 42051, CI 47005 (yellow 10), olive fruit oil, honey extract and CI 28440.
The base of the cream is cetearyl alcohol (a fatty alcohol that softens and gives a creamy texture) and cetrimonium chloride, a conditioning agent that removes static and helps hairs slide past each other. That is what makes a mat easier to untangle. Olive oil and honey extract come at the end of the list, so there is little of them.
Key specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | cream conditioner against mats |
| For | dogs and cats |
| Key ingredients | cetearyl alcohol, cetrimonium chloride, olive oil, honey extract |
| Time on the mat | 3 minutes |
| Afterwards | wash with shampoo |
| Show solution | 30–50 g per 250 ml warm water, leave in |
| Volume | 30 ml |
Pros
- Makes mats easier to work out. The conditioning agent helps hairs slide.
- For dogs and cats.
- Two ways to use it. On a single mat or as a leave-in solution before a show.
- Short contact time. Just 3 minutes before you start.
- Full ingredient list. Every component is listed.
- Small bottle. Handy to try or to take with you.
Cons and what to watch
- 30 ml is one show preparation. The solution needs 30–50 g of cream, which is the whole bottle or more.
- Parabens and colourants. There are four parabens and several dyes.
- Allergenic fragrance components. Amyl cinnamal, butylphenyl methylpropional and benzyl salicylate may irritate sensitive skin.
- Olive and honey at the end of the list. Their share is small.
- Dense mats still get cut. The manufacturer itself allows trimming with scissors.
How to work out a mat
Apply the cream to the mat and leave it for 3 minutes. Then work the matted fur apart with your fingers, starting from the edges, and gradually move on to a comb. If the mat is too dense, the manufacturer advises cutting it with scissors along the direction of hair growth rather than across, which makes it easier to split into strands. Work gently and do not pull the skin: it is often irritated under a mat. Afterwards wash the animal with shampoo, dry and brush.
Show preparation
For shows the manufacturer suggests a different method: dissolve 30–50 g of PEK in 250 ml of warm water, spray the solution onto the coat and dry without rinsing. Bear in mind that one such preparation needs the whole 30 ml bottle or more, so if you show your dog regularly it makes more sense to look for a larger size.
Why mats form
Mats form when dead undercoat is not brushed out and tangles with the guard hair. This happens especially fast during shedding, behind the ears, in the armpits, on the trousers and where a collar or harness rubs. The best prevention is regular brushing. See coat care for dogs at home and autumn shedding in dogs and cats.
What to pair it with
For large, dense mats a tool helps, such as the FURminator dematting tool. If you need a rinse-out anti-mat conditioner in a large size, see Iv San Bernard K101, 500 ml, and for detangling between baths, the TropiClean Tangle Remover spray.
Cats
Long-haired cats also suffer from mats, especially on the belly and trousers. The cream can be used on them too, but cats groom themselves, so after working out the mat it is important to wash the coat with shampoo as the manufacturer advises and not leave the cream on. If there are many mats, it is better to leave the job to a groomer.
Storage
Keep the bottle tightly closed at room temperature, away from sunlight and out of reach of children.
Who it suits
PEK Conditioner suits owners of long-haired dogs and cats that get the occasional mat, as well as those who want to try the product before a show. Other products are in the shampoos and conditioners section and on the Iv San Bernard brand page.
Verdict
Iv San Bernard PEK Conditioner is a cream conditioner with cetrimonium chloride, olive oil and honey extract that softens a mat in 3 minutes and makes it easier to work out, and when diluted serves as a leave-in show product. The downsides are parabens, colourants and allergenic fragrance components, and the 30 ml bottle covers only one show preparation.
FAQ
How long should the cream stay on a mat?
3 minutes, then work it out by hand or with a comb.
Does it need rinsing?
After working out a mat, yes, with shampoo. The show solution is left in.
How do I make the show solution?
30–50 g of product per 250 ml of warm water, applied with a spray bottle.
Is 30 ml enough for a show?
For about one preparation.
Can it be used on cats?
Yes, it is for dogs and cats.
What about a dense mat?
Cut it with scissors along the hair growth and work it apart.
Does it contain parabens?
Yes: methyl-, ethyl-, propyl- and butylparaben.
