{
  "id": "dog-grooming-claim-evidence-matrix",
  "title": "Dog-grooming claim-to-evidence matrix",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "reviewedDate": "2026-08-25",
  "publisher": "Cori Dog",
  "licence": null,
  "boundary": "These matrices identify better questions and relevant evidence units. They do not verify a product, diagnose a dog, recommend treatment, or provide a legal or regulatory classification.",
  "rows": [
    {
      "kind": "claim",
      "id": "gentle",
      "label": "Gentle or mild",
      "examples": [
        "gentle",
        "mild",
        "non-irritating"
      ],
      "canSuggest": "Only that the finished product is being positioned for mild cleansing or tolerance. Without a definition, endpoint and comparator, it remains an adjective.",
      "evidenceNeeded": [
        "An exact operational definition, relevant endpoint and a defined comparator when the wording is comparative.",
        "Finished marketed-formula testing at the stated dilution, amount, contact time and rinsing conditions.",
        "Canine-appropriate tolerance evidence with transparent uncertainty and adverse-event reporting."
      ],
      "cannotEstablish": [
        "Gentleness from one ingredient name or function record.",
        "Non-irritation, universal safety, or suitability for sensitive, allergic or atopic dogs."
      ],
      "evidenceBoundary": "Ingredient terminology may support a possible formulation role; mildness and tolerance remain finished-product claims.",
      "sourceRefs": [
        {
          "sourceId": "research-claims",
          "relevance": "Maps objective wording to the evidence unit that must support it."
        },
        {
          "sourceId": "research-surfactants",
          "relevance": "Separates a surfactant name from finished-system mildness and tolerance."
        },
        {
          "sourceId": "ftc-substantiation",
          "relevance": "Provides objective-claim substantiation context."
        },
        {
          "sourceId": "turkoglu-surfactant-mixtures",
          "relevance": "Supports considering mixture concentration and application conditions."
        }
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "id": "research-claims",
          "label": "Cori Dog research note — Evaluating grooming claims",
          "href": "/journal/research-notes/evaluating-evidence-dog-grooming-claims",
          "kind": "internal-research-note",
          "supports": "Matching an exact claim to the relevant evidence unit and reporting limits.",
          "limitation": "Structured evidence map, not a legal opinion, product assessment or meta-analysis.",
          "relevance": "Maps objective wording to the evidence unit that must support it."
        },
        {
          "id": "research-surfactants",
          "label": "Cori Dog research note — Reading surfactant blends",
          "href": "/journal/research-notes/reading-surfactant-blends-dog-shampoo",
          "kind": "internal-research-note",
          "supports": "Separating ingredient-function terminology from finished-product cleansing, mildness and tolerance evidence.",
          "limitation": "Narrative synthesis of heterogeneous evidence units; it does not establish canine safety or rank ingredients.",
          "relevance": "Separates a surfactant name from finished-system mildness and tolerance."
        },
        {
          "id": "ftc-substantiation",
          "label": "FTC Policy Statement Regarding Advertising Substantiation",
          "href": "https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/ftc-policy-statement-regarding-advertising-substantiation",
          "kind": "guidance",
          "supports": "The general expectation that objective advertising claims have a reasonable basis.",
          "limitation": "United States policy; the evidence required depends on the exact claim and this source is not a product verdict.",
          "relevance": "Provides objective-claim substantiation context."
        },
        {
          "id": "turkoglu-surfactant-mixtures",
          "label": "Turkoglu et al. — Irritation potential of surfactant mixtures",
          "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18503452/",
          "kind": "primary",
          "supports": "The narrow principle that mixture concentration and application conditions can affect response.",
          "limitation": "Small human patch study; it cannot establish canine safety, tolerance or a finished dog-shampoo outcome.",
          "relevance": "Supports considering mixture concentration and application conditions."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "kind": "claim",
      "id": "hypoallergenic",
      "label": "Hypoallergenic",
      "examples": [
        "hypoallergenic",
        "allergy-friendly",
        "for allergy-prone dogs"
      ],
      "canSuggest": "The seller intends a reduced-allergy or tolerance message; the word alone does not identify what was excluded, measured, compared or in which population.",
      "evidenceNeeded": [
        "A precise scope distinguishing an ingredient-exclusion statement from an observed finished-product outcome.",
        "A relevant canine population, endpoint, marketed formula, comparator and conditions of use.",
        "Transparent methods, uncertainty, attrition and adverse-event reporting."
      ],
      "cannotEstablish": [
        "That allergy, sensitisation or an individual reaction cannot occur.",
        "Suitability for every dog, or proof from an ingredient's presence or absence."
      ],
      "evidenceBoundary": "No ingredient list or reporting checklist can establish a universal absence of allergy or sensitisation.",
      "sourceRefs": [
        {
          "sourceId": "research-claims",
          "relevance": "Requires population and endpoint to match the public claim."
        },
        {
          "sourceId": "ftc-substantiation",
          "relevance": "Provides objective-claim substantiation context."
        },
        {
          "sourceId": "arrive-2",
          "relevance": "Provides animal-study reporting context."
        },
        {
          "sourceId": "vich-gl9",
          "relevance": "Provides veterinary clinical-study conduct context."
        }
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "id": "research-claims",
          "label": "Cori Dog research note — Evaluating grooming claims",
          "href": "/journal/research-notes/evaluating-evidence-dog-grooming-claims",
          "kind": "internal-research-note",
          "supports": "Matching an exact claim to the relevant evidence unit and reporting limits.",
          "limitation": "Structured evidence map, not a legal opinion, product assessment or meta-analysis.",
          "relevance": "Requires population and endpoint to match the public claim."
        },
        {
          "id": "ftc-substantiation",
          "label": "FTC Policy Statement Regarding Advertising Substantiation",
          "href": "https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/ftc-policy-statement-regarding-advertising-substantiation",
          "kind": "guidance",
          "supports": "The general expectation that objective advertising claims have a reasonable basis.",
          "limitation": "United States policy; the evidence required depends on the exact claim and this source is not a product verdict.",
          "relevance": "Provides objective-claim substantiation context."
        },
        {
          "id": "arrive-2",
          "label": "ARRIVE Guidelines 2.0",
          "href": "https://arriveguidelines.org/arrive-guidelines",
          "kind": "guidance",
          "supports": "Transparent reporting of animal research methods and results.",
          "limitation": "A reporting checklist does not remove bias, correct an unsuitable design or make a product claim true.",
          "relevance": "Provides animal-study reporting context."
        },
        {
          "id": "vich-gl9",
          "label": "VICH GL9 Good Clinical Practice",
          "href": "https://vichsec.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Gl09_st7.pdf",
          "kind": "guidance",
          "supports": "Veterinary clinical-study conduct and documentation context.",
          "limitation": "Following a conduct guideline does not by itself establish efficacy, safety or claim substantiation.",
          "relevance": "Provides veterinary clinical-study conduct context."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "kind": "claim",
      "id": "natural",
      "label": "Natural",
      "examples": [
        "natural",
        "naturally derived",
        "plant based"
      ],
      "canSuggest": "A defined statement about ingredient origin or processing, but only when the definition and the scope of the statement are documented.",
      "evidenceNeeded": [
        "An explicit definition and traceable identity, source and processing records for everything included in the claim.",
        "Separate finished-product evidence for any implied safety, tolerance, environmental or performance benefit."
      ],
      "cannotEstablish": [
        "Safety, gentleness, non-toxicity, purity, efficacy, environmental benefit or canine suitability.",
        "A risk ranking between natural and synthetic materials."
      ],
      "evidenceBoundary": "Origin may be documented as a descriptive attribute; natural and synthetic are not safety ratings.",
      "sourceRefs": [
        {
          "sourceId": "research-claims",
          "relevance": "Separates the exact factual impression from implied benefits."
        },
        {
          "sourceId": "cosing",
          "relevance": "Provides identity and reported-function terminology, not origin or safety proof."
        },
        {
          "sourceId": "ftc-substantiation",
          "relevance": "Provides substantiation context for objective origin or benefit claims."
        }
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "id": "research-claims",
          "label": "Cori Dog research note — Evaluating grooming claims",
          "href": "/journal/research-notes/evaluating-evidence-dog-grooming-claims",
          "kind": "internal-research-note",
          "supports": "Matching an exact claim to the relevant evidence unit and reporting limits.",
          "limitation": "Structured evidence map, not a legal opinion, product assessment or meta-analysis.",
          "relevance": "Separates the exact factual impression from implied benefits."
        },
        {
          "id": "cosing",
          "label": "European Commission CosIng database",
          "href": "https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/cosmetics/cosmetic-ingredient-database_en",
          "kind": "guidance",
          "supports": "Human-cosmetics ingredient identity and reported-function terminology.",
          "limitation": "Informative and non-binding; it does not verify natural origin, approval, safety or canine suitability.",
          "relevance": "Provides identity and reported-function terminology, not origin or safety proof."
        },
        {
          "id": "ftc-substantiation",
          "label": "FTC Policy Statement Regarding Advertising Substantiation",
          "href": "https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/ftc-policy-statement-regarding-advertising-substantiation",
          "kind": "guidance",
          "supports": "The general expectation that objective advertising claims have a reasonable basis.",
          "limitation": "United States policy; the evidence required depends on the exact claim and this source is not a product verdict.",
          "relevance": "Provides substantiation context for objective origin or benefit claims."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "kind": "claim",
      "id": "ph-balanced",
      "label": "pH-balanced",
      "examples": [
        "pH-balanced",
        "balanced for dogs",
        "matches canine skin pH"
      ],
      "canSuggest": "That the maker may have a finished-product pH specification or control target; only an actual finished-product measurement can support that narrow point.",
      "evidenceNeeded": [
        "The finished-product pH range, measurement method and calibration procedure.",
        "Whether the product was measured as supplied or at the instructed dilution, with batch, control and stability context.",
        "Finished-product canine evidence for any implied mildness, tolerance or compatibility claim."
      ],
      "cannotEstablish": [
        "One ideal canine pH or correspondence with every dog's skin.",
        "Mildness, safety, tolerance, efficacy, compatibility or suitability.",
        "Finished pH from the presence of Citric Acid or another pH-related ingredient."
      ],
      "evidenceBoundary": "Product pH and canine skin pH are different measurements; neither supplies a universal compatibility verdict.",
      "sourceRefs": [
        {
          "sourceId": "research-skin-measurements",
          "relevance": "Explains measurement variation and why one universal target is unsupported."
        },
        {
          "sourceId": "schlake-canine-ph",
          "relevance": "Supports variation by age and anatomical location in healthy dogs."
        },
        {
          "sourceId": "pena-dog-shampoos",
          "relevance": "Shows measured pH variation among sampled finished shampoos."
        }
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "id": "research-skin-measurements",
          "label": "Cori Dog research note — Measuring canine skin",
          "href": "/journal/research-notes/measuring-canine-skin-ph-water-loss-hydration",
          "kind": "internal-research-note",
          "supports": "Interpreting canine surface pH measurements and their sources of variation.",
          "limitation": "Targeted evidence map with heterogeneous methods; it supplies neither a universal target nor product-compatibility rule.",
          "relevance": "Explains measurement variation and why one universal target is unsupported."
        },
        {
          "id": "schlake-canine-ph",
          "label": "Schlake et al. — Physiological factors and canine skin pH",
          "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34414614/",
          "kind": "primary",
          "supports": "Variation in healthy canine skin pH by age and anatomical location.",
          "limitation": "Prospective study of 77 healthy dogs; it does not establish an ideal shampoo pH, compatibility or product safety.",
          "relevance": "Supports variation by age and anatomical location in healthy dogs."
        },
        {
          "id": "pena-dog-shampoos",
          "label": "Peña-Corona et al. — Commercial nonmedicated dog shampoos",
          "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35861964/",
          "kind": "primary",
          "supports": "Measured finished-product pH and viscosity varied among twenty sampled shampoos.",
          "limitation": "Descriptive Mexico City sample; its measured range is not a universal specification, compatibility test or recommendation.",
          "relevance": "Shows measured pH variation among sampled finished shampoos."
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "kind": "claim",
      "id": "health-medicinal",
      "label": "Health, medicinal or harmful-organism-control wording",
      "examples": [
        "treats",
        "prevents",
        "relieves",
        "heals",
        "anti-itch",
        "antibacterial",
        "antifungal"
      ],
      "canSuggest": "Words, imagery or context may communicate treatment, prevention, relief, disease-related or harmful-organism-control outcomes beyond ordinary cleansing. This raises classification and substantiation questions, not a determination.",
      "evidenceNeeded": [
        "The exact wording, imagery, intended use, market, product presentation and surrounding context.",
        "Jurisdiction-specific professional review of the complete presentation.",
        "Appropriately designed veterinary evidence matching the marketed product, population, endpoint and conditions of use."
      ],
      "cannotEstablish": [
        "Legal or regulatory classification from one word viewed in isolation.",
        "Diagnosis, therapeutic benefit, safe self-treatment, efficacy or suitability for an individual dog."
      ],
      "evidenceBoundary": "This row flags wording for escalation; it does not decide that a product is or is not medicinal, biocidal or legally compliant.",
      "sourceRefs": [
        {
          "sourceId": "research-claims",
          "relevance": "Maps wording, implied meaning and context without issuing a classification opinion."
        },
        {
          "sourceId": "fda-grooming-aids",
          "relevance": "Provides United States intended-use and grooming-aid context."
        },
        {
          "sourceId": "uk-vmd-advertising",
          "relevance": "Provides United Kingdom context for implied medicinal wording."
        },
        {
          "sourceId": "eu-veterinary-medicines",
          "relevance": "Provides the European Union veterinary-medicines framework."
        },
        {
          "sourceId": "eu-biocides",
          "relevance": "Provides harmful-organism-control context in the European Union."
        },
        {
          "sourceId": "vich-gl9",
          "relevance": "Provides veterinary clinical-study conduct context for outcome evidence."
        }
      ],
      "sources": [
        {
          "id": "research-claims",
          "label": "Cori Dog research note — Evaluating grooming claims",
          "href": "/journal/research-notes/evaluating-evidence-dog-grooming-claims",
          "kind": "internal-research-note",
          "supports": "Matching an exact claim to the relevant evidence unit and reporting limits.",
          "limitation": "Structured evidence map, not a legal opinion, product assessment or meta-analysis.",
          "relevance": "Maps wording, implied meaning and context without issuing a classification opinion."
        },
        {
          "id": "fda-grooming-aids",
          "label": "FDA CPG Sec. 653.100 — Animal Grooming Aids",
          "href": "https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/cpg-sec-653100-animal-grooming-aids",
          "kind": "guidance",
          "supports": "United States context for how intended use and claims relate to animal grooming-aid presentation.",
          "limitation": "United States-specific, non-binding guidance; it is not a universal classification rule or legal opinion.",
          "relevance": "Provides United States intended-use and grooming-aid context."
        },
        {
          "id": "uk-vmd-advertising",
          "label": "UK VMD — Advertising non-medicinal veterinary products",
          "href": "https://www.gov.uk/guidance/advertising-non-medicinal-veterinary-products",
          "kind": "guidance",
          "supports": "United Kingdom context for direct or implied medicinal wording.",
          "limitation": "Application depends on the exact words and context; it is not a complete multi-market legal opinion.",
          "relevance": "Provides United Kingdom context for implied medicinal wording."
        },
        {
          "id": "eu-veterinary-medicines",
          "label": "Regulation (EU) 2019/6 — Veterinary medicinal products",
          "href": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/6/oj",
          "kind": "primary",
          "supports": "The European Union veterinary medicinal-product framework.",
          "limitation": "Classification is fact-, function- and presentation-specific; this matrix does not apply the law to a product.",
          "relevance": "Provides the European Union veterinary-medicines framework."
        },
        {
          "id": "eu-biocides",
          "label": "Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 — Biocidal products",
          "href": "https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2012/528/oj",
          "kind": "primary",
          "supports": "The European Union framework for harmful-organism-control functions and claims.",
          "limitation": "Applicability depends on intended function and presentation; this matrix makes no classification determination.",
          "relevance": "Provides harmful-organism-control context in the European Union."
        },
        {
          "id": "vich-gl9",
          "label": "VICH GL9 Good Clinical Practice",
          "href": "https://vichsec.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Gl09_st7.pdf",
          "kind": "guidance",
          "supports": "Veterinary clinical-study conduct and documentation context.",
          "limitation": "Following a conduct guideline does not by itself establish efficacy, safety or claim substantiation.",
          "relevance": "Provides veterinary clinical-study conduct context for outcome evidence."
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}