Designing products for animal health has a lot in common with designing for human healthcare.
In both cases, the goal is to create products that are safe, effective and easy to use. But when animals are involved, there are some extra challenges that can make product development more complicated.
There’s an old saying: “Never work with children or animals”. While it’s usually said in jest, anyone who has spent time observing animals interact with a new product will understand the sentiment. Animals are unpredictable. They can’t tell us what they’re thinking, explain when something is uncomfortable, or describe why they like or dislike a product. Instead, they communicate through their behaviour, and it’s up to us to interpret what that behaviour means. This highlights the importance of usability testing, a product that looks perfect on paper may perform very differently when it is being used in the real world.
Designing for Two Users, Not One…
One of the biggest differences between human and animal healthcare products is that you’re often designing for two very different users at the same time.
In pet care, for example, a product needs to work for both the pet owner and the pet. In agriculture, the user might be a farmer, while the animal is the one directly experiencing the product. Both groups influence whether the product succeeds, but their needs, motivations and behaviours can be very different.
A product that is convenient for a human but stressful for an animal is unlikely to be used consistently. Equally, if a product is well tolerated by the animal but difficult for the handler to use, adoption may still be poor. Good design needs to strike the right balance between the two.
Applying Human Factors Thinking
Animal products may not always be subject to the same usability requirements as devices for humans, but the principles of human factors still apply.
Usability affects safety, effectiveness and acceptance. If a product is difficult to use, it increases the risk of mistakes, creates frustration for the user and may cause unnecessary distress for the animal.
When designing for animals, it can be helpful to adopt a similar mindset to designing products for children. Animals cannot read instructions, recognise hazards or understand warnings, so risks need to be designed out wherever possible.
Some key considerations include:
- Avoiding trap points where paws, tails, claws or other body parts could become caught.
- For non-surgical products – removing sharp edges or features that could cause injury.
- Preventing access to small parts that might be swallowed or inhaled.
- Choosing materials that are safe for animal contact.
- Ensuring products can withstand chewing, scratching, pulling and other natural behaviours.
Addressing these issues early not only improves safety but can also reduce costly redesigns later in development.
Why Usability Testing Matters
Just as in human product design, usability testing can reveal issues that are difficult to predict during the design process.
Watching animals and their handlers interact with a product often uncovers unexpected behaviours, workarounds or points of resistance that would never emerge in a design review or laboratory test. Sometimes a product may function exactly as intended from an engineering perspective but still fail commercially because animals avoid it or users struggle to incorporate it into their routine.
Iterate, Iterate, Iterate
An iterative approach to design is just as important in animal product design as it is for human products. This involves conducting regular user testing and refining the design based on the findings from each evaluation. When multiple rounds of animal usability testing are planned, reusing the same animals should be avoided wherever possible, as they may have learned how to interact with the product during previous sessions, potentially influencing the results.
It is also important to consider the impact of design changes made in response to human use errors or risks. While such modifications may be intended to improve human interactions with the product, they could inadvertently affect its use by animals. Where there is a possibility that animal interactions may be affected, the updated design should ideally be evaluated in a further round of animal usability testing.
Test in the Right Environment
The use environment can have a huge impact on animal behaviour.
Many animals become anxious or behave differently when placed in unfamiliar surroundings. Conducting studies in a dedicated test facility may sometimes be necessary, but it can also influence how an animal responds to a product and make the results less representative of everyday use.
It’s often better, where possible, to evaluate products in the environments in which they will be used; whether that’s a family home, a veterinary practice or a farm. Familiar surroundings can help animals behave more naturally and provide insights that are closer to real-world conditions.
Whatever the setting, animal welfare should always be the first priority.
Understand the Animal’s Limits
When conducting research with children or other vulnerable groups, studies are adapted to suit their needs. The same approach should be taken when working with animals.
When planning usability studies, it’s important to consider factors such as:
- Access to food and water.
- Opportunities for rest during longer sessions.
- Monitoring for signs of stress, fatigue or discomfort.
- Keeping sessions as short and manageable as possible.
It is advisable to factor in costs for professional guidance from experienced handlers, veterinarians or animal behaviour specialists who can help to ensure studies are both safe and ethical.
Putting Welfare at the Centre of Design
The most successful animal health products are built on an understanding of both the animal and the person caring for it.
By applying user-centred design principles, considering safety from the outset and testing products in realistic environments, teams can uncover problems early and develop solutions that work in practice.
At its heart, designing for animals isn’t just about creating a product. It’s about understanding the relationship between people and animals, and designing solutions that make that interaction easier, safer and more effective for everyone involved.
Ready to accelerate your innovation?
To discuss how we can optimise the design and development of your animal health or VetCare device, please get in touch with our team.
Contact us via email on design@egtechnology.co.uk, by giving us a call on +44 01223 813184, or by clicking here.
