Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Product Review - K9 KlearUp

Ok, so about 6 months ago the dog blog world was inundated with posts about K9 KlearUp. Like many other bloggers out there, I received a free sample. I was asked to write a review about the product and potentially sell it through my blog and receive "affiliate" fees. I told the marketing guy that I would test it extensively before posting about this product and that my review may go either way, but he wanted the review anyway ...



K9 KlearUp is a "dog balm" that is supposed to be used as a topical solution to various different health problems. The company claims the following: "when it comes to environmentally (food, water, air factors) or externally caused (cuts, scratches, burns etc) skin and coat issues, K9 KlearUp has a 95%+ success rate." The company does admit that this product won't work on all dogs however the claim that it has a 95% success rate certainly shouldn't be made if it doesn't work on almost every dog (95 dogs out of 100 dogs is what "95%" means).



Expecting a "95%+ success rate", I tried this product on one of my dogs. It did nothing other than coat the cut and prevent dirt from getting in (any balm would do that). So, I figured that perhaps our Flat Coat was one of the 5% that the product didn't work on. I tried it on another one of our dogs (Aussie/BC -- allergies symptoms). Still nothing. I tried it on another (Beagle/Cocker -- pad cut). Nothing. I tried it on our foster dogs (two GSD's and one Husky/BC -- bug bites and a small nick). Nothing. I tried it on our new dog (Cattle Dog -- slice up back leg; required staples). STILL NOTHING.



Each time I tried the product on a dog, I used it for 14 days; applying it twice a day. (This is why it took me almost a year to fully test the product!!) Since it isn't every day that a dog gets injured, bitten or has allergic symptoms, it took a fair amount of time. I wanted to be absolutely sure of my stance on the product before I stated it.



Now, you can't tell me that the 7 dogs I tried it on were the "lucky" ones in the 5% that the product doesn't work on. If the company's claims were true, we would have seen SOME success. Even one dog?! Nope.



From what I can see, K9 Klear Up does not work. The only healing that occurs when K9 Klear Up is applied originates from the animals own body. The K9 Klear Up balm DOES provide a 'sheild' from dirt, dust and other things you wouldn't want in a wound.
That said, if you are looking for a 'sheild' from the elements for a wound ... you could pay $39.95 for 3.5oz (100ml) container of K9 Klear Up or you could go buy a 10 oz. container of Bag Balm for $13.95 and get the same results (if not better). Personally, I would go with the Bag Balm. I've had better success with it both with dogs and with horses.

13 comments:

Marg said...

Well that is good to know. We won't be buying that one. Besides I usually get treatments for cuts etc. from the vets.

Cyndi and Stumpy said...

It cracks me up, some of the products that companies come up with. You can't do much better than most of the old tried and true products that are already out there.

Viatecio said...

Give me Bag Balm anyday. I've used the stuff on myself for years for various reasons, and wouldn't hesitate to put it on the dog if anything came up that it might help at all.

Kudos to you for testing out the new product though. GSP said it well--that newer is not always better!

GoLightly said...

Okay, here's a funny one, too.
I was in the pet food store. There was a "magic" ball, that you put in the dog's dish, to slow down it's wolfing down tendencies.
$14.00.
Yup, I've saved a LOT of money, using a couple old bones and kongs in their bowls...

And thanks for the product research, DDF!

Erica said...

thank you very much for this very thorough review. i was about to buy this product, i'm glad i googled it first!

Lindsayanng said...

thank you SOO MUCH for a real review on this product. I was skeptical from the begining because I am in the marketing world and usually those single page websites that look only like a sales pitch are pitching products hard because they have to (because they dont actually work)

Then I started googling and found 10 blogs that were posting a K9 Klear product review.. and I started to notice a little bit of a pattern. MOST of the reviews were "canned", meaning the title of the review and a lot of the comments within the review were copied and pasted (probably from a suggestion post by the marketer)

Then I found two blog posts on different websites that were IDENTICAL - even down to the pictures of the dog!!! So two owners with two different blogs, claiming to be in different parts of the world have the EXACT same dog and same PHOTOS!!

Anyways.. I have not tried this product and definitely absolutely will not. My dog (beagle) has some serious skin problems that we can not find an answer to (not hot spots, cant define the allergy it might be). I would rather spend my money on some bag balm and a cone.

Pam Davis said...

Thank you for your review, you saved me a lot of money and frustration

Jim said...

Thanks for the research, I was just about ready to order and my wife showed me your post. Thanks alot, I will try Bag balm.
Thanks for posting!!!

Anonymous said...

I just ordered this producr 20 minutes ago!!!! I need to cancel befire it ships out

musitink said...

We have tried and used this product for over a year. Went through at least 10 bottles of the cream on my 2 chow chows.
I see your negative comments, but from my experience and use of this product, I must say that it works as advertised. My dogs have atopic dermititus, uncurable. This is the only product that has reduced their itchiness and has healed their sore spots. It also worked when they had a hot spot. Cured it in 3 days. Lots cheaper than going to the vet.for antibiotics and better for the dogs as well. We live in Hong Kong and the weather is humid in the summers, so this has been a good product for us. We order it all the time. We also have tried many other 'cures' and such products and this was the only one that consistently proved it worth. It works, and I hope that they never change the formula.

Anonymous said...

I'd like to know if you have reviewed or know of a trusted review or Nzymes. My dog needs help with his black spots that almost cover his underbelly, chest and starting on his legs. The vet's shampoos are not working. I've tried several diets with no starch.

Anonymous said...

I'd like to know if you have reviewed or know of a trusted review or Nzymes. My dog needs help with his black spots that almost cover his underbelly, chest and starting on his legs. The vet's shampoos are not working. I've tried several diets with no starch.

Unknown said...

I disagree. Our dog has terrible allergies, she couldn't stop itching and her belly was constantly broken out in red hives. We had to keep putting her on various medications to keep her from scratching and to bring down the redness and irritation. Within 2 days of using this stuff she had completely stopped itching and in less than a week she was completely cleared up. This stuff is AMAZING and I wouldn't throw it out because of one opinion. Definitely keep reading reviews before you make your decision.