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RediCare – A Featured Star of the Keys Line

RediCare – Born Out of Hurricane Katrina

RediCare
Wendy Steel, Keys CEO & Founder

RediCare began just after Hurricane Katrina decimated New Orleans, Louisianna. We had an excellent therapeutic lotion named MetaCare that contains Ayurvedic Neem and Karanja oil. What happened next was the creation of a new product called RediCare.

We were at a pet trade show outside of Washington, DC. We had a booth there, and early on the first day, a uniformed ranger named Rod came by our booth with his dog, Tye. He had Tye lay down, and his belly was nothing but rashes, open sores, and inflamed. I asked what happened and he told me that he and Tye were in New Orleans on a search & rescue mission along with a bunch of other dogs and handlers. He asked if we had anything. I grabbed a MetaCare lotion, and Rod smeared it all over Tye’s belly. You could see the relief instantly, and it made me tear up. Luckily, I noticed that Rod’s hands were equally inflamed, and I encouraged him to spread it on his hands. They left, and I was busy with a lot of people interested in Natural products for their dogs, so I did not think much of the incident.  

About an hour later, Rod showed back up with Tye and flipped him over on the booth carpet. Believe it or not, Tye’s belly was almost healed, and Rod’s hands were much improved. He wanted to buy the lotion, and I told him that because it was a tradeshow, we were not allowed to sell. I asked for his card and called back to the factory to have a bottle of MetaCare sent. My good deed.

What happened afterward was terrific. Remember, at this time, we did not have a pet line and not marketing to dogs. We decided to do the tradeshow because we were toying with the idea and thought it would be an excellent place to get consumer and dealer feedback. Throughout the afternoon, handlers and their dogs started to show up. It was one very young and pretty blonde gal that brought her golden by asking if we had some spray that would work for her long-haired dog that would do the same thing as we had done for Tye. You guessed it, RediCare was born as a sprayable version of MetaCare at that very instant.

The geeky part is that numerous coincidences came together almost to make the product development instantaneous.

  • The week before, a salesperson showed me a trigger sprayer saying it would spray oil.
  • I had an original formula for MetCare that was too liquid. It had the same amount of Neem and Karanja as MetaCare, but came out runny.
  • Mike at our label company called to ask if he could double up one of the labels so they could gang a full run of labels. No, I said, I have a new product to add to the run
  • I had initially thought of putting MetaCare into a 4-ounce bottle with a lotion pump. So, the label I had in development fit the new RedCare bottle and all I had to do is change the name of the product
  • We had a bunch of dealers from the show that wanted to get going with us but wanted a unique “Go-To” everything product. Yep, RediCare

So, RediCare came together almost overnight, and the first dozen bottle got shipped to the blonde ranger for her and the other long-haired dogs.

That story spread quickly, but not as soon as RediCare became a super-multipurpose product. It is a sprayable moisturizer and lotion. It repels 200+ insects. Works for horses. People with diabetes use it because it sprays on for sensitive skin. The list goes on. It was so much of an outpouring that we created this fun advertisement here that showed all the uses.  

To this day, RediCare remains in our Top 10 products and has as many pet users as people. Its sister product, OmniCare was what we thought would replace RediCare in the dog market, but dealers stick with the tried and true RediCare.

The last bit of anecdotal thought is that our team referred to RediCare as Windex. Why do you say? There was a famous movie called “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” There was an older man in the film that used Windex on everything from scrapes, cut, polish tables, clean mirrors, etc. You get the analogy.

RediCare is our most versatile product and one of the most beloved. Hang a big star on RediCare

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“Blue Babies” Therapy May Help!

Some Good News – Nitric Oxide Therapy May Help The Suffering

FDA opens up Bellerophon’s (Nitric Oxide) gas therapy for COVID-19

nitric oxide
Bob Root, Keys Chief Scientist & Founder

Bob Root, Keys Scientist:   I have a core belief for my life when it comes to health.  The only person I hold responsible for my health is me.  Yes, me.  When I am confronted with a malady or this giant COVID dragon in front of us all, I turn to science to learn what I can.  Sometimes I don’t understand and sometimes one article leads to another.  When the path turns cold, I back up and take another path until I find what I am looking for.  It is just who I am.  Sometimes I find something so interesting I share it with my friends.  Not to proclaim something, but to entice them to study themselves.  Like my books, I try to inform and not convince. In these times, there is so much misinformation.  I never want to subtract but add something that may fuel a new way, a new path or some new thinking.  So is this bit of news:

There is some interesting and I feel, good news on the horizon that I am reading about in the scientific community about prevention, relief, and vaccines.  Please remember that scientists’ comments and findings are revised carefully by peers.  Yes, it slows the process but is a positive factor in weeding out BS.

First of all, my compliments to the FDA for opening up the emergency expanded access program for SARS-COVID.  “NO” is the chemical acronym for Nitric Oxide.  It is made in cells in our body but can be supplemented through nitric oxide mass inhalation.  More important is that is is a common therapy in “Blue Baby” syndrome and has been used for years to treat the newborn malady.  A doctor at UCLA Medical Center says he can watch blue babies with respiratory distress turn pink in front of his eyes.  So now, it seems that “NO” may be a tool, not the solution, but a tool, with SARS COVID-19.  Below is published verbatim and not my words.

Bob


Nitric Oxide

FDA opens up Bellerophon’s gas therapy for COVID-19

Using a regulatory pathway that allows patients with life-threatening conditions to use unapproved therapies, the FDA has granted “emergency expanded access” to Bellerophon Therapeutics’ inhaled nitric oxide delivery system for treating the novel coronavirus.

Also known as compassionate use, the agency’s policy is typically administered on a per-patient basis—at times when clinical trials are infeasible, the benefits are seen to outweigh the risks, and there are no available alternatives.

According to Bellerophon, the FDA’s decision now opens up its INOpulse system for use at high-doses in ventilated COVID-19 patients, immediately.

Inhaled nitric oxide acts as a vasodilator, relaxing the lungs’ muscles and blood vessels, and is used in hospitals worldwide. Bellerophon has been researching its use to combat potentially harmful high blood pressure in the lungs among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary fibrosis, interstitial lung disease and sarcoidosis.

The compound has also been tested as a potential treatment for the novel coronavirus’ closely related predecessor—the strain behind the SARS outbreak in the early 2000s. Previous studies showed that nitric oxide slowed down the replication of that virus and reduced the need for long-term ventilator support.

According to Bellerophon, the genetic similarities between the two coronaviruses “support the potential for [inhaled nitric oxide] to provide meaningful benefit for patients infected with COVID-19” and inhibit the progression of upper respiratory tract symptoms.

“Based on currently available data and its significant role in the immune response, we believe INOpulse has the potential to be a safe and effective treatment for COVID-19,” said CEO Fabian Tenenbaum. “INOpulse technology utilizes targeted pulsatile delivery of inhaled nitric oxide, providing important antiviral potential, as well as improved arterial oxygenation.”

“Importantly, INOpulse is designed to treat patients in the outpatient setting, which may be critical in helping combat the further spread of the virus and significantly alleviate the mounting impact on hospitals and intensive care units,” Tenenbaum added.

Prior to the outbreak, Bellerophon had been building up inventory of its INOpulse device for a planned, large phase 3 trial in pulmonary fibrosis—which the company is currently looking to divert to hospitals in need, Tenenbaum told FierceMedTech in an interview.

Additionally, about a month ago, Bellerophon completed a safety trial in healthy volunteers showing its high-dose paradigm could be tolerated, at levels similar to those used against the earlier SARS outbreak, he said. The FDA is also currently reviewing a research protocol for a new clinical trial against COVID-19 to explore the device’s next steps in development.

The FDA’s access decision comes less than 24 hours after President Donald Trump pointed to compassionate use as one of the ways the administration is responding to the spread of the virus.

“Disseminating information about promising off-label uses of drugs we already have, investigating their effectiveness, and pursuing other therapeutics will help give American healthcare providers the tools they need to save lives,” HHS Secretary Alex Azar said in an FDA statement on the agency’s work to facilitate development of investigational treatments such as the malaria drug chloroquine and Gilead’s remdesivir antiviral, which is also available under compassionate use.

“While there are no FDA-approved therapeutics or drugs to treat, cure or prevent COVID-19, there are several FDA-approved treatments that may help ease the symptoms from a supportive care perspective,” the agency said March 19.

The new emergency expanded access pathway allows doctors to request use of the INOpulse for multiple patients at once, without including their names or other personally identifying details, Tenenbaum said.

Inhaled nitric oxide has also been pursued as a COVID-19 therapy by several others, and is currently undergoing clinical trials in China—both as a potential treatment for patients and as a preventive measure for healthcare providers—with studies sponsored by Massachusetts General Hospital and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Mallinckrodt, for one, has been exploring its use against the disease in coordination with the FDA, NIH and BARDA, and previously markets the gas as a treatment for neonates suffering from respiratory failure.

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Glucosamine HCL + Chondroitin Sulfate Might Be As Effective AS NSAID’s For Dogs & Humans

Glucosamine HCL Information

bob_topazBelow is a blurb from the Natural Products Association released this morning about the use of Glucosamine HCL as a pain reliever.

We have known for quite a while that our customers using our KODA Proflexoil for their dogs have noted a reduction in pain and symptoms for joint problems.  Below are the results of a NIH study that confirms in trials that using this natural combination appears to be as effective as NSAID’s like Celebrex.  We have been against Vet’s prescribing NSAID’s, but have not had the research trials to be able to offer factual results.  Even though this study is for humans, the biological systems of dogs and humans are very similar because of their millennial symbiosis.  We are happy to read this study as it confirms our own observations.

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Chondroitin sulfate plus glucosamine works just as well to ease the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis as anti-inflammatory drugs, according to study results published in the journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in the Western world, and the knee is the joint that gets hit with it most frequently. Osteoarthritis is expected to become the fourth leading cause of disability by 2020, write the study’s authors.

Because the non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) often used for arthritis can themselves cause serious gastrointestinal and cardiovascular effects, scientists have been hunting for alternatives for years.

Koda-logo-w-puppyThe recently completed trial, called the MOVES trial (Multicentre Osteoarthritis InterVEntion trial with Sysadoa) was conducted in Europe among a group of 606 patients with primary knee osteoarthritis and moderate to severe pain who were recruited from 42 centers in Spain, Germany, France and Poland. A multidisciplinary team of investigators including rheumatologists, orthopaedists and primary care physicians participated. In the double-blind, randomized, multicenter, parallel group trial, patients were given pharmaceutical grade chondroitin sulfate (1200 mg/day) and glucosamine hydrochloride (1500 mg/ day) or 200 mg of celecoxib (an anti-inflammatory drug) daily for six months.

Visit The Proflexoil Page Here

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Keys KODA Products Help with ACL/Joint Issues in Small Dogs

Keys KODA LifeTrace, Proflexoil and Omega life supplement joint and ACL issues in small young dogs. Add a Paleo diet and long walks extends their lives.
divider
jasper-table_2There has been a lot of chatter recently about young small dogs needing ACL and knee replacement surgery.  Around the age of 10, our Bichon Disney had to have a knee replacement after chasing is cat sister.  The vet suggested both knees and I thought that I would like to let him rest between replacement, so we had the worst knee replaced.  Then I started him on a human type regimen to strengthen the ailing knee.  To my surprise, after 6 months, he was no longer favoring the hurt knee.  After 10 months, he no longer needed the knee replacement.  Until he passed a few years ago at 17, he never had a knee problem again.
What I did for Disney was to get his diet changed to more of a Paleo style with no gluten.  I supplemented his filtered water with a product called ConcenTrace that added back in the minerals stripped out filtering his water.  Then I supplemented his food with Glucosamine HCL (not sulfate) and Collagen using a human product called Glucose One.   Walking him a few miles a day not only strengthened his knees, but I believe lengthened his life by a few years.
Much of the reason we created our KODA line adding functional supplements to skin care was inspired by Disney.  So we continue to pay homage to Disney by helping other dogs with similar issues.
Please keep in mind that dogs have had a symbiotic relation with humans for thousands of years and their system have evolved to mirror humans.  So, generally speaking, what works for human works for dogs.
When we developed our KODA line, we polled Nationwide Insurance Pet Group to find the top ten reasons for vet visits.  Shin was a high percentage of the issues, but joint issues we masked in the report because most people believe that ACL and arthritis are age related.  They are, but people feeding gluten and watering their dogs with purified and RO water are contributors.  
 
lifetrace ionic Minerals for Dogs
lifetrace ionic Minerals for Dogs

Studies have shown that gluten/grains in a dogs diet have similar reactions as in humans.  Gluten in humans causes calluses and joint issues by creating inflammation.  Dogs are the same.

 
Purified and RO water robs the water of minerals which in-turn leach out minerals in the dogs body after drinking purified water.  The absence of minerals in the water creates a ionic neutrality that seeks out minerals to be whole.  
 
So, the thing to do which will also help weight loss are the following:
  • Put your dog on more of a Paleo style diet.  The lack of grain will aid in wait loss and reduce joint inflammation
  • Supplement purified and RO water with a mineral additive similar to our KODA LifeTrace.  It adds back in 76 needed minerals without sodium
  • Supplement with Glucosamine HCL and Collagen from even a young age.  Don’t wait until they are 10+ years old to use Glucosamine.  Make sure it is HCL and not sulfate, because the HCL also has Cox-2 properties.  We make a supplement called KODA Proflexoil that used daily will keep joint collagen levels at the max through all age groups.
  • Finally as a shameless plug, KODA OmegaLife is a fish oil replacement avoiding the high Vitamin A toxicity levels associated with real fish oil primarily seen in small dogs

Finally, our Bichon, Jasper had a serious bout of Blepharitis when he was a few months old.  It took some serious doses of Doxycycline and Prednisone to knock it down.  This course attacked his joints and we switched Japser to the regimen above and his knees have strengthend.  At the age of 5 (this August) he runs and chases his cat sister without issues that we saw when he was 1 year old.  So, it works.  Jasper also gets a minimum of 3 miles a day and often exceeds 5 miles a day when we are near a beach

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Polluted Pets – What we are doing to our pets!

Bob Root, Keys & Koda Technologist & Developer

I am raising a red flag when it comes to our pets and the environment.  In my book, Chemical-Free Skin Health® I pointed out that about 50 years ago just about everything we put on our skin or came in contact with was naturally derived.  Now nearly 95% is synthetic.  There are now tens of thousands of chemicals that are in use that have never been tested for safety.  Worse, our pets are exposed in direct contact to hundreds of more chemicals for the shear reason that they typically where no shoes, clothing and dogs tend to lead with their noses.  This reality is played out in the article from the Environmental Working Group showing industrial chemical toxins at alarming high rates compare to humans.

In 2007, I was a founding member of Pets for the Environment which was a spin-off of the EWG.  It was just coming into vogue when the Melamine was discovered in food additives being made in China.  The timing was good, but because of budget cuts and Congressional naivete, the project did not last.  Now, we are trying to bring it back into public eye because of the results below and the continued exposure of our pets to toxic chemicals.

My belief is simple.  I believe that more than 50% of pet skin and gut disorders are caused by chmicals in their environment.  An environment where there are no barriers between the pets Continue reading Polluted Pets – What we are doing to our pets!

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Keys to Donate 10% of KODA Sales to Gabi Wolf Recovery!

bob_topaz

Bob Root, Keys Founder and Chief Scientist

10246664_10152274142748241_5053619352056877098_nI awoke to some good news from Gabriela Castillo this morning.  Gabi Wolf’s surgery went well although x-rays discovered a much more damage to her leg than expected.  The good doctor took our personal guarantee that we would keep raising funds to pay for nursing Gabi back to help and did the surgery yesterday.

This has prompted us to offer that Keys will donate 10% of all KODA online store sales for the rest of May 2014 and all of June 2014 to Gabi’s cause.   Notice:  this is not some weasel worded statement of percentage of profits.  It is 10% of all KODA online store sales for the next 45 days. Continue reading Keys to Donate 10% of KODA Sales to Gabi Wolf Recovery!

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KODA ProBiome – Part of the Solution for Dog Tear Stains

simply_wendy_bannerIt was two years ago to the day that we rushed our Bichon, Jasper, to the vet in Palm Springs California.  His eyes were so swollen and he was running a 106 degree fever.  After literally 1500 miles driving back and forth over a two week period and a $3,000 vet bill, he came back to us on Christmas eve.  He was so sick and the diagnosis of Blepharitis lead to major courses of Prednisone and a Doxycycline to quell the severe inflammation.  It was a very nice Christmas present.  We do not let these sorts of things go un-acted upon.

jasper-table_2

Jasper’s battle was the trigger to start the KODA dog line because our vet was all about solving the problem, but nothing about his wellness.  Inquiring to pet insurance companies became the design architecture of our five internal supplements and five topical solutions.
Part of Jasper’s issues was and is a chronic eye drainage issue.  He is well known in his travels for eye staining.  The eleventh product that is yet to be released was the first product we wanted.  It was not only an eye stain removal product, but a product that would also reduce the potential for eye infections.  In the two years since, we have been trying to find a product that will work and we are very close to launching it.  Perhaps even in Q1 2014.

Continue reading KODA ProBiome – Part of the Solution for Dog Tear Stains

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A Brief Synopsis of KODA Products

KODA Products:  What and When to Use

bob_topazBy Bob Root, Keys Scientist

It is not a new concept that a dogs life can be extended by good nutrition.  What may not be as clear is that the polluted environments can shorten their lives.  That is why we created our KODA line for dogs.  KODA helps to extend your dogs life by providing supplements that are functional and topical therapies to protect them from the environment!

I recently had a dear friend tell me that he would like it if I would write an article about what to use and when regarding Koda products.  He politely said, I do not have time to understand the science, just tell me what I should use for my dog in simple terms in 500 words or less.  I realized that I probably spend a lot of time writing articles that are so detailed that people are not sure what to buy.  Maybe it is the scientist in me or a belief that people will not believe me if I don’t explain the details.  I did recall during the discussion with my friend that a professor once said to me, “Bob, I ask you what time is it and you lecture me on the origin of time.”  Maybe there was a hint in that remark.

So here goes for KODA for Dogs.

lifetrace ionic Minerals for Dogs

Must do’s

The two products that I recommend for your dog’s everyday health are Koda OmegaLife and Life Trace.

OmegaLife is a vegan fish oil replacement that provides the Omega 3.6 & 9’s using human quality vegetable oils without concern for Vitamin A toxicity from fish oil.

LifeTrace assures that your dog gets all the minerals they need through this water additive.  If you filter your dog’s water, you are removing most of the minerals.  They need to be added back in.

These are the two must haves that you should give your dog every day!  Order them now!

Functional Supplements

ProCalm Vegan Clamative for Dogs

Use Proflexoil if your dog is older or if their breed are prone to joint issues.  This is also helpful if you have a very active dog, like our Bichon Jasper, to keep tendons and knees from being harmed by running and fast turns. Proflexoil is a Cox-2 anti-inflammation inhibitor.

Use ProCalm if your dog is agitated or has higher anxiety levels.  Great for car rides if those create angst.  Added to the food, the Magnolia extract takes the edge off anxiety and agitation, but does not sedate.  The dogs gets calm quickly, but not lethargic.  In my line of work, I take Magnolia extract daily  😉

ProBiome helps with digestion using a lactobacillus sporogene probiotic.  Add it to food to aid digestion.  This probiotic is the best human grade available and the features benefits and advantage are explained in the article on this blog.  Search ProBiome if you want to know more.

 

Topical Treatments

Use OmniShield to repell flying and crawling insect.  It repels naturally using Neem, Karanja and essential oils.

OmniShield Insect Repellent for Dogs

OmniCare is like a natural Bactine for scrapes, hot spots, abrasions and itchy areas.

OmniClean is a soap/shampoo that offers essential oils to help with skin disorders that include itching and hotspots.  This is a great product to bathe a dog that has allergies or chemical irritations.

 SpotClean is very cool because you can clean your dogs paws between baths.  You can rinse or not and even peanut butter comes off easily.  Grime is gone in seconds

 ProShine is a general dog shampoo and conditioner in one.  The foam lathers fast and rinses even faster for a shiny clean coat that will increase the time between baths.

530 Words is the best I can do.

Bob

Click each product name link to go to its detail page

Each product has a detailed article as well on Clean Green Cafe.  My best suggestion is to type KODA in the search box and read the articles that interest you.

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KODA Dog Products – A Brief Synopsis

KODA Products:  What and When to Use

bob_topazBy Bob Root, Keys Scientist

It is not a new concept that a dogs life can be extended by good nutrition.  What may not be as clear is that the polluted environments can shorten their lives.  That is why we created our KODA line for dogs.  KODA helps to extend your dogs life by providing supplements that are functional and topical therapies to protect them from the environment!

I recently had a dear friend tell me that he would like it if I would write an article about what to use and when regarding Koda products.  He politely said, I do not have time to understand the science, just tell me what I should use for my dog in simple terms in 500 words or less.  I realized that I probably spend a lot of time writing articles that are so detailed that people are not sure what to buy.  Maybe it is the scientist in me or a belief that people will not believe me if I don’t explain the details.  I did recall during the discussion with my friend that a professor once said to me, “Bob, I ask you what time is it and you lecture me on the origin of time.”  Maybe there was a hint in that remark.

So here goes for KODA for Dogs.

lifetrace ionic Minerals for Dogs
lifetrace ionic Minerals for Dogs

Must do’s

The two products that I recommend for your dog’s everyday health are Koda OmegaLife and Life Trace.

OmegaLife is a vegan fish oil replacement that provides the Omega 3.6 & 9’s using human quality vegetable oils without concern for Vitamin A toxicity from fish oil.

LifeTrace assures that your dog gets all the minerals they need through this water additive.  If you filter your dog’s water, you are removing most of the minerals.  They need to be added back in.

These are the two must haves that you should give your dog every day!  Order them now!

 

Functional Supplements

ProCalm Vegan Clamative for Dogs
ProCalm Vegan Clamative for Dogs

Use Proflexoil if your dog is older or if their breed are prone to joint issues.  This is also helpful if you have a very active dog, like our Bichon Jasper, to keep tendons and knees from being harmed by running and fast turns. Proflexoil is a Cox-2 anti-inflammation inhibitor.

Use ProCalm if your dog is agitated or has higher anxiety levels.  Great for car rides if those create angst.  Added to the food, the Magnolia extract takes the edge off anxiety and agitation, but does not sedate.  The dogs gets calm quickly, but not lethargic.  In my line of work, I take Magnolia extract daily  😉

ProBiome helps with digestion using a lactobacillus sporogene probiotic.  Add it to food to aid digestion.  This probiotic is the best human grade available and the features benefits and advantage are explained in the article on this blog.  Search ProBiome if you want to know more.

 

Topical Treatments

Use OmniShield to repell flying and crawling insect.  It repels naturally using Neem, Karanja and essential oils.

OmniShield Insect Repellent for Dogs
OmniShield Insect Repellent for Dogs

OmniCare is like a natural Bactine for scrapes, hot spots, abrasions and itchy areas.

OmniClean is a soap/shampoo that offers essential oils to help with skin disorders that include itching and hotspots.  This is a great product to bathe a dog that has allergies or chemical irritations.

 SpotClean is very cool because you can clean your dogs paws between baths.  You can rinse or not and even peanut butter comes off easily.  Grime is gone in seconds

 ProShine is a general dog shampoo and conditioner in one.  The foam lathers fast and rinses even faster for a shiny clean coat that will increase the time between baths.

530 Words is the best I can do.

Bob

Click each product name link to go to its detail page

Each product has a detailed article as well on Clean Green Cafe.  My best suggestion is to type KODA in the search box and read the articles that interest you.

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Announcing KODA – Keys for Dogs

KODA

by Wendy Steele

Keys and KODA CEO

For many of our long term customers, you will remember that we created a pet product line many years ago.  The line migrated to crossover products that are good for people and their pets.  Our most popular in this line is and was RediCare.  Our medicinal products grew in popularity over the years.

Our original move into the pet products business was based on an experience with our Bichon “Disney.”  Now about 7 years ago, he returned from a groomer and began pulling out his fur until his skin was bleeding.  We calmed him, got him to a vet and a cortisone shot later, he was on the road to recovery.  We discovered that his reaction was due to an experimental whitening shampoo that the groomer was asked to try by a manufacturer.  It turns out that the shampoo had a near lethal level of Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS).  This was our inspiration to begin making Disney his own shampoo that we affectionately named “Muttineer.”   Eventually, a modified version of the shampoo became know as MetaClean and the line became a cross-over product offering for us.

A little over two years ago, Disney passed away on Valentines Day.  Breeder friends felt for our deep loss and offered us a Bichon pup from a future litter.  We were in Canada near Jasper National Park when we received a call that we would be puppy parents again.  Jasper was born into our crazy lifestyle July two years ago. Continue reading Announcing KODA – Keys for Dogs

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KODA ProShine – Shampoo & Conditioner

ProShine is a foaming shampoo-conditioner that is made using a 500 year old Welsh recipe that is saponified in a brewing.  The shampoo deep cleans and has a slightly acidic pH.  To that, we add essential oils to condition the skin and hair.  It has anti-allergy properties to reduce skin itching and hot spots.  The benefits that are most noted by groomers and show dog handlers is how it cleans and conditions the hair in one step.  Light colored and white dogs have brighter and whiter hair without using chemicals.  What they really love is how fast ProShine rinses and how fast the dog dries.

ProShine was originally developed for a breeder who wanted a chemical-free dog shampoo that would produce a luster coat that shines without using silicone or dimethicone.  Her dogs had developed itching and scratching fits from the traditional detergent based sulfate shampoos and conditioners that contained silicone derivatives.  We developed ProShine to deep clean naturally, use essential oils for the shine and provide fast rinsing that is five to six times faster than conventional detergent based shampoos.

The result is a brighter coat, no chemical irritation and a natural luster that is noticeable.  Simple pharma grade ingredients that work!

Here are some of the benefits of ProShine

• Deep Cleans

• Conditions

• Easy Foam Application

• Lightning Fast Rinsing

• Anti-itch Formulation

• Fragrance-Free

• Natural Citrus Whitener

• Take To Groomer

• Natural Shine

• Suppresses Musk Smell

• Refreshing Earthy Scent Continue reading KODA ProShine – Shampoo & Conditioner

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KODA OmniClean – Therapeutic Shampoo & Soap

OmniClean is a natural Castile like therapeutic foaming shampoo and soap used for dogs with skin irritations, insect problems and to heal disorders.  We add Neem and Karanja oil to the soap for their ayurvedic medicine healing and insect repellant properties.

OmniClean is based on the famous Keys MetaClean shampoo and soap.  Throughout history, soaps and Castile shampoos have been used to deliver healing medicines to broad areas of the body.  Soaps, unlike synthetic detergents, retain added oils and deposit them on the skin in a very thin coating.  After they deposit the oils, the residual soap/shampoo rinses lightning fast as part of the nature of Castile formulation.  MetaClean’s history began in helping the search and rescue dog returning from Hurricane Katrina.  OmniClean builds on the learning that we experienced listening to customers that use MetaClean in their daily lives for all sorts of skin conditions and maladies.

Washing a dog or washing small areas like the paws with OmniClean will reduce bacteria, yeast and allergens while also depositing the Ayurvedic medicine onto the dog.  Keys MetaClean is used by customers to soothe irritations, reduce allergens, heal skin disorders and add oils to the skin that help stop itching and biting.

OmniClean uses Neem and Karanja oil like both OmniCare and OmniShield.  Outbreaks in mange and MRSA in dogs around the country caused us to custom formulate MetaClean by adding oregano oil to the blend.  Oregano oil has been shown to be very effective in staving off mange and MRSA.  It is also effective in reversing these conditions.  We have testimonials of dogs that were going to be ‘put down’ and recovered using the modified MetaClean.  OmniClean adds the oregano oil as a standard ingredient.

We add other oils to the blend to improve the coat and skin of the dog to reduce itching, biting and scratching.

Here are some benefits of OmniClean

• Heals Skin Disorders

• Quiets ‘Hot Spots’

• Antibacterial

• Anti-itch Treatment

• Anti-Fungal

• Heals Insect Bites

• Reduces MRSA Impact

• Reduces Yeast Levels

• Anti-Inflammatory

• Easy Foam Application

• Lightning Fast Rinsing Continue reading KODA OmniClean – Therapeutic Shampoo & Soap

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KODA OmniShield – Natural Insect Repellent Spray

OmniShield is an intense therapeutic naturopathic insect repellent spray that uses OmniCare as its base adding high levels of Neem and Karanja oil, peppermint, red thyme and lemongrass to repel over 200 flying and crawling insects including fleas, ticks, flies, mosquitoes and lice.

OmniShield starts with the design principles of OmniCare.  We then increase the levels of the Ayurvedic medicine ingredients to levels that make OmniShield effective as a insect repellent capable of thwarting away both crawling and flying insects.

OmniShield uses Neem and Karanja oil that is a maximum pharma grade.  There are products that use Neem as both a repellent and as therapy.  We know of no product that uses the symbiotic oil, Karanja, along with Neem.  Both ingredients have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.  Being symbiotic plants/tree, Neem works best to repel crawling insects while Karanja affects and repels flying insects.  Together with the other keys ingredients, OmniShield repels and affects over 200 insects.

Neem and Karanja also have a thousand years of healing history in Ayurvedic medicine.  So, OmniShield has a strong series of features that focus on many skin disorders that dog’s experience.  The name Omni means ‘all’ giving it multiple functional medicine properties.

One interesting feature of using Neem and Karanja is that the symbiosis goes beyond functionality to the scent of the product.  Many companies use Neem in very small amounts to hide the strong smell.  To be affective, we use 4% of each Neem and Karanja, a total of 8% of the bottle combined, to get true benefits.  Ironically, mixing the exact same amount of Neem and Karanja downplays the strong Neem scent to a very pleasant earthy scent.  So, OmniShield is an effective Ayurvedic medicine and insect repellent for both flying and crawling insects.

It is an important note that some pet naturopaths are using OmniShield for both mange mites and lice.  Combined with OmniClean that adds oregano oil has shown reversal of dog mange and MRSA.

Here are some of the benefits of OmniShield

• Repels 200 Insect Types

• Repels Flying Insects

• Repels Crawling Insects

• Anti-itch Treatment

• Heals Hot Spots

• Heals Insect Bites

• Heals Scrapes

• Reduces Yeast Levels

• Inhibits Fungus Growth

• Refreshing Earthy Scent Continue reading KODA OmniShield – Natural Insect Repellent Spray

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KODA OmniCare – Topical Therapy Spray

OmniCare is a naturopathic therapeutic spray designed to heal skin irritations, insect bites, cuts, scrapes and hot spots.  It is a combination of botanical, herb and spice extract that are brewed and then distilled.  These are combined with pharmaceutical grade oils known for their healing properties.

Designed from OmniCare’ famous cousin RediCare, the product perform the function of being a universal care therapy spray with almost endless multi-functions.  RediCare was designed as a sprayable lotion with many healing properties for both people and pets.  This crossover functionality is based on creating a thin lotion that lays on the skin offering a protective barrier to pathogens while also offering ayurvedic medicine healing therapies.  OmniCare is similar in that it is a spray.  The difference is that OmniCare is based on a sprayable extract that we developed called Ariane®.  Ariane® is an extract that is a combination of 14 herbs, botanicals and spices that are melded together that harmonize with a dog’s skin.  We add in ayurvedic oils and essential oils designed to act as therapy for all sorts of skin disorders, allergies and irritations.  The result is a fine mist product that lightly lies on and is absorbed into the skin.  It is ancient remedies and modern technology combines in a skin care therapy products that has multi-functionality.  The emphasis is on results and minimal invasion of the dog’s fear of being sprayed.

Here are some of the benefits of OmniCare.

• Heals Skin Disorders

• Quiets ‘Hot Spots’

• Antibacterial

• Anti-itch Treatment

• Anti-Fungal

• Heals Insect Bites

• Heals Scrapes

• Reduces Yeast Levels

• Anti-Inflammatory

• Refreshing Earthy Scent Continue reading KODA OmniCare – Topical Therapy Spray

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KODA Proflexoil – Joint Health & Pain Relief

ProFlexoil is a multifaceted vegan joint compound for dogs of all ages whose joint stress comes from both external and internal forces.  It is a Cox-2 enzyme inhibitor with ingredients including Glucosamine HCL (not sulfate) and Collagen.

What goes on within human joints also happens in dogs.  As we age, the cushioning material in our joints degrades.  Arthritis, weakness, stiffness and pain become more of a problem.  Chinese medicine generally treats the cause while western medicine treats the symptom.  When joints break down, the western solution is surgical knee replacement.  It is a very effective solution, but very costly and painful.  This is true for the dog having surgery.  The Chinese method is preventative and focuses on the cause.  Naturopaths prescribe Glucosamine.  Broadly, this and other herbs lubricate the joints and have shown to increase the cushion as well as slowing significantly degradation.  Taking Glucosamine is a daily habit for older people and has become popular with dogs as well.

So, the difference in ProFlexoil is based primarily on the type of Glucosamine.  Fundamentally, it is true that both Glucosamine Sulfate and Glucosamine HCL perform about the same function when it comes to physically helping the joints maintain cushion and flexibility.  The reason we use Glucosamine HCL is because of most current studies that show that the HCL version has a higher level of efficacy against the Cox-2 enzyme that is associated with joint pain.  ProFlexoil’s primary purpose is to reduce degradation of the joint and reduce pain without the need for NSAID’s, aspirin, ibuprofen or Nabumetone.  Common names for these are Motrin®, Advil®, Naprosyn®, Aleve® and Relafen® as well as their generic versions.  Glucosamin HCL has a greater affect on the Cox-2 enzyme in pain reduction based on a number of studies.

Our Glucosamine Collagen formulation is designed to build cushion in joints and reduce pain associated with osteo disorders.  It is suspended in pharmaceutical grade oils that are designed to maximize assimilation of the Glucosamine and Collagen.

Here are some of the benefits of ProFlexoil

• Add to Food

• Increased Mobility

• Increased Flexibility

• Pain Reduction

• Anti-Inflammatory

• Rebuilds Cartilage

• Tendon Support

• Arthritis Relief

• Omega 3,6,9’s

• Not from Shellfish

• No NSAIDs Continue reading KODA Proflexoil – Joint Health & Pain Relief

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KODA ProCalm – Calmative and Stress Reducer

ProCalm is a relaxing elixir developed for higher stressed and easily agitated dogs.  It uses a combination of Magnolia extract which is 90% honokiol and magnolo and virgin organic avocado oil as a natural herbal relaxer.  Add to food to reduce agitation and to help dogs remain sleeping through the night.

The stress in our everyday lives continues to increase.  This stress we feel is manifested onto our pets.  The milenial relationship we have with dogs has drawn us closer together in lifeform.  It is easy to project our stress on our pets and dogs receive it with great impact.  Many stomach, travel and skin disorders can be traced back to our dog’s stress levels.

Over the years, there have been botanical essences that worked well.  These have fallen short in recent years because stress levels in dogs can out strip the operating capability of these products. Some people have turned to over-the-counter medications like Bendryl to kick up the efficacy of stress reduction.  Although they work, they often leave the dog sedated and feeling lethargic.  Dosing on and off these medications can leave the dog wired, stressed, agitated and restless.  It becomes a fine line of which is worse, the disorder or the cure.

We developed ProClam based on Chinese herbal therapy around magnolia extract.  When taken, it reduces cortisol levels which lower stress and the effects.  It, “takes the edge off” for the dog without lethargy or agitation.  In fact, the opposite is true mellowing the dog.  The magnolia extract also affected the adrenal glands further reducing the stress levels in the dog.  Adding a few squirts to the dog’s food as needed will smooth out their days which just may smooth out yours a bit.

None of the side effects and none of the danger of using people meds on your dog.

Here are some of the direct benefits of ProCalm for your dog:

• Vegan Calmative

• Promotes Relaxation

• Emotional Well-being

• Aids Adrenal Function

• Reduce Anxiety

• Add to Food

• Pleasant Flavor

• Non-Sedating

• Gluten-Free

• Omega 3, 6 & 9’s Continue reading KODA ProCalm – Calmative and Stress Reducer

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KODA ProBiome – Probiotic & Prebiotic

ProBiome4 is a Lactobacilli sporogenes which is a lactic acid producing bacillus preparation.  To over simplify, it is a probiotic with exceptional properties. Lactobacilli through their metabolic processes prevent the growth of putrefactive organisms by competitive inhibition, the generation of a non-conducive acidic environment and the production of bacteriocins. They improve the digestibility of ingested food constituents and the bioavailability of nutrients, possess hypocholesterolemic activity and enhance the immune response.

In the human and dog gut, symbiotic bacteria exist normally to work with the bodies digestion process.  Chemicals such as parabens and Triclosan are used in everyday products to kill bacteria.  These chemicals can be found in pet food, preservatives in treats and everyday products that dogs can easily ingest.   These chemicals are prolific throughout the house and outdoors.  When consumed, they reduce the good bacteria in the gut which reduces the digestive process leaving food in the dog for too long.  The chemical bacteria reduction also affects the dog’s coat, feeling of being satisfied and can cause gastrointestinal disorders as well as resident parasites.

ProBiome4 offers three distinct functions.  It is a prebiotic, probiotic and digestive aid.  Adding it to the dog’s food at each meal increases the levels of semi-resident probiotic in the form of Lactobacilli sporogenes.  This is a very high end pharmaceutical grade probiome-probiotic that increase the amount of active culture in the intestines aiding digestion.  Among its major benefits is that being a Lactobacilli sporogenes it stays in the digestive system and creates more of its kind to help over the entire day.

Here are some of the benefits to the dog.

• Add to Food

• Vegan Probiotic

• For healthy stool

• Aids Digestion

• Post-antibiotic Therapy

• Reduces Pathogens

• Naturopathic Flora Aid

• Increase Metabolism

• Anti-aging Effects

• Pleasant Flavor

• Omega 3, 6 & 9’s Continue reading KODA ProBiome – Probiotic & Prebiotic

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KODA LifeTrace – Ionic Mineral Water Supplement

LifeTrace76 is an ionic mineral supplement to be added to the dog’s water.  Filtered, RO (reverse osmosis) and distilled water strip needed minerals along with the harmful pathogens. LifeTrace76 adds back in all 76 minerals needed for healthy bodily functions and is very low in sodium and potassium.  Just a few drops in the dog’s water provides all the core necessary minerals for a healthy life.

In an effort to protect their dog from pollutants, microbiology and heavy metals, many people, filter their dog’s drinking water.  This is a good thing!  The problem arises from the mechanical methods used to filter the water.  All, from the least efficient to the highest efficiency remove minerals from the water along with the constituent items they want to filter.  Worse, is when people use distilled or ionized water for their dog’s drinking water which actually leaches out minerals from the dog’s body causing illness and distress.

Leaching minerals or severe reduction in minerals in the dog’s body can cause many skin disorders, diarrhea and severe imbalances manifesting as irritations, agitations and stress.

The easiest way to assure your dog’s health is to add back in minerals needed for a healthy life.  We created LifeTrace76 to add back in all the necessary trace mineral for a healthy balanced life free from distress caused by low minerals in the water and even food.  A few drops in the dog water bowl at each refresh and your dog will maintain a perfect mineral body balance.

Trace minerals have also been shown to reduce and thwart off the bio-burden from industrial chemicals in a dog’s body that come from the environment.

Here are some of the benefits.

• 76 Ionic Trace Minerals

• Anti-aging Properties

• Higher Energy Levels

• Probiome Enabler

• Aids Nutrient Uptake

• Add to Water Bowl

• Digestive Aid

• Balances Electrolytes

• pH Balanced

• Low Sodium

• Low Potassium Continue reading KODA LifeTrace – Ionic Mineral Water Supplement

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KODA OmegaLife – Fish Oil Alternative!

 OmegaLife is a vegan alternative to fermented cod liver oil and salmon oil.  It is for dogs that react to the taste of fish oil.  It provides the addition of saturated fat fruit and vegetable oils that include, organic avocado oil, cold pressed black seed oil, extra virgin olive oil, sesame oil, grape seed oil and Ariane extract.

It is well known that the benefits of oil added to a dog’s food helps in digestion, assimilation of minerals, regular stool and a shiny coat.  Fish oils and our vegan alternative also have a great effect on the skin by creating a probiome environment for good health bacteria that lives symbiotically on the skin.  Research at the National Institutes of Health’s Human Microbiome Project projects the benefits of good bacteria and the suppression of many skin disorders.  We believe this is also true for dogs and our continued research and testing is showing that dog skin disorders caused by chemicals in the environment can be reduced in impact.

Here are some of the benefits.

 • Vegan Oil Supplement

• No Vitamin A Toxicity

• Omega 3, 6 & 9’s

• High Vitamin E, K & B6

• Copper, Zinc & Minerals

• Easily Add to Food

• No Fishy Smell

• Pleasant Flavor

• Rapid Absorption

• Gluten-Free

• No Staining Continue reading KODA OmegaLife – Fish Oil Alternative!

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Koda Products Sneak Peek!

Koda is the new dog products line from Keys.  We have been manufacturing crossover pet and human products since 2005.

Koda products are chemical-free natural therapy and supplements focused on dog wellness, life extension and quality of life.

Below is a sneak peek of the products that we will be introducing at the international pet trade show this September in Las Vegas.  These are the first ten products in the line that will be available soon.

Naturopathic Products:

OmegaLife is a vegan alternative to fermented cod liver oil and salmon oil.  It is for dogs that react to the taste of fish oil.  It provides the addition of saturated fat fruit and vegetable oils that include, virgin organic avocado oil, cold pressed black seed oil, extra virgin olive oil, sesame oil, grape seed oil and Ariane extract.

 LifeTrace76 is a mineral supplement to be added to the dog’s water.  Filtered, RO (reverse osmosis) and distilled water strip needed minerals along with the harmful pathogens. LifeTrace76 adds back in all 76 minerals needed for healthy bodily functions and is very low in sodium and potassium.  Just a few drops in the dogs water provides all the core necessary minerals for a healthy life.

 ProBiome4 is a Lactobacilli sporogenes which is a lactic acid producing Bacillus preparation.  To over simplify, it is a probiotic with exceptional properties. Lactobacilli through their metabolic processes prevent the growth of putrefactive organisms by competitive inhibition, the generation of a non-conducive acidic environment and the production of bacteriocins. They improve the digestibility of ingested food constituents and the bioavailability of nutrients, possess hypocholesterolemic activity and enhance the immune response.

ProCalm is a relaxing elixir developed for higher stressed and easily agitated dogs.  It uses a combination of Magnolia extract which is 90% honokiol and magnolo and virgin organic avocado oil as a natural herbal relaxer.  Add to food to reduce agitation and to help dogs remain sleeping through the night.

ProFlexiol is a multifaceted joint compound for dogs of all ages whose joint stress comes from both external and internal forces.  It is a Cox-2 enzyme inhibitor with ingredients including Glucosamine HCL (not sulfate) and Collagen. 

 

Topical Products:

OmniCare is a naturopathic therapeutic spray designed to heal skin irritations, insect bites, cuts, scrapes and hot spots.  It is a combination of botanical, herb and spice extract that are brewed and then distilled.  These are combined with pharmaceutical grade oils known for their healing properties.

OmniShield is an intense therapeutic naturopathic insect repellant spray that uses OmniCare as its base adding high levels of Neem and Karanja oil, peppermint, red thyme and lemongrass to repel over 200 flying and crawling insects including fleas, ticks, flies, mosquitoes and lice.

 OmniClean is a natural Castile like therapeutic foaming soap used for dogs with skin irritations, insect problems and to heal disorders.  We add Neem and Karanja oil to the soap for their ayurvedic medicine healing and insect repellant properties.

 ProShine is a foaming shampoo-conditioner that is made using a 500 year old Welsh recipe that is brewed.  The shampoo deep cleans and has a slightly acidic pH.  To that, we add essential oils to condition the skin and hair.  It has anti-allergy properties to reduce skin itching and hot spots.

 SpotClean Paw & Face Foaming Cleanser is a brewed wash with botanicals and herbs for quick cleaning of the paws and face as an interim cleanser between baths.  Removes road dirt and allergens as well many chemicals used on public parks and lawns.

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Itchy Dog? Ditch the Perfume

Stop that Itch- Lose the Perfume!

 By Wendy Steele, KODA CEO

How attentive are you when your dog is in distress?

  • Do you hear the incessant scratch, scratch, scratch during the day or at night before bed?
  • Do you visually examine your dog and investigate the area where the itching and scratching is centered before there is redness, irritation or raw sore patches?
  • Have you had the nagging feeling, wondering why your dog is itching and scratching after a bath or grooming session?

Being attentive to your dog’s skin health is relatively simple, you just need to pay attention to all of the clues your dog is already giving you!   Keep an eye on excessive itching and scratching, listen for and actively watch for any patterns (when and where itching occurs) and begin investigating the possible sources of the problem.

As for that nagging feeling about the itching and scratching after your dog’s bath or after a grooming session?   The most likely reason your dog is scratching and itching is directly related to the perfumes, artificial fragrance and harsh ingredients in dog shampoos!

If you are choosing a shampoo based on the smell or the type of fragrance in the product– you are most definitely contributing to your dog’s itching and scratching problem!

 You can do a lot to stop the after bath itch – first and foremost – ditch the perfume!

Here are the label-reading basics when determining what shampoo to buy for your dog’s baths and grooming.  Carefully read the product label before buying for your dog.

  • If the label mentions any kind of fragrance – don’t buy it!
  • If the label mentions any kind of sulfate or pseudo sulfate – don’t buy it!
  • Sulfates are aggressive foaming agent chemicals that are difficult to rinse out of your dog’s fur/hair and the residue that cannot be rinsed out will further irritate your dog’s skin causing more itching and scratching after a bath
  • Fragrance and sulfates are a double whammy for your dog and are known irritants that can cause a dog to itch and bite at their fur until there are sores or hot spots
  • If the label mentions any kind of whitening or bleaching agents – don’t buy it!
  • If the label mentions any kind of coloring agents or artificial dyes – don’t buy it!
    • If the ingredients are not clearly listed on the label DO NOT BUY IT

Do not assume that your groomer is aware of irritating ingredients in shampoos and dog perfumes.  In most cases they have no idea what is actually in the products they are using on your dog!  Why? The reason is many manufacturers do NOT fully disclose or label what is actually in a product, nor are they required to be forthcoming by any law, rule or regulation.   Often groomers and dog wash facilities are buying in bulk and buying cheaply made products, based on the lowest cost to them and without a thought given to perfumes, fragrances or harsh sulfates that can irritate your dog’s skin.

 Here is a simple and effective way to communicate with your groomer before leaving your dog for a bath or grooming session:

1)      Take your own “clean” shampoo with you to the groomer or dog wash facility-this is the product you have already investigated and reviewed the ingredients

  • Hand your groomer your “clean” shampoo
  • Tell your groomer that this is the only product you want used on your dog
  • Show your groomer the label and let your groomer know that you are doing your best to eliminate potential skin irritants to your dog

2)      Be specific – ask your groomer NOT TO ADD any fragrance or perfume to your dog’s coat after washing!   (Spray perfumes and additives after bath are another cause of dog itching post grooming.)

3)      Thank the groomer for only using the shampoo that you brought with you and for not adding any after bath products on your dog.   Be sure the groomer acknowledges that they understand your simple request!

Reading labels and educating yourself about buying healthier grooming products for your dog is one of the most caring and loving things you can do for your best friend.  Adopting a wellness philosophy, that is taking simple steps to avoid a skin problem before it starts, is a pro-active philosophy for your dog to enjoy a more stress-free, healthy and happy life.

Wendy

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Itchy Dog? Ditch the Perfume

Stop that Itch- Lose the Perfume!

 by Wendy Steele, Keys CEO

How attentive are you when your dog is in distress?

  • Do you hear the incessant scratch, scratch, scratch during the day or at night before bed?
  • Do you visually examine your dog and investigate the area where the itching and scratching is centered before there is redness, irritation or raw sore patches?
  • Have you had the nagging feeling, wondering why your dog is itching and scratching after a bath or grooming session?

Being attentive to your dog’s skin health is relatively simple, you just need to pay attention to all of the clues your dog is already giving you!   Keep an eye on excessive itching and scratching, listen for and actively watch for any patterns (when and where itching occurs) and begin investigating the possible sources of the problem.

As for that nagging feeling about the itching and scratching after your dog’s bath or after a grooming session?   The most likely reason your dog is scratching and itching is directly related to the perfumes, artificial fragrance and harsh ingredients in dog shampoos! Continue reading Itchy Dog? Ditch the Perfume

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Polluted Pets – What are we doing?

Bob Root, Keys and KODA Technologist

I am raising a red flag when it comes to our pets and the environment.  In my book, Chemical-Free Skin Health® I pointed out that about 50 years ago just about everything we put on our skin or came in contact with was naturally derived.  Now nearly 95% is synthetic.  There are now tens of thousands of chemicals that are in use that have never been tested for safety.  Worse, our pets are exposed in direct contact to hundreds of more chemicals for the shear reason that they typically where no shoes, clothing and dogs tend to lead with their noses.  This reality is played out in the article from the Environmental Working Group showing industrial chemical toxins at alarming high rates compare to humans.

In 2007, I was a founding member of Pets for the Environment which was a spin-off of the EWG.  It was just coming into vogue when the Melamine was discovered in food additives being made in China.  The timing was good, but because of budget cuts and Congressional naivete, the project did not last.  Now, we are trying to bring it back into public eye because of the results below and the continued exposure of our pets to toxic chemicals.

My belief is simple.  I believe that more than 50% of pet skin and gut disorders are caused by chmicals in their environment.  An environment where there are no barriers between the pets and the chemicals.  Again, that is why we see such higher numbers in our dogs and cats compared to humans.   The levels should scare you for people and terrify you for our pets.

Thinks your pets is living a clean pristine life?  Thinks again!

Polluted Pets

Summary and Findings

They are trying their best to warn us.

In the first study of its kind, Environmental Working Group found that American pets are polluted with even higher levels of many of the same synthetic industrial chemicals that researchers have recently found in people, including newborns. Continue reading Polluted Pets – What are we doing?

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Groomers, The Good, Bad and the Ugly

Wendy Steele, Keys & KODA CEO and Founder

We travel all over North America for our businesses.  We choose to travel in a motor coach for a number of reasons.  Probably the most important are named Jasper and Isabel.  Jasper is our two year old Bichon pup and Isabel our Abyssinian-Tabby cat.  Besides, airports and hotels are no fun.  BTW, That is Japer on the masthead running on the Oregon coast with his favor pink ball.

One of the toughest things is to find a groomer we can trust.  Not just to give Jasper a good cut, but to find a groomer that is a natural practitioner and will safeguard Jasper during his visit.  We learned a few tricks along the way that simply involves using your senses.

We always ask Bichon owners where they have their pup groomed when their dog looks well cared for, cleanly groomed and happy go lucky.  This is a happenstance that we consider first when we find someone through a referral.  This is way too much luck for us, so we developed a few little tricks that involve using your eyes, ears and sense of smell.

Here is our secret to finding a good groomer for Jasper.

First, make sure you read the story of our Bichon, Disney, and his near death experience with a groomer.  The Link is Here.

Continue reading Groomers, The Good, Bad and the Ugly

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Dogs and the Dirty Dozen – No Mix!

Killer Chemicals?

The “Dirty Dozen” Chemicals in Everyday Pet Products

Bob Root, Keys and KODA Technologist

I was pretty irritated when I found out that many contract manufacturers that make pet shampoos, conditioners and skin products follow no strict guidelines for the chemicals they use or the amounts of these chemicals.  Worse, I found manufacturers using ingredients that were band for people.  Rather then dumping the product, they relabel it for pets. You would think with the Melamine in pet food scare killing pets a few years back that we would learn.  I do not know about you, but I treat my dog and cat better then I treat myself

 At Keys, we believe that over 50% of all pet skin disorders  are misdiagnosed and are actually caused by chemicals in everyday products.  In fact, over 95+% of all skin and pet care shampoos, bath gels, conditioners, laundry detergents and cosmetics contain one or more of these chemicals.

At Keys we are chemical-free and therapeutic.  We believe that education is the best tool and we provide this list for your reference.  When shopping for new products for you, your family and your pet, these chemicals should be avoided.  Chemical-Free Skin Health should be your goal and dedication.

So here are the simple rules about product ingredients. Continue reading Dogs and the Dirty Dozen – No Mix!

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Disney’s Story – How Keys Pet Care Products Began

Wendy Steele, Keys and KODA CEO & Founder

Great products solve problems and make you feel good.  Most products are born out of a need to solve a problem.  This is true of the original Keys line of pet care products.

Keys began as an all-natural therapeutic skin health product line about 8 years ago.  While on tour test marketing their products, an almost tragedy was the beginnings of the Keys Pet Care line of products.  Keys Pet Care has now morphed in to KODA Pet Care Products

On our way back from the Florida Keys, I took our Bichon Frise, Disney, to a groomer.  When Disney returned, he was white, fluffy and looked just great.  A few minutes after picking him up, I noticed him scratching.  It later escalated to him pulling out his fur to a point where he began bleeding.  Shocked, I got him in the tub and wet him down to see what was going on.  His skin was bright red and inflamed.  I thought that it had something to do with some product that the groomer used, so I used one of the Keys natural soaps on him.  This helped to calm him a bit.  That night was sleepless for me and Disney. Continue reading Disney’s Story – How Keys Pet Care Products Began

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Koda Story

KODA is the dog therapy product line established by Keys.  Products include chemical-free natural supplements and topical therapies for dogs.  We use ancient remedies and modern technology to make natural products that makes dogs feel good and solve both internal and skin problems.  We use pharmaceutical grade ingredients in therapeutic proportions to solve problems that account for the top 10 reasons for vet visits.  KODA is a combination of wellness products and natural solutions.

jasper-table_2Koda is Lakota Sioux for “Friend.”  The word perfectly describe the intention for our products and their recipients.  Today’s dogs are exposed to all sorts of environmental and chemical exposures that are and will shorten their lives.  After an experience with our 14 month old pup, Jasper,  that forced him to have to take strong antibiotics and Prednisone,  we  realized that the Veterinarians were ill equip to balance his prescriptions with a wellness program.  Determined, we set out to find the finest ingredients the same way that we developed our custom regime for Jasper.

Koda is a new brand for our established Keys product line.  We have been making natural topical therapies for people and their pets for over 7 years.  Our Neem and Karanja oil based topical products also include therapeutic and essential oils known for their topical and internal applications.  For Jasper, it was a combination of natural extracts to build his immune system, plant essences to calm him and probiotics to help his digestive system to recover as quickly as possible. Continue reading Koda Story