Interpath, the manufacturers of Sashas Blend, is concerned about conservation and the environment, which is why their products have a certificate of export (CITES certificate) from the New Zealand Department of Conservation.

All ingredients are sourced from non-endangered species. Molluscs are harvested from commercial farms and our marine cartilage is harvested from prolific breeding non-endangered species under a quota system. All ingredients meet strict international conservation requirements.

The advantage of buying Sashas Blend in South Africa:

• Sashas has been specifically formulated.
• Sashas has been freighted and stored correctly.
• The ingredients in Sashas are compliant and have passed South Africa’s import checks.
• Sashas has been shipped to your local veterinary clinic with the utmost care, assuring optimum efficacy.
• Sashas bought from your local veterinarian means your vet can fully inform you of your pet’s condition or any concerns.

It is difficult to compare other chondroitin and glucosamine products as there are many factors which need to be considered, including where they are sourced from, how they are treated and how effective they are.

Your pet’s body needs the full range of naturally occurring glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) which include keratin, dermatin, heparin, the more commonly known glucosamine and chondroitin, as well as an equally important compound known as hyaluronic acid.

These are all found in the correct ratios in the GAGs in Sashas Blend.

The GAGs in Sashas Blend are marine-based which are more effective than GAGs from other sources, such as bovine trachea, as they remain in the digestive system longer. This allows the actives to be absorbed into the bloodstream to reach the affected sites.

Sashas Blend has had great success with dogs with hip dysplasia.

Animals with hip dysplasia have a larger than normal joint cavity and therefore a larger volume of the lubricating fluid (synovial fluid) in the cavity which takes longer to replenish.

It is critical for sustained well-being, among other things, that the synovial fluid is maintained and healthy.

The all-natural active ingredients in Sashas have anti-inflammatory properties, conditioning the joint to keep the articular cartilage and joint capsule healthy. For further chondro-protectivity, Sashas also contains the full range of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) which are readily absorbed where they are needed most.

We generally recommend that you build up to one and a half to double the dosage when treating hip dysplasia to ensure the joint cavity and synovial fluid are replenished and healthy. Once you see a consistent improvement in your dog you can reduce the dose to the standard amount, which will continue to keep your dog active and playing like a puppy.

If you are concerned about the effect of the product on your pet and are absolutely certain that Sashas Blend is the cause of the rash, please discontinue its use.

Sashas Blend does not contain any grains, preservatives or fillers and is a 100% natural marine-based product. In fact, Sashas Blend has been known to be beneficial to an animals’ skin and coat.

Skin irritation is not a common reaction to Sashas Blend. While it may be a form of a possible allergic reaction to shellfish, is it highly possible that something else may be causing the skin irritation such as seasonal allergies (e.g. to insects or spring grasses) or commencement of other medications.

We do get occasional reports of this happening and to date, there has never been any adverse side effects other than mentioned. However, if you have concerns, always see your local veterinarian.

Please report this event to Dog Solutions so that we can record the details.

Interpath has completed extensive safety data trials which include the toxicology of Sashas Blend and can assure you that Sashas Blend not only meets but exceeds the requirement of the regulatory authorities for veterinary medicines.

Your dog may experience some nausea, diarrhoea and possibly some vomiting, similar to what you would experience if you over-indulged on seafood. Simply make sure that you keep plenty of fresh water available for your dog to drink. You may even find your dog is a little overactive for a few days.

In the meantime, we recommend that you do not recommence administering Sashas Blend for at least another 4 to 5 days and starting back on a 1/2 dose for the first week.

Firstly, there is no need to panic!

Sashas Blend is highly concentrated and in rare instances, for some animals, this type of reaction may occur.

Cease administration and make water available. Wait for a day or so and recommence giving a very small daily dose only. If the reaction reoccurs, cease administration as your dog may have an allergy to molluscs/seafood. Consult your veterinarian if you have any concerns.

For some animals, the powder travelling down the digestive tract may cause irritation and subsequent vomiting. This can be solved by making the powder into balls with olive or coconut oil, natural yoghurt or a little of their favourite liver paste and administering directly into the mouth.

For you, the pet owner, choosing a joint health product can be confusing. Not only is it paramount that the product has to ‘work’ but you also need to ascertain value for money.

Dosage rates vary significantly for each product so you cannot just determine cost-effectiveness based on the retail price or pack size alone.

Instead, divide the retail price by the doses for your pet’s body weight.

For example, for an 11-20 kg dog, Sashas Blend will last 145 days. Therefore for a 20kg dog, the dosage price = retail price (Rand) ÷ 145 days.

Compared with most other joint health products, Sashas Blend is very cost effective.

Unlike some chews or tablets, Sashas Blend contains no fillers or binders, so each dose contains 100% active ingredients.

Do not give Sashas Blend to animals that have an allergy to shellfish or marine products.

Sashas Blend is not recommended for use in pregnant animals as we do not test on pregnant animals.

Sashas Blend is, however, safe to use on stud dogs.

The Sashas Blend formula is an all-natural joint treatment and can safely be used in conjunction with NSAIDs such as Metacam and Rimadyl. The unique gastro-protective properties of Sashas Blend may help to reduce the possible side effects of using NSAIDs over the long-term and may also allow the frequency or dosage of the NSAIDs to be reduced. In many cases, Sashas Blend will be able to be used as a standalone maintenance program where you may be able to wean your pet off NSAIDs completely.

We recommend that you consult with your veterinarian before beginning any new treatment to ensure your animal is being adequately treated with the appropriate medications.

Sashas Blend is fantastic as a preventative in young and active animals, particularly working and agility dogs and racing greyhounds, which may be prone to joint issues later on in life.

The preventative/maintenance dose is a half dose Sashas Blend and is a very economical option to ensure your pet’s quality of life.

Sashas Blend is suitable for all dog breeds of any age with hip dysplasia, joint injuries, or to dogs who are simply slowing down with age or arthritis.

Haliotis iris, which is one of the constituents, is known to actually be beneficial to the heart, but each case needs to be assessed by your vet.

Some patients may be on a restricted sodium diet, in which case the levels contained in Sashas Blend would need to be considered as part of the whole dietary intake.

Sashas Blend is safe to be used long term.

If using for working or racing/agility dogs, the dose can be reduced when not in full training and can be increased a few days prior to working or competition.

Sashas Blend is safe to give alongside prescription arthritis treatments and is also safe to give to pets with pre-existing conditions; however, it is recommended that you check with your vet.

There should be improved joint function and restoration of mobility within two to four weeks of taking Sashas products.

In some animals, a positive effect can be seen in as little as three days. In chronic cases, it may take up to two months to see a significant improvement.

Sashas Blend is primarily registered for use in dogs and cats.

Off-label, Sashas Blend has been used successfully by veterinarians to treat a circus lion, chimpanzees, camels, goannas, goats, chooks, horses, koalas and even rats and a chicken!

No, you cannot!

Unfortunately the actives are delicate and are damaged by any heating in food and or water above 30°C.

If your pet won’t eat it mixed in with their food then make it into balls and hide it in a treat. You can add it to warm food (below 30°C) just before serving, but please don’t cook it in anything.

If your pet is on a dry food diet or if they are a fussy eater, mix the powder with a bit of moist food or liquid or roll into a treat such as bread/ham/cheese or even a bit of their favourite liver paste.

You can also create a paste by spooning a week’s worth of Sashas Blend into a cup and mix into a dry paste with a little olive or coconut oil or natural yoghurt. Roll into balls and store in an airtight jar in the fridge. These then can be given directly into the mouth or more easily hidden in food or a treat.

Sashas Blend is easy to give your pet.

It is in powder form and pets generally love the taste.

The dosage depends on the weight of your pet – for instance, a 30kg dog would need one level teaspoon of powder mixed with food or drink once a day.

As Sashas Blend is a very concentrated formula, for the first week we recommend that you start on half the dose and then build up to the full dose.