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Spotlight Article
Equine Journal
February 2000
Sea Starr Animal Health,Inc.
by
Laura Albrecht

One look at the shelves of the local feed store shows a myriad of supplements available for our horses' health and welfare. From products promising stronger hooves and shinier coats to those purported to heal lameness, the choices are staggering. (And that's not even considering the prescription medications available, as well). A few years ago, the remedy of choice for arthritic joints was MSM. Then came chondroitin sulfate, and finally, it partner glucosamine. Supplement companies have marketed these products in various formulations, but some producers, and even scientists, have been unable to explain exactly how they worked. But these days there is a new supplement for our arthritic horses, dogs and cats-shark cartilage, produced as the Sea Pet line by Sea Starr Animal Health, Inc. Sea Pet products are the most potent shark cartilage products available.

In the early 1990's, Carder Starr was working in the seafood business, buying shark meat from the fishermen in Nova Scotia and selling it to supermarkets in the New England area. While visiting a fish processing plant in Nova Scotia, he noticed workers giving raw shark cartilage to the old dogs who hung out around the plant. The workers told him that the shark cartilage seemed to help the dogs with their arthritis. He was intrigued and decided to research the subject.

With a bachelor's degree in geology from Brown University, a stint working on a scientific research vessel at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and a subsequent master's degree in marine affairs from the University of Rhode Island, Starr was no stranger to research. He delved into the literature and discovered that shark cartilage had originally been tested as a cancer treatment, with a modicum of success. However, the property in shark cartilage that first attracted the cancer researchers would be recognized as a breakthrough in arthritis treatment. Starr discovered that in addition to high levels of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfates, shark cartilage contains angiogenesis-inhibiting proteins, which inhibit the growth of unwanted blood cells.

In a healthy joint, the cartilage is flexible and is free of blood vessels. When an injury happens, the animal's body produces blood vessels to help heal the area, a situation called angiogenesis. Unfortunately, while the increased blood flow is helpful to the soft tissues, it is harmful to cartilage. In the presence of excess blood cells, the cartilage begins to calcify, reducing flexibility and producing the condition we know as arthritis. Therefore, the angiogenesis-inhibiting proteins in shark cartilage prevent the buildup of blood vessels in the patient's joint, while the naturally occurring glucosamine and chondroitin sulfates restore the flexibility to those joints. In addition, it is important to note that since shark cartilage has such a high concentration of naturally occurring glucosamine and chondroitin sulfates, much less is needed than with synthetic formulations of those supplements.

Starr was so impressed with the research about shark cartilage that he bought some raw cartilage, as an experiment, for some friends to give their elderly dogs. The experiment was a success and Sea Pet was born in 1994, with Carder Starr as president and his wife, Eileen Molloy-Starr as vice president. Their first product was a cartilage-frosted dog treat. Each treat contained 1,000 mg of shark cartilage. The company grew and a small group of happy customers became investors.

Sea Pet now produces two other forms of their product: capsules and formula powder, which contains 2,000 mg of cartilage per teaspoon. In addition, they also produce Sea Pet Shark Cartilage Formula Powder for Horses. Mixed with raw oats for increased palatability, the powder for horses contains 10,000 mg of cartilage per half-cup scoop. The Sea Pet products have been so successful that two years ago the company moved into a new plant in East Greenwich, Rhode Island.

As for sharks themselves, the cartilage used by Sea Pet is a by-product of the food industry. The sharks are harvested from the Gulf of Maine, where care is taken to avoid capturing the endangered species. Of the 350 species of sharks, only about 10 percent are endangered, leaving plenty of others to go around. Sea Pet Animal Health is committed to sustainable and responsible harvests from the ocean.

All Sea Pet products come with dosage instructions. Whether for dogs, cats or horses, there is an initial loading level, followed by a gradual reduction to maintenance level after approximately four to five weeks. For horses, the initial loading dose is one-half cup daily per 1,000 pounds of horse weight (one-quarter cup two times a day). Results should be evident within two to three weeks. Sea Starr recommends that working horses, race horses and competition horses be started on maintenance levels of Sea Pet Shark Cartilage Formula Powder before they have joint problems as a preventative measure. Sea Pet is all natural and safe for use in competition horses.

Sea Starr Animal Health products are distributed nationally. The company has a wholesaler in Boston to service the New England area tack and feed stores, and they ship direct to stores and individuals in the rest of the country themselves. In addition, they also market their products through mail order catalogs such as Omaha Vaccine, KV Vet Supply and Jeffers Vet Supply. Finally, those with Internet access can purchase Sea Pet products on-line if they so desire.

In addition to much of the information above, the Sea Starr Web site contains a list of frequently asked questions, (FAQ), and a page of testimonials. To visit the Web site, log onto www.seapet.com. For more information, call Sea Starr Animal Health at 800-434-8152.

email: contact@seapet.com
telephone: 800-434-8152

This document is maintained by
Sea Starr Animal Health, Inc.