“Paws for Thought” on National Dog Day

Serena Faber Nelson Founder & Pet Lifestyle Writer

Pet lifestyle expert Serena Faber-Nelson is the founder of Pretty Fluffy. A contributor to Everyday with Rachael Ray, Modern Dog Magazine, Cesars Way and more; her modern, stylized take on DIY dog treats has seen her recipes viewed millions of times over.

Serena is the author of the go-to dog mom bible, Dog Mama, and the popular dog treat recipe book, Healthy Homemade Dog Treats.

What are you doing on National Dog Day this year?

Taking your best four legged friend for a puppacino? A trip to the park? Or maybe getting them that bow tie collar you’ve had your eye on?

Well there’s one thing you should definitely do today – and that’s check your pup for ticks.

“Paws For Thought”

To coincide with National Dog Day, NexGard has partnered with Guide Dogs Australia to raise awareness with dog owners of the dangers of Paralysis Ticks.

NexGard supplies Guide Dog handlers all over the country with its tasty, once-a-month chews which protects these special animals from ticks and fleas.

And now they’re asking every Australian dog owner to “Paws for Thought” and use National Dog Day to learn more about, and treat their dogs for, Paralysis Ticks.

Celebrity vet, Dr Lisa Chimes, says it’s perfect timing…

“Maybe it’s not just a coincidence that National Dog Day falls at the same time as the start of tick season. Today is the perfect reminder for us to check our dogs and stay on top of tick protection by using a great product like NexGard.”

How to Check Your Dog for Ticks

Paralysis Ticks are all kinds of awful.

In a short amount of time they can turn your dog from Leonardo DiCaprio in The Great Gatsby to Leonardo Dicaprio in The Revenant.

Ticks can result in paralysis, severe sickness and sometimes even death, so prevention is your very best friend.

To help, NexGard had created Australia’s very first Paralysis Tick Advisory Panel to help teach dog owners the easy way to keep your dog safe.

Their top tips?

• Check your dog daily for ticks.
• Start at the head and neck, including the mouth and ears. Continue to the front legs and paws, check between and underneath the toes and then search the chest, belly, back, tail and back legs and toes.
• Watch for signs of Paralysis Tick symptoms – including lethargy, vomiting and back leg weakness.
• Prevent Paralysis Ticks with NexGard – a tasty once-a-month chew that can be given with or without food and is suitable for puppies from eight weeks of age, weighing 2kgs or greater.

Get Informed

There’s no better time than National Dog Day to get your dog protected.

So between that puppacino and park trip, take 10 minutes out of your day to get your dog tick-safe.

For more information on paralysis ticks and techniques for checking pets, contact your vet for a copy of the “Deadly Paralysis Ticks, How to protect your pet” brochure developed by the Australian Paralysis Tick Advisory Panel.

For more information on how to protect dogs from ticks and fleas using NexGard, visit www.nexgard.com.au.