Every Dog Has A Funny Bone: Share Your Doggone Funny Stories With Merial, The Maker Of NexGard® (afoxolaner), For An Opportunity To Win $5,000

Merial, the Maker of NexGard, to Award Three Grand Prize Winners $5,000 Each and Will Sponsor $1, up to $100,000, to Canine Companions for Independence® for Every #DoggoneContest Social Media Post and Program Video View

News provided by

Merial

Aug 20, 2015, 08:30 ET

DULUTH, Ga., Aug. 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- With more than half of dog owners considering themselves "pet parents,"¹ it's clear that people will go to great lengths to keep their dogs happy and healthy. This summer, Merial, the maker of NexGard, is asking dog owners nationwide to share stories about their laugh-out-loud dog and the funny things they do to keep their pets happy. Joining the fun is actress and proud pet parent, Sarah Hyland, who teamed up with Merial to create the program video that shares the great lengths dog owners will go to keep their pooch happy.

NexGard(R) (afoxolaner) "Doggone Funny" Program

From now until Sept. 30, 2015, dog owners can share the fun ways that make the relationship they have with their dog unique on Instagram™ or Twitter™ using the #DoggoneContest hashtag or watch the NexGard "Doggone Funny" video, to help place more Canine Companions for Independence assistance dogs with deserving individuals in need.

For every social action taken by consumers, which includes submitting a social post and watching the NexGard "Doggone Funny" video, Merial, the maker of NexGard, will sponsor $1, up to $100,000, to Canine Companions for Independence, a national non-profit organization that provides highly trained assistance dogs to children, adults and veterans with disabilities free of charge.

The top three #DoggoneContest social media posts from dog owners will receive $5,000 from Merial, the maker of NexGard. A judging panel will determine the top three #DoggoneContest social media posts based on the following criteria: originality, unique relationship with your dog and how you ensure that your dog is happy and healthy. Full contest rules can be read at http://doggonecontest.com/legal-info/.

"My dog Barkley Bixby makes me laugh every day with his funny antics so I'll do just about anything to keep him happy," said Hyland. "To some people, pampering your pooch may be over the top, but for me and the other millions of dedicated pet parents, it's part of the fun of owning a dog."

Hyland starred in the NexGard "Doggone Funny" video about selecting your soulmate based on how they would potentially treat your four-legged pet. As seen in the video, many dog owners do outrageous, loving things for their pets, which is why Merial, the maker of NexGard, is asking dog owners nationwide to watch and share the video as well as post their stories to support Canine Companions for Independence.

Canine Companions provides its graduates with a lifetime of increased independence and ongoing support essential to making great partnerships, all completely free of charge. Merial, the maker of NexGard, believes in helping dogs live healthy, happy lives and that all dogs, including assistance dogs, should live a life protected from pesky pests likes fleas and ticks.

"Fleas and ticks are a year-long problem," said Brandt Giffin, executive director of U.S. pets marketing for Merial. "The "Doggone Funny" program is a lighthearted way to raise awareness about the importance of keeping your dog happy and healthy by using a flea and tick treatment and control while supporting a great cause like Canine Companions for Independence."

Innovative Flea & Tick Treatment and Control for Dogs
From Merial, the maker of FRONTLINE^® Plus brand products, NexGard is the first soft, beef-flavored chew that kills both fleas and ticks. It keeps killing for a full 30 days and dogs love it.² Combining a revolutionary active ingredient with an innovative form, NexGard is FDA-approved and available with a veterinarian's prescription. NexGard kills fleas fast, before they can lay eggs; prevents flea infestations; comes in a soft, beef-flavored chewable; kills ticks; and lasts for a full month.³

NexGard is safe⁴ and effective⁵ when used as directed. NexGard contains the ingredient afoxolaner. Afoxolaner kills fleas by over-stimulating their nervous system. It helps treat and control fleas and ticks and keeps killing for a full 30 days.³

Specifically, NexGard kills cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis), American dog ticks (Dermacentor variabilis), Black-legged ticks (Ixodes scapularis), Lone star ticks (Amblyomma americanum) and Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus).

A recent study showed 89 percent of dogs readily consumed NexGard.²

To learn more about NexGard, please visit www.NexGardForDogs.com.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION:
NexGard is for use in dogs only. The most frequently reported adverse reactions include vomiting, dry/flaky skin, diarrhea, lethargy, and lack of appetite. The safe use of NexGard in pregnant, breeding or lactating dogs has not been evaluated. Use with caution in dogs with a history of seizures. For more information, contact your veterinarian or see the prescribing information.

About Merial
Merial is a world-leading, innovation-driven animal health company, providing a comprehensive range of products to enhance the health and well-being of a wide range of animals. Merial employs 6,500 people and operates in more than 150 countries worldwide with over €2 billion of sales in 2014. Merial is a Sanofi company. For more information, please see www.merial.com.

About Canine Companions for Independence
Canine Companions for Independence provides highly trained assistance dogs to children, adults, and veterans with disabilities. Established in 1975, Canine Companions has six training centers across the country, including CA, FL, OH, NY and TX. Canine Companions is recognized worldwide for the excellence of its dogs, and the quality and longevity of the matches it makes between dogs and people. The result is a life full of increased independence and loving companionship. There is no charge for the dog, its training and a lifetime of follow-up services. For more information, call 1-800-572-BARK or visit www.cci.org.

Sources: BToellner.com "US Pet Ownership Statistical Breakdown" http://btoellner.typepad.com/kcdogblog/2012/11/us-pet-ownership-statistical-breakdown.html [Accessed July 1, 2015]., 2) Data on file. Merial, Inc., 3) NexGard Chewables Label., 4) Drag M, Saik J, Harriman J, Larsen D. Safety evaluation of orally administered afoxolaner in eight-week-old dogs. Vet Para 2014;201:198-203., 5) Freedom of Information Summary, NADA 141-406, NexGard.

Video - http://youtu.be/7HM--R92wiI

SOURCE Merial