My dog had a tick in his eye—here’s how I keep him protected
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When I first got my dog Silas, I did everything I could to make sure he was living his best life. Like every good eldest millennial daughter, I asked my parents what I needed for Silas. Flea and tick medication topped the list.
But, when it came to choosing the right medication I was overwhelmed with options. And the products my vet recommended were extremely pricey.
I decided to take the plunge and start Silas on NexGard for Dogs. Everything was fine until one day I woke up to a tick… in his eye!
After doing a little more research, I found out that oral flea and tick treatments (while helpful in avoiding disease) don’t prevent fleas and ticks from biting your dog in the first place.
That’s when I found PetFriendly’s Wags Advance® for Dogs. In addition to being totally affordable, it’s safe, effective, and super convenient.
And if that doesn’t convince you, here’s why Wags Advance for Dogs is the #1 must-have accessory for your dog:
Pro: It’s vet-quality.
I was a little hesitant when I first ordered PetFriendly’s products. I hadn’t heard of them before and wasn’t sure they were legit. But, all of their products are formulated by vets and often made from the same ingredients as the big-name brands — right here in the United States.
Wags Advance® for Dogs has the same ingredients as K9 Advantix II® for Dogs. Basically, the Kirkland to my Costco. Can you say flea and tick treatment dupe?!
Con: It’s a little messy.
Compared to NexGard, which is a little chew I would sneak into Silas’ food without him noticing, Wags Advance® can be hard to administer by myself. It’s a topical treatment that comes in a simple applicator with the right amount of medicine for his specific weight.
Once you snip the tip, you apply the liquid in 3-4 spots along his spine. For a long-haired pup, this can be kind of challenging. I have to part his hair, get the treatment as close to his skin as possible, and make sure he doesn’t lick or sniff it until its dry. Phew!
While this can be chaotic at times, I prefer the topical treatment to an oral medication because it actually repels fleas and ticks (remember that gross tick I found…). I feel better knowing that we’ve got a little forcefield around us when we’re walking around town.
Plus, PetFriendly includes 100% Silas-approved treats made of beef lung that completely distract him while I’m applying the treatment. And when I apply his treatment outside, he usually runs around after and it dries right up.
Pro: It fits my budget.
Did I mention that I’m a single dog mom? Bottom line, Silas is my entire world. And while I want to make sure he is comfy, safe, and healthy — I don’t have an unlimited budget to do so… especially when he destroys every toy I buy him in minutes!
Wags Advance® is super affordable at just $12/month. It ships for free and he gets those tasty, crunchy treats in every box. They have other health products (like dental care and daily supplements) that also fit in my budget. Plus, if we’re ever out of town I can pause his subscription or make quick updates to have it delivered whenever we’re traveling.
Con: It only covers fleas, ticks, and lice.
Seasons in the midwest can be relatively… all over the place. Which means “summer” can last from May all the way until mid-October, spooky right? So, Silas needs protection pretty much year-round.
Besides fleas and ticks, mosquitoes are also a big problem for Silas and me. Unfortunately, this product doesn’t provide complete coverage against those pesky bugs. So, I have to buy heartworm prevention elsewhere. But, it’s not a complete deal breaker for me because the convenient monthly deliveries, amazing customer support, and vet-quality products totally make up for it.
Pro: It’s totally adorable.
One of the first things I did when I got Silas was make him an Instagram. Cliché I know, but when you’ve got a pup as cute as mine you want to share him with the world. As you can imagine, when I found out PetFriendly sends its products with his cute face on the front, I was SOLD!
To get started, you take a short, 5-minute quiz to find out which products are right for your pet. They asked for Silas’ weight, age, breed, name, and photo to personalize his box. Apart from being super adorable, this is really helpful when I take Silas to my parents’ (who also use PetFriendly) so I don’t mix up his treatment.
He’s my only pet right now, but if you have multiple pets, this is super helpful and gives me the peace of mind that he’s getting the right treatment every time. And, they have a multi-pet discount so you save when you have more pets. Win-win!
The accessory that saves
Sweaters and sunglasses are cute accessories for dogs and people alike — but what’s cooler than being your healthiest, happiest canine-self? Wags Advance is my #1 accessory for Silas because it saves me time, money, and helps save his life.