Protecting the Protector

Oliver is a loyal black lab service dog that has become part of the support system Ryan DeRoche depends on every day. Ryan was injured during a mountain bike accident and suffered a severe spinal cord injury, which left him a quadriplegic. Oliver is specially trained to help Ryan be independent – assisting him with daily tasks like opening and closing doors, getting things in hard-to-reach places, and has become Ryan’s sidekick on new adventures, both indoor and out. He also has a way of knowing if Ryan is sad, angry or frustrated, and knows exactly how to cheer up his human buddy, with attention, kisses and his “I love you look.”

“Because of my lack of dexterity, I drop a lot of stuff so he ends up fetching a lot of things for me.,” said DeRoche. “And he also does light switches; he goes in the refrigerator for me and gets things out of the refrigerator, opens up doors and a whole bunch of stuff.”

“It is a true team work not only does Ryan needs Oliver on a daily basis. Oliver also needs Ryan to keep him healthy so he can be at his best peak performance,” said Mark Pelham, DVM, Companion Animal Professional Services, Merck Animal Health. “Ryan mentioned being outdoors a lot and this time of year we worry more about flea and ticks. There more than just a nuisance, fleas and ticks can carry illness, such as Lyme disease, to our pets and our families. We are proud to collaborate with NEADS, an organization which shares our dedication to keeping pets healthy as part of their extensive service dog training program."

For NEADS, the health of their dogs is crucial. Along with training and temperament, healthcare is one of the three key elements in the making of a world class service dog. This includes everything from routine exams to adequate exercise and hygiene to keeping the dogs free from health issues like fleas and ticks.

“We at Merck Animal Health have a product to make caring easier,” said Pelham. “It is a 12 week flea and tick product that with just four doses a year Ryan can give Oliver the protection that he needs for a whole year and reduce the risk of those diseases. With our partnership with NEADS for BRAVECTO Cares.”

The campaign features Ryan DeRoche and his NEADS service dog, Oliver. Several years ago, DeRoche was in a mountain bike accident that resulted in a severe spinal cord injury and left him with little to no use of his arms and legs. Through NEADS, Ryan was matched with Oliver, and they have been a powerful team ever since.

"If Oliver isn't at his best, it could definitely put me in danger – which is why I make it a point to keep him healthy any way that I can," said DeRoche. "We are outside a lot, which can put him in contact with fleas and ticks, so I use the medication recommended to me by the veterinary professionals at NEADS to protect him."

For more information visit protectfromfleasandticks.com

Ryan DeRoche

In March of 2011, Ryan DeRoche was on a work trip in Spain when he was involved in a mountain bike accident and survived a severe spinal cord injury, causing him to become quadriplegic. Although Ryan grew up in a “dog family,” he felt uncomfortable with the thought of having one to care for him, so was taken care of by caregivers for mostly everything for the years following his accident. It wasn’t until 2015 when he felt ready to take care of someone other than himself and had friends with Service Dogs who reassured him that it was a great idea, that he decided to apply for his own.

He knew of NEADS as a well-respected organization and submitted a very detailed application, followed by an in-person interview at their office just outside of Boston. Soon after, NEADs contacted Ryan and let him know they had a match for him – a black lab named Oliver. After meeting, Ryan and Oliver instantly clicked and began officially training together to learn new commands and other standard requirements for Service Dogs.

Once Ryan brought Oliver home, he quickly became another part of his daily support system, helping him with everyday tasks some may take for granted such as flicking on light switches, opening and closing doors, and getting things for Ryan in hard to reach places. One important command Oliver has learned is to fetch things for Ryan that he often drops and may need in an emergency, such as his cell phone. In addition to the physical care Oliver brings Ryan, he also has a way of knowing if Ryan is sad or angry or frustrated, and always cheers him up with attention and kisses, and, of course, his signature “I love you” look. They also work together to mentor others affected by spinal cord injury and make visits to patients where Ryan will talk to them about life and provide resources that have worked for him. Oliver is his sidekick in easing the tension for those newly injured and Ryan says he’s a great way to “break the ice.” Ryan describes Oliver as a dog that doesn’t only help him, but helps others, and describes their bond as a partnership and friendship that is hard to find elsewhere, as well best responsibility he’s ever had.

Mark Pelham, DVM

Dr. Mark Pelham’s first experience working with animals was for a veterinarian in the eighth grade where he spent his Saturdays, and he eventually made it his life’s work. He graduated from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Auburn University in 1993 and completed a small animal medicine and surgery internship at Tropicana Animal Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1994. He returned to his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama in 1994,where he served his childhood community as a small animal practitioner for 20 years. For the last 3 years, he has practiced in the community of Jasper, Alabama.

About NEADS

NEADS Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Princeton, Massachusetts. Established in 1976, NEADS offers the widest array of Service Dog programs in the industry, including Service Dogs for adults and children with a physical disability, Service Dogs for veterans, Service Dogs for people who are deaf or hearing impaired, and Service Dogs for children with autism or other developmental disabilities. NEADS dogs are also partnered with professionals in classroom, therapy, hospital, ministry, and courthouse settings. For more information, please visit neads.org.

About BRAVECTO® (fluralaner)

Since its introduction in 2014, BRAVECTO® has provided longer-lasting flea and tick protection, with more than 100 million doses distributed in 85 countries over five years. BRAVECTO is available in a variety of formulations, including products for both dogs and cats.

The flea lifecycle can last as long as 12 weeks, and monthly treatments may leave gaps in protection. One treatment with BRAVECTO lasts 12 weeks -- almost three times the re-dosing interval of monthly treatments – and is proven to kill fleas on dogs and cats and to eliminate them from the home.ii Providing pets with continuous flea and tick protection is essential – whether the pet goes outside or not. Contrary to popular belief among pet parents, fleas and ticks are not only active in the spring and summer months and are a year-round risk. Fleas and ticks can easily latch onto dogs and cats, and can spread serious diseases, including tapeworms and Lyme disease. They also can bite and pose health risks to human family members whether at home or outdoors. Fleas are the most common external parasite found on pets.

BRAVECTO products are only available through licensed veterinarians. BRAVECTO has not been shown to be effective for 12-weeks' duration in puppies or kittens less than 6 months of age. BRAVECTO Chew: The most common adverse reactions recorded in clinical trials were vomiting, decreased appetite, diarrhea, lethargy, polydipsia, and flatulence. BRAVECTO is not effective against lone star ticks beyond 8 weeks of dosing. BRAVECTO Topical for Dogs: The most common adverse reactions recorded in clinical trials were vomiting, hair loss, diarrhea, lethargy, decreased appetite, and moist dermatitis/rash. BRAVECTO is not effective against lone star ticks beyond 8 weeks of dosing. For topical use only. Avoid oral ingestion. Use caution in dogs with a history of seizures. Seizures have been reported in dogs receiving fluralaner, even in dogs without a history of seizures.

About Merck Animal Health

For more than a century, Merck, a leading global biopharmaceutical company, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world's most challenging diseases. Merck Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA, is the global animal health business unit of Merck. Through its commitment to the Science of Healthier Animals®, Merck Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, pet owners and governments one of the widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services as well as an extensive suite of digitally connected identification, traceability and monitoring products. Merck Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals and the people who care for them. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. Merck Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit www.merck-animal-health.com or connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter at @MerckAH.

Courtesy: Merck Animal Health