Last Updated: 22/12/2025
Nexgard Spectra Vet Review: Is this All-in-One Chew Right for your Pet?
NexGard Spectra is a popular monthly product for Australian dogs and cats, but does it cover everything? Our vets break down the pros, cons, and essential facts about its protection against fleas, ticks, and worms to help your pet stay healthy and happy.
Author: Dr Susan Nguyen BVSc
Reading Time: 3 minutes - short read
Finding the right parasite prevention can feel like a game of "pet parent bingo" - trying to tick off every box from fleas and paralysis ticks to heartworm and intestinal worms. In the Australian climate, where parasites thrive year-round, many owners look for a single, reliable solution to simplify their routine. NexGard Spectra has emerged as a leader in this space, offering a tasty monthly chew for dogs and a comprehensive spot-on for cats. This review dives into how these products work, what they protect against, and how to decide if they are the right fit for your household.
Nexgard Spectra for Dogs: the all-in-one chew
NexGard Spectra for dogs is a monthly chewable preventative that protects against fleas, ticks, mites, heartworm and most gastrointestinal worms including flea tapeworm, but not hydatid tapeworm.
It contains the active ingredients, afoxolaner and milbemycin oxime.
What's the difference between NexGard and NexGard Spectra?
NexGard Spectra offers broader coverage than NexGard.
NexGard contains the active ingredient, afoxolaner, and does not have the addition of milbemycin oxime. Because of this, NexGard only protects against fleas, ticks and mites, whereas NexGard Spectra offers additional protection against heartworm and most gastrointestinal worms.
Pros
- Broad coverage: Reliable protection against major canine parasites in one dose.
- Highly palatable: Tasty beef-flavoured chew for easy administration.
- Puppy safe: Suitable from 8 weeks of age and 1.35kg body weight.
- Breeding safe: Approved for breeding, pregnant, and lactating dogs.
- MDR1 safe: Safe for breeds with the Multi-Drug Resistance 1 mutation.
- Fast-acting: Kills fleas within 8 hours and ticks within 48 hours.
- Waterproof: Being oral, its efficacy is unaffected by swimming or bathing.
Cons
- Monthly dosing: Requires strict 30-day administration; some owners may prefer longer-acting options.
- Palatability: While beef-flavoured, very fussy dogs may still refuse oral medication.
- No hydatid coverage: Requires a separate tapewormer (like Drontal or ParaGard) every 3 to 6 months for complete protection.
- Daily checks needed: Despite efficacy, daily tick searches are still essential in paralysis tick areas.
- Neurological precaution: Use caution in dogs with a history of seizures, as the isoxazoline class is linked to rare neurological events.
- Ehrlichiosis risk: In high-risk areas where brown dog ticks are prevalent, an additional Seresto collar is recommended to prevent tick attachment.
Nexgard Spectra for Cats: the complete spot-on
NexGard Spectra for cats is a monthly topical spot-on treatment. It is the most complete all-in-one parasite preventative available for cats, protecting against fleas, ticks, mites, heartworm, roundworm, hookworm, lungworm and tapeworm (excluding the Spirometra tapeworm).
Read more about Tapeworms in Cats.
Pros
- Comprehensive protection: One of the few products to cover fleas, ticks, heartworm, and all major intestinal worms, including tapeworm.
- Easy application: Features a precision syringe-style applicator for mess-free, targeted delivery.
- Kitten safe: Suitable for kittens from 8 weeks of age and at least 0.8 kg.
- Mite control: Effective treatment for ear mites, which are common in many feline households.
- Monthly routine: Fits into a standard 30-day schedule, making it easy to remember.
Cons
- Topical application: As with most topical preventatives, some cats may experience temporary hair loss or skin irritation at the site of application.
- Monthly dosing: Requires more frequent application than some long-acting (2 or 3-month) topical alternatives.
- Neurological precaution: Like the dog version, it contains ingredients that should be used cautiously in pets with a history of seizures.
What does our Vet Squad think?
"NexGard Spectra for dogs is one of the most comprehensive parasite preventative products available and is my go-to recommendation for a tasty 'all-in-one' chew. With an easy to remember monthly dosing regime and a wide dosing range (1.35kg to 60kg), it's a simple and convenient way to ensure the furry members of your family are protected against almost all of Australia's commonly encountered parasites. Don't forget to add in a regular tapewormer for full coverage!" - Dr Katelyn Bailey
"I highly recommend Nexgard Spectra for Cats. It is the most comprehensive parasite preventative for cats, all in one easy to apply spot on. It provides peace of mind that you're protecting against all parasites of concern. Simply set a monthly reminder in your phone to remember to apply it, and you're done!" - Dr Gillian Hill
What do our customers think?
Nexgard Spectra for Dogs
"I have used this product, purple, for dogs 15-30kg for about 12 years now. That says it all. No parasites, no side effects and the dogs devour them like a favourite treat. I stick to what works." - Samantha, SA
"I have 3 very large dogs ranging in age from 18 months to 14 years and there are always eager faces when the Nexgard Spectra chews come out. Never a problem with them and great protection against everything they promise on the packaging." - Tereena, SA
"I used to get anxiety every month as my dogs would not eat their monthly wormers no [matter] what I hid it in. No problems at all with this one chew treatment." - Tracey, NSW
"I have been using this product on my dogs for a few years. I used it on my Beagle, and now, my Maltese, I have never found any problem with my dogs taking it or had any flea and tick problems."- Jill, QLD
"Nexgard Spectra is a really great product that I've been using for years. It's proven it's effective at controlling ticks, fleas and worms. Definitely worth the using." - Gina
"I like this because it covers ticks, fleas and most worm issues. Less time spent at the vet." - Michelle, QLD
Nexgard Spectra for Cats
"Switched to Nexgard Spectra so I didn't need to use a separate dewormer product for full coverage. The syringe also makes it extremely easy and quick to dispense which is a must for more skittish cats." - James, NSW
"Makes life easier when the product covers all necessary worm and tick treatments." - Karen, QLD
"When you consider this is a all in one worm and flea treatment, the value is actually pretty good. Not only value in terms of $, but also having to only make 1 application to your cat is also great "value"! :)" - Edward, VIC
"This product saves us from a vet trip, the previous product we used didn't cover one of the worms." - Anthony, VIC
"Love this so much as my cats used to run away when I used to put spot-on on them. But this product is odourless. The volume is a lot though, so ideally needs to be done properly along the neck" - Cat Mum, SA
"Easy enough to apply and covers a lot of parasites and worms which is great! It's a bit messy, especially if your cat has long hair and it seems to leave a white residue as it's drying. Seems to fade after 3 or 4 days. It's also monthly instead of 3-monthly so it's important to set reminders to reapply. All up, this was vet recommended after a paralysis tick scare with one of our cats so we're happy to use this to prevent future scares." - Veneche, QLD
What are some alternatives to NexGard Spectra?
For Dogs
For dogs, the most suitable alternatives to Nexgard Spectra are Credelio Plus and Simparica Trio. These are both monthly chew sproviding comparable broad-spectrum protection to Nexgard Spectra. However, Simparica Trio does not provide protection again whipworm.
For Cats
For cats, the most suitable alternatives to Nexgard Spectra are Revolution Plus and Bravecto Plus. Revolution Plus is a monthly preventative, similar to Nexgard Spectra, but does not treat against tapeworms, nor protect against lungworm. It does however treat and control against biting lice.
Bravecto Plus has a similar coverage as Nexgard Spectra, but does not treat against tapeworms, nor Notoedric mange. It is applied once every 2 months for full protection, or once every 3 months if paralysis tick protection is not needed.
FAQs
Whether you are choosing the beefy chew for your dog or the comprehensive spot-on for your cat, NexGard Spectra provides some of the most robust protection available on the Australian market. Just remember the "tapeworm rule": it's included for cats, but dogs will still need a separate tapewormer to stay fully covered.
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See our guide to protecting your pet from parasites from our vet team.
Our vet authored guide to the benefits of feeding your dog fresh food plus tips and advice for introducing it into their regular menu.
We want to feed out pet the best possible nutrition. Check out our guide to the best pet food including what is in pet foods and if premium food is worth it.
Interested in knowing more about tick paralysis in dogs and cats? Read more about preventatives and what to do if you find a tick on your pet.
Wanting to learn more about heartworm in dogs and cats? See our facts on heartworm written by our vet team and top prevention for dogs and cats.
Does your pet suffer from anxiety? Check out our Vet-guide for treatment options to help your pet.
History
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Mon 22 Dec 2025
Edited by Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)Dr Susan Nguyen BVSc
Contributing Author, BVSc
Susan graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2017 with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. She worked in small animal general practice around Melbourne before joining the team at Insight. Susan has a keen interest in small animal advanced diagnostic imaging.
