My dog has a history of seizures — which products are safe?

Dogs with a history of seizures should be discussed with your vet before starting any isoxazoline-based product. This includes NexGard Spectra, Simparica Trio, Credelio Plus, Simparica, NexGard and Bravecto. Alternatives such as Advocate combined with a separate tick preventative may be more appropriate. See our Isoxazolines and Seizures guide for more detail.

Does my dog need tick prevention if I'm not on the east coast?

While the paralysis tick is primarily an east coast threat, tick prevention is ideal for all dogs across Australia. The Brown Dog Tick is widespread nationwide - even in inland and arid areas - and transmits severe, life-threatening diseases like Ehrlichiosis . Using a continuous preventative, such as an isoxazoline-based chew or topical product, plus a Seresto collar (for tick repellency particularly in high risk Brown Dog tick areas), is the gold standard of care. Speak with your vet to choose the best formula for your dog's lifestyle.

Does my dog need a separate tapeworm treatment?

Most broad-spectrum monthly chewables do not directly kill tapeworm. We recommend 3-monthly tapeworm treatment for all dogs, with a product such as Drontal, Paragard or Endogard. Dogs in rural areas and those feeding on raw meat are also at high risk of hydatid tapeworm, and we recommend treatment every 6 weeks. See our guide to Tapeworms in Dogs for more details.

How often should I worm my dog?

For most adult dogs, intestinal worming every 3 months is the minimum, with monthly treatment the gold standard. See our How Often Should I Worm My Dog? guide for full recommendations.

Is a tick collar enough on its own?

A Seresto collar provides good repellency against ticks, but in high-risk paralysis tick areas most vets recommend combining a collar with an isoxazoline-based product for maximum protection. Read our Is a Tick Collar Enough? article for more detail.

Last Updated: 18/06/2026

Which Flea and Worming Product Does Your Dog Need?

Protect your dog from fleas, ticks, and worms with our comprehensive guide. Our vets compare the best monthly and long-lasting treatments available in Australia.

Author: Dr Carla Paszkowski BVSc (Hons)

Reading Time: 4 minutes - short read

Choosing a dog parasite preventative isn't always straightforward. With so many products on the market - covering different parasites and lasting different lengths of time - it can be hard to know where to start. This guide breaks down the major options side by side so you can find the right fit for your dog.

For a full guide to which parasites your dog needs protection from - including symptoms, transmission, and how they're detected - see our Guide to Flea, Tick and Worming for Dogs.

Have a cat? See our Which Cat Flea and Worming Product Should You Choose? guide instead.

What does each dog parasite product cover?

Nexgard Spectra

Nexgard Spectra covers fleas, paralysis ticks, brown dog ticks, bush ticks, heartworm, roundworm, hookworm and whipworm. Also treats Demodex mites, ear mites, Sarcoptes mites and biting lice. Helps prevent flea tapeworm by killing fleas. Given monthly. Does not directly kill tapeworm or cover hydatid tapeworm.

Simparica Trio

Simparica Trio covers fleas, paralysis ticks, brown dog ticks, bush ticks, heartworm, roundworm and hookworm. Also treats Demodex mites, ear mites and Sarcoptes mites. Helps prevent flea tapeworm by killing fleas. Given monthly. Does not control whipworm, directly kill tapeworm or cover hydatid tapeworm.

Credelio Plus

Credelio Plus covers fleas, paralysis ticks, brown dog ticks, bush ticks, heartworm, roundworm, hookworm and whipworm. Also treats Demodex mites. Helps prevent flea tapeworm by killing fleas. Given monthly. Does not cover ear mites or Sarcoptes mites, directly kill tapeworm or cover hydatid tapeworm.

Bravecto Chew

Bravecto chew covers fleas, paralysis ticks, brown dog ticks and bush ticks. Also treats Demodex mites, ear mites and Sarcoptes mites. Lasts 3 months for fleas, 4 months for paralysis ticks and 2 months for both brown dog ticks and bush ticks. Helps prevent flea tapeworm by killing fleas. Does not cover heartworm or intestinal worms.

Bravecto Spot On

Bravecto Spot On covers fleas, paralysis ticks and brown dog ticks. Also treats Demodex mites, ear mites and Sarcoptes mites. Lasts 6 months for fleas and paralysis ticks and 12 weeks for brown dog ticks. Helps prevent flea tapeworm by killing fleas. Does not cover bush ticks, heartworm or intestinal worms. Topical - bathing and swimming not recommended within 3 days after treatment.

Advocate / Neovet

Advocate and Neovet cover fleas, heartworm, roundworm, hookworm, whipworm. Also treat ear mites, Sarcoptes mites, and lice. Advocate is also registered for the treatment and control of Demodex mites and the prevention of oesophageal worm. Applied monthly. Do not cover ticks or directly kill tapeworm or cover hydatid tapeworm.

Simparica

Simparica covers fleas, paralysis ticks, brown dog ticks and bush ticks. Also treats Demodex mites, ear mites and Sarcoptes mites. Given monthly.

Nexgard

Nexgard covers fleas, paralysis ticks, brown dog ticks and bush ticks. Also treats Demodex mites, ear mites, Sarcoptes mites and biting lice. Given monthly.

Capstar

Capstar covers for fleas only. Given daily as required.

Drontal / Endogard / Paragard

Drontal, Endogard and Paragard cover for roundworm, hookworm, whipworm and tapeworm (including hydatid tapeworm). Given every 3 months. Do not cover fleas, ticks or heartworm.

Interceptor / Milbemax / Milpro

Interceptor, Milbemax and Milpro cover for heartworm, roundworm, hookworm and tapeworm (including hydatid tapeworm). Given monthly. Do not cover for fleas or ticks.

Seresto

Seresto covers for fleas and paralysis ticks for 8 months (8 months paralysis tick control and 4 months paralysis tick repellency). Also controls bush ticks and brown dog ticks for 4 months. Treats biting/chewing lice present at the time of treatment.

Note: No tick preventative is 100% effective, so we recommend daily tick searches, particularly if your dog spends time outdoors in high-risk tick areas.

Nexgard Spectra vs Simparica Trio vs Credelio Plus for dogs

All three are tasty monthly chews covering fleas, paralysis ticks, brown dog ticks, bush ticks, heartworm, roundworm, hookworm and Demodex mites. All three help prevent flea tapeworm by killing fleas. The differences come down to whipworm, mite coverage and lice:

NexGard Spectra covers whipworm, ear mites, Sarcoptes mites and biting lice. Simparica Trio covers ear mites and Sarcoptes mites but not whipworm or lice. Credelio Plus covers whipworm but not ear mites, Sarcoptes mites or lice.

For most dogs, NexGard Spectra is the most complete single product. Simparica Trio is a strong alternative if whipworm and lice aren't a concern but full mite coverage is important. Credelio Plus suits dogs who need whipworm coverage but have no history of ear mite, mange or lice issues.

All three are isoxazoline-based. See our Isoxazolines and Seizures guide before choosing.

Simparica vs Simparica Trio for dogs

Both are monthly chews covering fleas, paralysis ticks, brown dog ticks, bush ticks and all three types of mites (Demodex, ear and Sarcoptes). Simparica Trio adds moxidectin and pyrantel, extending coverage to heartworm, roundworm and hookworm.

For dogs who already receive a separate heartworm and intestinal worming product, Simparica alone may suit their routine. For most dogs, Simparica Trio is the simpler and more complete option in a single monthly chew.

NexGard vs NexGard Spectra for dogs

Both cover fleas, paralysis ticks, brown dog ticks, bush ticks, all three types of mites (Demodex, ear and Sarcoptes) and biting lice. NexGard Spectra adds milbemycin oxime, extending coverage to heartworm, roundworm, hookworm and whipworm.

For dogs who need heartworm and intestinal worm prevention alongside flea and tick coverage, NexGard Spectra is the more complete single product. NexGard alone would need to be paired with a separate heartworm and worming treatment. The main reason to choose NexGard over NexGard Spectra would be if your dog's heartworm and worm coverage are already managed separately - for example, via an annual Proheart injection and a regular intestinal wormer.

Advocate vs NexGard Spectra for dogs

Both cover fleas, heartworm, roundworm, hookworm, whipworm, ear mites, Sarcoptes mites, Demodex mites and biting lice. Advocate also covers oesophageal worm. NexGard Spectra covers ticks (paralysis, brown dog and bush); Advocate and Neovet do not cover ticks.

Advocate is a topical spot-on, making it a good option for dogs who refuse chews or tablets no matter how they're flavoured or disguised. NexGard Spectra is a chewable treat.

For dogs in tick-prone areas, NexGard Spectra's tick coverage is crucial. For predominantly indoor dogs in non-tick areas, Advocate or Neovet provides solid core coverage, often at a lower price. For dogs who won't accept any oral treatments, a combination of monthly Advocate plus Bravecto Spot On every 6 months covers fleas, ticks, heartworm and intestinal worms - completely topical.

Is Neovet the same as Advocate for dogs?

Yes, for practical purposes. Both contain imidacloprid and moxidectin and provide the same core coverage: fleas, heartworm, roundworm, hookworm, whipworm, ear mites, Sarcoptes mites and lice. The key distinction: Advocate holds a specific registration for the treatment and control of Demodex mites as well as the prevention of oesophageal worm; this is not listed for Neovet. For all other parasite prevention purposes, Neovet is a more affordable equivalent - though always worth confirming with your vet before switching.

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History

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

Thu 18 Jun 2026

Edited by Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)

View more history

About the Author

Dr Carla Paszkowski BVSc (Hons)

Veterinarian

Dr. Carla graduated from the University of Queensland in 2013 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science and worked for a number of years in small animal clinics across South East Queensland. While Carla enjoys most facets of clinical veterinary work, she holds a special passion for feline medicine, pocket pets, and nutrition.