Kirsten Protecting your pet: A guide to parasite prevention products for dogs and cats in Australia.
Australia’s warm climate and diverse wildlife create a perfect environment for parasites to thrive, and unfortunately our pets are often their favourite hosts. From fleas and paralysis ticks to intestinal worms and deadly heartworm, parasites can pose serious health risks to both cats and dogs if left untreated.
With so many parasite prevention products available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. Some treatments protect against fleas and ticks, others target internal parasites like roundworm or tapeworm, and a few offer all-in-one coverage. It’s also important to note that cats and dogs have different needs, and some products safe for dogs can be harmful (even fatal) to cats.
To help you make an informed choice, we’ve compiled a comprehensive comparison of parasite prevention options currently available in Australia. Whether you’re looking for a simple flea treatment or a broad-spectrum product that covers everything from ticks to heartworm, this guide has you covered.
Below you’ll find popular parasite prevention products listed in alphabetical order for dogs and cats, including how they’re administered, what parasites they protect against, and what makes each one unique.
Parasite prevention products for dogs
Here is an extensive list of parasite prevention products for cats available within Australia.
| NAME | ADMINISTRATION | PARASITES COVERED | NOTES |
| Advantage | Topical (monthly) | Fleas, lice | Flea-only treatment |
| Advocate | Topical (monthly) | Fleas, lice, mites (sarcoptic, demodectic, ear), heartworm, roundworm, hookworm, whipworm | No tick or tapeworm cover |
| Advantix | Topical (monthly) | Fleas, ticks (incl. paralysis), mites (sarcoptic, demodectic) | Toxic to cats |
| Aristopet Flea & Worm Spot-On | Topical (monthly) | Fleas, heartworm, roundworm, hookworm, ear mites | Budget topical; no tick, whipworm, or tapeworm coverage |
| Bravecto Chewable | Oral chew (3-monthly) | Fleas, ticks (incl. paralysis) | 3-month protection for fleas and ticks |
| Bravecto Spot-on | Topical (6-monthly) | Fleas, ticks (incl. paralysis), mites (sarcoptic, ear) | 6 months flea, 4 months paralysis tick cover |
| Bravecto Quantum | Injectable (yearly) | Fleas, ticks (incl. paralysis) | Vet-administered annual flea and tick protection |
| Capstar | Oral tablet | Adult fleas only | Very fast-acting, no lasting protection |
| Cazitel | Tablet | Roundworm, hookworm, whipworm, tapeworm | Generic all-wormer |
| Comfortis Plus | Chewable (monthly) | Fleas, heartworm, roundworm, hookworm, whipworm | Fast flea kill; no tapeworm |
| Credelio Plus | Chewable (monthly) | Fleas, ticks (incl. paralysis), mites (sarcoptic, demodectic), heartworm, roundworm, hookworm, whipworm | All-in-one chewable with strong mite and worm coverage |
| Drontal Allwormer | Tablet / Chew (3-monthly) | Roundworm, hookworm, whipworm, tapeworm | No heartworm, fleas, or ticks |
| Endogard | Tablet | Roundworm, hookworm, whipworm, tapeworm | Internal worms only |
| Fido’s Fleatrol Plus Spray | Topical spray | Fleas, lice | Pyrethrin-based, for use on dogs and around environment |
| Frontline Plus | Topical (monthly) | Fleas, brown dog tick, lice | No paralysis tick or worm cover |
| Frontline Spray | Topical spray | Fleas, ticks (incl. paralysis) | Fast-acting spray; safe for puppies; no worm or lice cover |
| Heartgard Plus | Chewable (monthly) | Heartworm, roundworm, hookworm | No flea, tick, or tapeworm cover |
| Interceptor Spectrum | Chewable (monthly) | Heartworm, roundworm, hookworm, whipworm, tapeworm | No flea or tick cover |
| Kiltix Collar | Collar (up to 5 months) | Fleas, ticks | Budget tick protection |
| Milbemax | Tablet (3-monthly) | Heartworm, roundworm, hookworm, whipworm, tapeworm | Broad internal wormer; small tablets |
| Milpro | Tablet (up to 3 months) | Heartworm, roundworm, hookworm, whipworm, tapeworm | Broad-spectrum internal wormer |
| NexGard Chewable | Chewable (monthly) | Ffleas and ticks (incl. paralysis), mange, mites, flea tapeworm infestation, flea allergy dermatitis | No internal parasite cover |
| NexGard Spectra | Chewable (monthly) | Fleas, ticks (incl. paralysis), mites (sarcoptic, demodectic, ear), heartworm, roundworm, hookworm, whipworm | All-in-one chew; no tapeworm coverage |
| Paragard | Tablet | Roundworm, hookworm, whipworm, tapeworm | Budget wormer |
| Popantel All-Wormer | Tablet (3-monthly) | Roundworm, hookworm, whipworm, tapeworm | Broad-spectrum internal wormer; no heartworm, fleas, or ticks |
| Proheart SR12 | Injection (yearly) | Heartworm only | Vet-administered; pair with flea/tick/wormer |
| Sentinel Spectrum | Chewable (monthly) | Heartworm, roundworm, hookworm, whipworm, tapeworm, flea eggs | No adult flea kill — pair with flea treatment |
| Seresto Collar | Collar (8 months) | Fleas, ticks, lice | Long-lasting collar; no internal parasite cover |
| Simparica | Chewable (monthly) | Fleas, ticks (incl. paralysis), mites (sarcoptic, demodectic, ear) | External only; pair with dewormer |
| Simparica Trio | Chewable (monthly) | Fleas, ticks, mites (sarcoptic, demodectic, ear), heartworm, roundworm, hookworm | No tapeworm cover |
| Virbac Tapewormer | Tablet (3-monthly) | Tapeworm only | Use alongside flea control |
Parasite prevention products for cats
Here is an extensive list of parasite prevention products for cats available within Australia.
| NAME | ADMINISTRATION | PARASITES COVERED | NOTES |
| Advantage | Topical | Fleas only | Basic flea treatment |
| Advocate | Topical (monthly) | Fleas, lice, mites (ear, notoedric), heartworm, roundworm, hookworm | No ticks or tapeworm cover |
| Aristopet Flea & Worm Spot On | Topical (monthly) | Fleas, heartworm, roundworm, hookworm, ear mites | Budget topical; no tapeworm or tick coverage |
| Bravecto | Topical (3-monthly) | Fleas, ticks (incl. paralysis) | External only; no worm cover |
| Bravecto Plus | Topical (3-monthly) | Fleas, ticks, heartworm, roundworm, hookworm | No tapeworm cover |
| Capstar | Oral tablet | Adult fleas only | Very fast-acting, no lasting protection |
| Comfortis | Oral tablet | Fleas only | No worm or tick cover |
| Drontal | Tablet (3-monthly) | Roundworm, hookworm, tapeworm | No heartworm or flea/tick |
| Felpreva | Topical (3-monthly) | Fleas, ticks, mites, heartworm, roundworm, hookworm, tapeworm | Only topical with tapeworm cover |
| Frontline Plus | Topical (monthly) | Fleas, lice | No ticks or worms |
| Frontline Spray | Topical spray | Fleas, ticks (incl. paralysis) | Safe for kittens; no coverage for worms, mites or lice |
| Milbemax | Tablet (3-monthly) | Heartworm, roundworm, hookworm, tapeworm | Broad-spectrum internal wormer; compact tablet |
| Milpro | Tablet (up to 3 months) | Heartworm, roundworm, hookworm, tapeworm | Covers all internal worms |
| NexGard Spectra | Topical (monthly) | Fleas, ticks, mites (ear), heartworm, roundworm, hookworm, lungworm | Broad-spectrum topical; no tapeworm |
| Paragard | Tablet | Roundworm, hookworm, tapeworm | Budget internal wormer |
| Popantel All-Wormer | Tablet (3-monthly) | Roundworm, hookworm, tapeworm | Internal worms only; no heartworm, flea or tick protection |
| Profender | Topical | Roundworm, hookworm, tapeworm | Great for cats that hate tablets |
| Revolution | Topical (monthly) | Fleas, mites (ear, notoedric), heartworm, roundworm, hookworm | No tick or tapeworm cover |
| Revolution Plus | Topical (monthly) | Fleas, ticks, mites (ear), heartworm, roundworm, hookworm | Broad-spectrum; safe for kittens from 8 weeks. No tapeworm cover. |
| Seresto Collar | Collar (8 months) | Fleas, ticks | One of few collars safe for cats |
| Virbac Tapewormer | Tablet (3-monthly) | Tapeworm only | Use with broader worm or flea treatment |
Summary of parasite coverage by type
| Parasite | Products That Cover It |
|---|---|
| Fleas | Advocate, Advantage, Advantix, Aristopet Flea & Worm Spot-On, Bravecto (all), Capstar, Comfortis, Comfortis Plus, Credelio Plus, Frontline Plus, NexGard Spectra, Revolution, Revolution Plus, Seresto, Simparica, Simparica Trio, Sentinel Spectrum, Felpreva |
| Ticks (incl. paralysis) | Advantix, Bravecto (all), Credelio Plus, Frontline Plus (dogs), NexGard Spectra, Revolution Plus, Seresto, Simparica, Simparica Trio, Felpreva |
| Heartworm | Advocate, Aristopet Flea & Worm Spot-On, Comfortis Plus, Credelio Plus, Milbemax, Milpro, NexGard Spectra, Proheart SR12, Revolution, Revolution Plus, Simparica Trio, Interceptor Spectrum, Sentinel Spectrum, Bravecto Plus (cats), Felpreva |
| Roundworm | Advocate, Aristopet Flea & Worm Spot-On, Comfortis Plus, Credelio Plus, Drontal, Interceptor Spectrum, Milbemax, Milpro, NexGard Spectra, Revolution, Revolution Plus, Simparica Trio, Paragard, Profender, Sentinel Spectrum, Felpreva |
| Hookworm | Advocate, Aristopet Flea & Worm Spot-On, Comfortis Plus, Credelio Plus, Drontal, Interceptor Spectrum, Milbemax, Milpro, NexGard Spectra, Revolution, Revolution Plus, Simparica Trio, Paragard, Profender, Sentinel Spectrum, Felpreva |
| Whipworm | Comfortis Plus, Credelio Plus, Drontal (dogs), Interceptor Spectrum, Milbemax (dogs), Milpro (dogs), NexGard Spectra (dogs), Simparica Trio (dogs), Sentinel Spectrum |
| Tapeworm | Drontal, Milbemax, Milpro, Paragard, Profender, Interceptor Spectrum (dogs), Endogard, Cazitel, Virbac Tapewormer, Felpreva |
| Mites (ear, sarcoptic, demodectic) | Advocate, Bravecto (all except Quantum), Credelio Plus, NexGard Spectra, Revolution, Revolution Plus, Simparica, Simparica Trio, Felpreva |
| Lice | Advocate, Advantage, Frontline Plus, Seresto |
| Mosquitoes | Advantix |
| Flea Eggs / Larvae | Sentinel Spectrum |
Safe & smart parasite protection starts with you!
While this guide provides a thorough overview of widely used parasite prevention products in Australia, every pet is different. Age, weight, lifestyle (indoor vs. outdoor), travel habits, and existing health conditions can all influence which products are suitable, and which should be avoided.
Here are a few important reminders:
- ☠️ Never use dog treatments on cats. Some ingredients (like permethrin) are extremely toxic to felines.
- ☀️ Be tick-smart during spring and summer. Paralysis ticks are most active in warm, humid months, especially along the east coast of Australia.
- 🐶 Treat year-round for heartworm in dogs, even during cooler months.
- ❤️ If your pet is not up to date with heartworm prevention, consult your vet before restarting any treatment. A heartworm test may be required first to ensure it is safe to administer preventative medication.
- 🗓️ Maintain regular treatment schedules. Missing doses can leave pets unprotected and allow infestations to take hold.
- ⏲️ Check individual product coverage and duration. While many products offer broad protection, some only cover specific parasites, and durations may vary depending on the type of parasite. For example, a product may protect against fleas for 3 months but only cover ticks for 2 months. Always check the individual product instructions and labels to ensure you’re keeping your pet fully protected year-round.
- 💬 Always speak to your vet before starting or switching parasite prevention. Especially for puppies, kittens, seniors, or pregnant pets.
By staying informed and proactive, you can protect your furry family members from serious illness and keep them comfortable and healthy all year round.
IMPORTANT: The information in the article is not intended to be used as a substitute for veterinary advice, medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The information provided on the website is for educational and informational purposes only. Please always seek medical treatment from a veterinarian if you have concerns about your pet’s health.
