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Have a question about flea treatment, worming, parasite prevention or everyday pet health? Browse vet-reviewed answers for New Zealand pet owners, or submit your question below.
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Our Veterinary Advisor
Vet-reviewed guidance for NZ pet owners
Selected Vet Centre content is reviewed by our veterinary advisor to ensure it is accurate, responsible and relevant for New Zealand conditions.
Dr Paragnie Nara
BVSc
Veterinary Advisor, Pet Supply
Dr Paragnie supports Pet Supply by providing practical veterinary insight for customer queries and selected Vet Centre content. Based in Auckland, Dr Paragnie's guidance helps ensure our parasite prevention and pet health advice remains clear, responsible and relevant for New Zealand pet owners.
Based in Auckland
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Practical, vet-reviewed guidance on flea, worm and parasite treatment for New Zealand pet owners.
Flea Treatment
Common questions about flea prevention and treatment for cats and dogs in New Zealand.
Most monthly treatments should be applied every 28–30 days. Longer-acting options like Bravecto Chew last 12 weeks and Bravecto Spot-On for dogs lasts 6 months. Year-round treatment is recommended in New Zealand due to the mild climate.
Vet Insight
"Missing even one month can allow fleas to reestablish in your home environment — flea eggs in carpets and bedding can survive for months before hatching."
— Dr Paragnie Nara, BVSc
Itching can continue for one to two weeks after treatment, especially if the skin has become irritated or inflamed from bites. The treatment will have killed the fleas, but the skin reaction takes time to settle. If scratching is severe or your pet seems distressed, contact your vet.
No — never use dog flea treatments on cats. Many dog products contain permethrin, which is highly toxic to cats and can be fatal even in small amounts. Always use a product specifically labelled for cats.
Vet Insight
"Permethrin toxicity is one of the most common flea-treatment emergencies we see in cats. If a cat has been accidentally treated with a dog product, contact your vet immediately — do not wait for symptoms."
— Dr Paragnie Nara, BVSc
Worming Advice
Adult dogs and cats should be treated for intestinal worms every 3 months. Puppies and kittens need more frequent treatment — typically every 2 weeks until 12 weeks of age, then monthly until 6 months. If your pet uses an all-in-one treatment like NexGard Spectra, Advocate or Moxiclear, intestinal worms are covered in the monthly dose.
Yes. Bravecto Chew and Bravecto Spot-On for dogs cover fleas and ticks only — they do not treat intestinal worms. You will need a separate wormer such as Drontal or Endogard every 3 months. Bravecto Plus for Cats does cover roundworm and hookworm in addition to fleas and ticks.
Bravecto Questions
Bravecto Chew for dogs provides 12 weeks (3 months) of flea and tick protection in a single oral dose. Bravecto Spot-On for dogs lasts 6 months. This makes both significantly less frequent than monthly alternatives.
Both protect against fleas and ticks but differ in format and duration. The chew is an oral tablet given every 12 weeks. The spot-on is applied to the skin at the back of the neck and lasts 6 months. Neither covers intestinal worms, so a separate wormer is needed if worm cover is required.
NexGard Spectra Questions
NexGard Spectra for dogs covers fleas, ticks, intestinal worms and heartworm in a single monthly oral chew. NexGard Spectra for cats covers fleas, ticks, intestinal worms and heartworm in a monthly oral tablet — making it one of the most comprehensive cat parasite treatments available in New Zealand.
Bravecto Plus Questions
Bravecto Plus for Cats is a 3-monthly spot-on that covers fleas, ticks and intestinal worms prevention. Always check the NZ product label for the full list of covered parasites.
Advocate & Moxiclear Questions
No. Advocate does not cover ticks or tapeworm. It does cover fleas, heartworm, roundworm, hookworm, whipworm and ear mites. If your pet also needs tick protection, a product such as NexGard Spectra, Bravecto or Frontline Plus would be more suitable.
Puppies & Kittens
Most treatments are safe from 8 weeks of age and a minimum body weight of around 2–2.5 kg depending on the product. Always check the specific product label. NexGard Spectra and Advocate are commonly used for puppies and kittens as they also treat the intestinal worms young animals frequently carry.
Vet Insight
"Young animals should also be wormed more frequently — every 2 weeks until 12 weeks of age, then monthly until 6 months. This is separate from flea treatment unless you're using an all-in-one product."
— Dr Paragnie Nara, BVSc
Safety & Side Effects
Isoxazoline products (including Bravecto, NexGard and Simparica) are approved for use in New Zealand and widely used. As with any medication, a small number of animals may experience side effects such as vomiting, diarrhoea or lethargy. Animals with a known history of seizures should only use these products under veterinary guidance.
Vet Insight
"The overall safety profile of these products is well established. Serious adverse events are rare. If you're concerned about your pet's history, discuss the right product choice with your vet before starting treatment."
— Dr Paragnie Nara, BVSc
Indoor Cats
Yes. Fleas can enter your home on clothing, shoes, visiting pets, or even through open windows. Flea eggs and larvae can persist in carpets and soft furnishings for months. Year-round prevention is recommended even for strictly indoor cats.
Multi-Pet Households
Yes. If one pet in the household has fleas, all animals in the home should be treated simultaneously, regardless of whether they are showing signs of infestation. Fleas move freely between animals and the environment — treating only one pet will not break the flea lifecycle.
Vet Insight
"Remember that only around 5% of fleas are on the animal at any one time — the rest are in the environment as eggs, larvae and pupae. Treating the pet is essential but treating the home environment (vacuuming frequently, washing bedding) significantly speeds up resolution."
— Dr Paragnie Nara, BVSc
From our vet
Featured Vet Insights
Why is my dog still scratching after flea treatment?
Itching can continue for a short period even after fleas are killed, especially if the skin has become irritated from the infestation. This usually settles within one to two weeks.
— Dr Paragnie Nara, BVSc — Veterinary Advisor, Pet Supply
Do I need to treat all pets in the house?
Treating only one animal won't break the flea lifecycle. If you have multiple pets, all of them need to be treated at the same time to prevent reinfestation.
— Dr Paragnie Nara, BVSc — Veterinary Advisor, Pet Supply
When should puppies start flea treatment?
Most products are safe from 8 weeks of age and around 2 kg bodyweight. Young animals also need more frequent worming than adults — every two weeks until 12 weeks of age.
— Dr Paragnie Nara, BVSc — Veterinary Advisor, Pet Supply
Shop & learn
Related Resources
Dog Flea Treatments
Monthly and long-acting options for dogs of all sizes.
Shop now →Cat Flea Treatments
Spot-on and oral treatments covering fleas, ticks and worms.
Shop now →Bravecto
12-week chew and 6-month spot-on for dogs. Bravecto Plus for cats.
Shop Bravecto →NexGard Spectra
Monthly all-in-one flea, tick and worm treatment for cats and dogs.
Shop NexGard →Advocate
Monthly spot-on with full worm cover for cats and dogs.
Shop Advocate →NZ Flea & Worm Guide
Our complete guide to choosing the right treatment for your cat in New Zealand.
Read the guide →Important notice The Vet Centre provides general educational information only and is not a substitute for an examination, diagnosis or treatment plan from your veterinarian. If your pet is unwell, has difficulty breathing, collapses, has a seizure, has severe vomiting or diarrhoea, or you are concerned, please contact your veterinarian immediately.