Advocate Species FAQs
Explore our frequently asked questions about Advocate Spot-On for Cats and Dogs
Advocate for Dogs FAQs
Basic Product Information
Advocate for Dogs is a broad-spectrum parasiticide. Advocate for Dogs protects dogs against fleas, heartworm disease, roundworms, hookworms, whipworm, lice and mites. It is applied topically as a monthly spot-on treatment.
Advocate for Dogs protects against fleas, heartworm disease, roundworms, hookworms, whipworm, oesophageal worm, demodex mites, sarcoptic mites, ear mites and lice.
In Australia, Advocate for Dogs is available without a prescription from your vet, pet stores or reputable online pet supply retailers. Find out where you can buy Advocate for Dogs online or in store here.
Advocate for Dogs contains two active ingredients – imidacloprid and moxidectin.
Advocate offers broad-spectrum protection against both internal and external parasites in a single topical monthly dose. Advocate kills fleas quickly and on contact so they don't need to bite to be killed. Most worming products are "knock-down wormers", killing worms present in the body at the time of treatment. With regular monthly use, Advocate reaches a steady state, providing continuous protection from worms between doses. Advocate is also the only product in Australia that protects dogs against oesophageal worm.
Advocate combines two active ingredients, imidacloprid and moxidectin. Imidacloprid works topically. Following application, imidacloprid spreads through the lipid (fatty/oily) of the skin and fur, killing adult fleas and lice. It is also shed with the pet’s skin and fur into the environment to control flea larvae. Moxidectin is absorbed via the skin into the bloodstream and tissues to kill internal parasites and mites.
Between treatments, dogs can be re-infected with heartworms and intestinal worms. With regular monthly use, Advocate reaches a steady state, providing continuous protection between doses, so your dog is always protected.
Usage & Application
Advocate for Dogs is applied topically as a spot-on treatment. Part the fur between your dog’s shoulder blades and place the tip of the tube on the skin. Squeeze the tube firmly twice to apply the solution directly on the skin.
For dogs over 25 kg, apply the product in three spots along the dog’s back – between the shoulder blades, on the midline of the back between the hips, and at one point in between.
See our video here, or refer to the product label for full usage instructions.
Advocate for Dogs should be applied monthly, ideally on the same day each month, for continuous parasite protection.
Apply Advocate in one spot between the shoulder blades.
For dogs over 25kg, apply the product in three spots along the dog’s back – between the shoulder blades, on the midline of the back between the hips, and at one point in between.
If you forget a dose, apply Advocate as soon as you remember and then continue with your regular monthly schedule. It is especially important to keep on schedule for heartworm control. Speak to your veterinarian for advice about heartworm control if your dog misses their dose.
It’s recommended that you avoid bathing your dog and prevent them from swimming for approximately two days after treatment.
An ideal routine is to bathe your dog before applying Advocate, then allow your dog’s coat to completely dry before applying Advocate. When bathing your dog between treatments, use a soap-free shampoo.
Effectiveness & Results
Advocate is highly effective against fleas. It also stops fleas biting within 3-5 minutes and kills adult fleas within an hour of applicatio[RL1] n1. It also kills flea larvae[RL2] , helping to control flea infestations in your dog’s environment.
Advocate should be applied monthly, preferably on the same day each month.
Yes, Advocate will kill fleas present on your dog at the time of application and kill reinfesting fleas for one month. Only 5% of a flea infestation is adult fleas on your pet – the rest of the flea lifecycle occurs in the environment, your home and garden. The active ingredient, imidacloprid, in Advocate is shed into the environment with your dog’s skin and fur, killing flea larvae, helping to break the lifecycle. In an infestation, it is also important to ensure [RL1] you are implementing appropriate environmental flea control alongside regular flea prevention for all pets in your household.
Safety & Precautions
Advocate is safe for dogs and puppies from 7 weeks of age when used as per the product label. Always use the correct product size for your dog’s weight. Speak to your veterinarian if your dog has any specific health issues.
Occasionally, hair loss may occur at the application site. This is usually a single occurrence and the hair will grow back uneventfully. In very rare cases, neurological signs such as ataxia and muscle tremors (most of which are transient) may be observed.
If your dog experiences an adverse event, please contact our Animal Health Consultants on 1800 995 709 during business hours AEST or email productsupportau@elancoah.com. For help with your pet’s health, reach out to your local veterinarian.
Occasionally, hair loss may occur at the application site. This is usually a single occurrence, and the hair will grow back uneventfully. Advocate contains an alcohol base which causes a cooling sensation as it evaporates after application (like when we apply hand sanitiser). This can cause agitation in some pets causing them to scratch or rub the application site. This can irritate the skin. This is usually transient.
Playtime following treatment may help your pet to associate a positive experience with application and reduce agitation and self-trauma by distracting them.
If your pet experiences any of these signs, please contact our Animal Health Consultants on 1800 995 709 or email productsupportau@elancoah.com. For help with your pet’s health, reach out to your local veterinarian.
If your dog licks the application site, they might salivate due to the bitter taste. If your dog licks or swallows Advocate, contact your veterinarian.
No, Advocate is not registered for use in pregnant or lactating dogs, therefore this is not recommended. MilbemaxTM may be used in pregnant, lactating or breeding dogs for intestinal worm and heartworm prevention in combination with AdvantageTM for flea control.
No, Advocate for Dogs is specifically formulated for dogs and should not be used on cats. If you have given Advocate for Dogs to your cat, contact our Animal Health Consultants on 1800 995 709 or your veterinarian for advice.
If your dog has ingested Advocate, contact your veterinarian.
Specific Parasites & Conditions
Advocate aids in the prevention of flea tapeworm through effective flea control. It does not treat an existing tapeworm infestation or prevent or treat any other type of tapeworm infestation. Talk to your vet for more information.
Yes, Advocate is a monthly preventative for heartworm disease in dogs. Advocate must be applied every month to ensure continuous protection against heartworm.
Advocate for Dogs does not provide any protection against ticks. If tick prevention is needed, consider using a SerestoTM Collar for Dogs alongside Advocate.
Yes, Advocate is effective in treating and controlling ear mite infections in dogs.
Yes, Advocate for Dogs is effective against sarcoptic and demodectic mange in dogs.
Purchasing and Availability
Advocate for Dogs is available at veterinary clinics, pet stores and online pet supply retailers in Australia. See where you can buy Advocate here.
Yes, Advocate for Dogs is widely available for purchase from reputable online pet supply stores in Australia. Ensure the site you purchase from is legitimate. Click here to buy from an approved online retailer.
Troubleshooting & Issues
Dogs become infested with fleas from environmental infestation sources, such as from the outdoors, wildlife, or in the home. A single flea can lay up to 50 eggs a day, which means a small flea problem can turn into a big one very quickly. Only 5% of a flea infestation is adult fleas that you can see on your pet, the other 95% of the lifecycle occurs in the environment.
Adult fleas must come into contact with your dog to be killed by Advocate – there is no flea product that repels fleas. These fleas will be killed before they can lay eggs. The skin and hair shed by Advocate-treated pets contains small but lethal amounts of imidacloprid that will kill flea larvae in the environment. Due to the lengthy flea lifecycle, it can take several weeks to months to completely clear an existing flea infestation in the home, and it is recommended that environmental control is also implemented (washing bedding, vacuuming, mopping etc). All animals in the household should be treated with an appropriate flea product to prevent and/or control a flea infestation in the home.
Vomiting is not expected after use of Advocate as per label directions. If vomiting occurs, contact our Animal Health Consultants on 1800 995 709 during business hours AEST. Speak to your veterinarian if you are concerned about your dog’s health.
Advocate for Cats FAQs
Basic Product Information
Advocate for Cats is a broad-spectrum parasiticide for cats, protecting against fleas, heartworm disease, lungworms, roundworms, hookworms, ear mites and mange mites. It is applied topically as a spot-on treatment once a month.
Advocate for Cats protects against fleas, heartworm disease, lungworms, roundworms, hookworms, ear mites and mange mites.
In Australia, Advocate for Cats is available without a prescription from your vet, pet stores or reputable online pet supply retailers. Find out where you can buy Advocate for Cats online or in store here.
Advocate for Cats contains two active ingredients – imidacloprid and moxidectin.
Imidacloprid acts topically. After application, it spreads through the fatty/oily layer of the coat and skin. Fleas are killed on contact, so they don’t need to bite your cat to die.
Moxidectin acts systemically, meaning on the inside. It is rapidly absorbed through the skin and distributes throughout the body in the blood, killing worms and mites.
Advocate for Cats offers broad-spectrum protection against both internal and external parasites in a single topical monthly dose. Advocate kills fleas quickly and on contact, so they don't need to bite to be killed. Most worming products are "knock-down wormers", killing worms present in the body at the time of treatment. With regular monthly use, Advocate reaches a steady state, providing continuous protection from worms between doses. Advocate is also the only product that protects cats against both lungworm species.
Usage and Application
Advocate for Cats is applied topically as a spot-on treatment. Part the fur on the back of your cat’s head and place the tip of the tube on the skin. Squeeze the tube firmly twice to apply the solution directly on the skin. See our video here, or refer to the product label for full usage instructions.
Advocate for Cats should be applied monthly, preferably on the same date each month.
Apply Advocate for Cats at the back of the head at the base of the skull. Advocate must be applied here to reduce the chances of your cat licking the product off.
If you forget a dose, apply Advocate as soon as you remember and then continue with your regular monthly schedule. Heartworm prevention is especially important to keep on schedule for your pet, so speak to your veterinarian for advice if your cat misses their dose.
No, Advocate for Cats is specifically formulated for cats and should not be used on dogs. If you have given Advocate for Cats to your dog, contact our Animal Health Consultants on 1800 995 709 or your veterinarian for advice.
Yes, Advocate for Kittens and Small Cats up to 4kg can be used on ferrets from 0.8 kg. Advocate will protect ferrets from fleas and heartworm disease.
Effectiveness & Results
Yes, Advocate will kill fleas present on your cat at the time of application and kill reinfesting fleas for one month. Only 5% of a flea infestation is adult fleas on your pet – the rest of the flea lifecycle occurs in the environment, your home and garden. The active ingredient, imidacloprid, in Advocate is shed into the environment with your cat’s skin and fur, killing flea larvae, helping to break the lifecycle. In an infestation, it is also important to ensure you are implementing appropriate environmental flea control alongside regular flea prevention for all pets in your household.
Yes, Advocate is a monthly preventative for heartworm disease in cats. Consistent monthly application is necessary for continuous heartworm protection.
Safety & Precautions
Advocate is safe for cats and kittens from 9 weeks of age when used as per the product label. Always use the correct product size based on your cat’s weight[RL1] . If your cat has any specific health issues, please talk to your veterinarian
Occasionally, hair loss may occur at the application site. This is usually a single occurrence, and the hair will grow back uneventfully.
If your cat experiences any side effects, please contact our Animal Health Consultants on 1800 995 709 during business hours AEST or email productsupportau@elancoah.com. For help with your pet’s health, reach out to your local veterinarian.
Occasionally, hair loss may occur at the application site. This is usually a single occurrence, and the hair will grow back uneventfully. Advocate contains an alcohol base which causes a cooling sensation as it evaporates after application (like when we apply hand sanitiser). This can cause agitation in some pets causing them to scratch or rub the application site. This can irritate the skin. This is usually transient.
Playtime following treatment may help your pet to associate a positive experience with application and reduce agitation and self-trauma by distracting them.
If your pet experiences any of these signs, please contact our Animal Health Consultants on 1800 995 709 during business hours AEST or email productsupportau@elancoah.com. For help with your pet’s health, reach out to your local veterinarian.
If your cat licks the application site, they may salivate due to the bitter taste. If your cat licks or swallows Advocate, contact your veterinarian.
If your cat has ingested Advocate, contact your veterinarian.
Specific Parasites & Conditions
Advocate for Cats is not registered to treat tapeworms. If your cat is at risk of tapeworm, additional tapeworm prevention will be required.
Advocate for Cats does not protect against ticks. If tick protection is needed, consider using a SerestoTM Collar for Cats alongside Advocate.
Yes, Advocate is effective in treating and controlling ear mite infestations in cats
Yes, Advocate for Cats is effective against both species of lungworm can infect Australian cats.
Yes, Advocate for Cats treats feline mange mites.
Purchasing & Availability
Advocate for Cats is available at veterinary clinics, pet stores and online pet supply retailers in Australia. See where you can buy Advocate here.
Yes, Advocate for Cats is widely available for purchase from reputable online pet supply stores in Australia. Ensure the site you purchase from is legitimate. Click here to buy from an approved online retailer.
Troubleshooting
Cats become infested with fleas from environmental infestation sources, such as from the outdoors, wildlife, or in the home. A single flea can lay up to 50 eggs a day, which means a small flea problem can turn into a big one very quickly. Only 5% of a flea infestation is adult fleas that you can see on your pet, the other 95% of the lifecycle occurs in the environment.
Adult fleas must come into contact with your cat to be killed by Advocate – there is no flea product that repels fleas. These fleas will be killed before they can lay eggs. The skin and hair shed by Advocate-treated pets contains small but lethal amounts of imidacloprid that will kill flea larvae in the environment. Due to the lengthy flea lifecycle, it can take several weeks to months to completely clear an existing flea infestation in the home, and it is recommended that environmental control is also implemented (washing bedding, vacuuming, mopping etc). All animals in the household should be treated with an appropriate flea product to prevent and/or control a flea infestation in the home.
Vomiting is not expected after use of Advocate as per label directions. If vomiting occurs, contact our Animal Health Consultants on 1800 995 709. Speak your veterinarian if you are concerned about your cat’s health.
