Dog Tick Treatments
43 productsFind the right tick treatment for your dog, whether you need year-round paralysis tick protection or extra cover before heading into tick country.[more] Browse chews, spot-ons and collars from NexGard, Bravecto and Seresto, part of our vet-recommended dog flea, tick and worming treatments range.
How much tick cover does your dog need?
How much tick protection your dog needs depends on where you live and travel. Australia has four ticks that affect dogs, but only the paralysis tick (Ixodes holocyclus) causes the progressive paralysis that can be fatal, and it lives along the east coast. The brown dog tick, more common across northern Australia, can carry a serious disease called ehrlichiosis. If you live on or near the east coast, or you are heading into tick country, paralysis tick cover is the priority; in lower-risk inland areas your vet can help you weigh what your dog needs. Where paralysis ticks are active, the season now runs across much of the year, so at-risk dogs are best kept on continuous cover alongside regular tick searches.
Australia's dangerous ticks
Not all ticks are equal, and the risk depends on where your dog lives and roams:
- Paralysis tick: the most dangerous, found along the east coast from north Queensland to Victoria; its toxin causes life-threatening paralysis.
- Brown dog tick: more common across northern Australia; it can carry ehrlichiosis, a serious blood-borne disease.
- Bush tick: found in rural and bushland areas; less dangerous but still an irritant and disease risk.
If you are near the coast or travelling into tick country, paralysis tick cover is the priority.
Signs of tick paralysis in dogs
Tick paralysis is an emergency, and the signs often appear a few days after a tick attaches, then worsen quickly. Watch for wobbly or weak back legs, a change in bark or breathing, vomiting or retching, drooling and reluctance to move. If you see any of these, or find a tick on a dog showing symptoms, contact your vet or an emergency clinic straight away rather than waiting to see if it passes.
How to check your dog for ticks
Most tick products kill ticks after they attach rather than keeping them off, so a daily search during tick season matters even when your dog is on prevention:
“No tick product is 100% effective, so a hands-on tick search is still essential during tick season, even if your dog is on prevention. Run your fingers through the coat down to the skin, paying attention to the head, neck, ears and front half of the body.”
— Dr Jack Ayerbe OAM, Veterinarian & Vets Love Pets Partner
Work over your dog by hand, section by section, feeling right down to the skin around the head, ears and neck, then the chest, front legs, body and tail. If you find a tick, or your dog shows any of the signs above, contact your vet straight away for advice and whether your dog needs to be seen. For how to check for and safely remove a tick, read Ticks on Dogs. Read the full guide: Best Flea & Tick Treatments for Dogs in Australia.
Choosing tick protection: what actually covers paralysis ticks
The most important thing is to choose a product that specifically lists paralysis ticks, then pick the format you will keep up with:
- Chews suit dogs who swim or dislike spot-ons; NexGard is monthly and Bravecto chews cover fleas and ticks for up to three months.
- Collars like Seresto give months of hands-off tick and flea cover in one application.
- Spot-ons and rinses, such as Permoxin, add tick cover for dogs who will not take a chew.
- Mind the gap: some popular all-in-ones, including Advocate, cover fleas and worms but not ticks, so do not assume your current product protects against paralysis ticks. Check the label.
Trusted tick treatment brands
Australia's leading tick brands differ mainly in how long each dose lasts and what else they cover:
- NexGard and NexGard Spectra: monthly chews covering paralysis ticks and fleas, with Spectra adding heartworm and intestinal worms.
- Bravecto: paralysis tick and flea cover for up to three months per chew, or a spot-on option.
- Simparica Trio: a monthly all-in-one chew covering ticks, fleas, heartworm and worms.
- Seresto: a long-lasting tick and flea collar for hands-off cover.
Want to learn more?
- Read our vets' guide to the Best Flea & Tick Treatments for Dogs in Australia.
- Need flea and worm cover too? See dog flea, tick and worming treatments.
- Protecting a cat as well? See cat tick treatments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most dogs need tick prevention year-round in tick areas, with the dosing interval set by the product: monthly for most chews and spot-ons, or up to three months for a Bravecto chew, and several months for a Seresto collar. Keeping to the schedule without gaps is what maintains protection, so set a reminder near the due date. In high-risk coastal areas, pair prevention with daily tick searches.
Paralysis tick season traditionally peaks in the warmer months from spring to autumn, but in many parts of the east coast ticks are now active year-round. Warm, humid conditions after rain are especially high-risk. Because the season is so long and variable, most vets recommend keeping dogs on continuous tick prevention rather than starting and stopping with the weather.
Not all flea treatments cover ticks, so it is a dangerous assumption to make in paralysis tick country. Some products, such as Advocate, treat fleas and worms but not ticks, while all-in-one chews like NexGard and Simparica Trio do cover paralysis ticks. Always check the label lists paralysis ticks specifically, and ask your vet if you are unsure.
Puppies can use tick prevention, but only a product labelled for their age and weight, as many are approved only from a minimum age such as eight weeks. In tick areas it is important to start protection early, so choose a puppy-approved product and confirm the timing with your vet. Browse puppy flea and tick options suited to little ones.
Neither tick collars nor chews are universally better, so the right choice comes down to your dog and your routine. A collar like Seresto gives months of hands-off cover and suits low-maintenance households, while a chew is easy to dose exactly and cannot be lost or slipped. Both are effective against paralysis ticks when they list them on the label and are used on schedule.
