Parasite prevention questions

Make a product inventory

Write down every flea, tick and worm product already used, including dates and dose instructions from its packaging. Take the list to the appointment instead of layering products on a guess.

Explain movement

Include upcoming travel, livestock contact and where dogs sleep. Ask which risks need attention at home and at the destination and how to recognise a reason for urgent advice.

Maintain the record

Record veterinary instructions and product use consistently across everyone caring for the dog. This guide does not select products or provide treatment dosages.

Ask what to do if an application is missed, a product is vomited or another caregiver gives an extra treatment. Obtain instructions from the veterinary team for the actual product involved.

Retain product packaging and record who administered it. In a shared kennel routine, this helps the veterinary team understand an apparent missed treatment or accidental duplicate.

Travel changes the assessment

ESCCAP publishes dedicated guidance for travelling and imported pets, illustrating why a home prevention routine cannot automatically answer every destination risk. Its resources are European in scope and should not be treated as a universal Australian product schedule. For your own journey, give the veterinary team the destination, route, duration and likely exposures. Distinguish protection for the dog from any treatment or documentation required for border entry. Both may need planning, but meeting an import condition does not establish that every health risk on the trip has been addressed.

Common questions

Sources & further reading

References for this guide. Rules and services can change; check the responsible organisation for current details.

• RSPCA: Caring for your dog (opens in a new tab)
• RSPCA: Flea prevention (opens in a new tab)
• ESCCAP: Travelling and imported pets (opens in a new tab)

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