Dog Care

Everything Your Dog Needs, Explained Without The Jargon.

Worming, fleas, ticks, joints, teeth and the food in between. Here's the routine we follow with our own dogs — what to do, how often, and what you can safely skip.

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4 weeks Between flea treatments in summer
3 months Typical all-wormer interval
12 months Heartworm cover, no gaps

Vet-Grade OnlyAPVMA registered, Australian supplied

Care Routine

What To Do, And When To Do It

Pick a life stage and we'll show you the routine that keeps them well.

The First Twelve Months

Puppies are born with worms and have almost no reserves, so the first year is about frequent, gentle protection rather than the big-gun products you'll use later.

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How Often What To Do Why It Matters

How Often Every 2 weeks to 12 weeks What To Do Intestinal all-wormer Why It Matters Roundworm passes from mum before birth and drains a growing pup

How Often Monthly from 12 weeks to 6 months What To Do Intestinal all-wormer Why It Matters Puppies eat things they shouldn't — reinfection is constant

How Often Monthly, year round What To Do Flea, tick and heartworm treatment Why It Matters Paralysis ticks are active all year on the east coast

How Often 6, 12 and 16 weeks What To Do Core vaccination course Why It Matters Immunity from mum's milk fades before the course finishes

How Often Daily What To Do Large-breed puppy food Why It Matters Controlled growth protects hips and elbows in big breeds

The Steady Years

Once the growing is done the routine simplifies enormously. Get these five things right and most dogs sail through the middle of their life.

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How Often What To Do Why It Matters

How Often Every 3 months What To Do All-wormer tablet or chew Why It Matters Covers round, hook, whip and tapeworm in one dose

How Often Monthly, year round What To Do Flea, tick and heartworm Why It Matters One monthly chew usually covers all three — check the label

How Often Daily What To Do Dental chew or brushing Why It Matters Four in five dogs have dental disease by age three

How Often Every 6 months What To Do Weigh and body-score Why It Matters Two extra kilos on a kelpie is the same as ten on a person

How Often Annually What To Do Vet check and boosters Why It Matters Picks up the lumps, teeth and heart murmurs you can't see

Slowing Down Gracefully

Senior dogs need the same parasite cover as ever, plus a bit of help with joints, kidneys and the aches that make them reluctant to jump into the ute.

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How Often What To Do Why It Matters

How Often Every 3 months What To Do All-wormer Why It Matters Nothing changes here — older dogs still pick up worms

How Often Monthly, year round What To Do Flea, tick and heartworm Why It Matters Skipping a month is the most common cause of heartworm

How Often Daily What To Do Joint supplement with omega-3 Why It Matters Start before the limp, not after — it works best preventatively

How Often Daily What To Do Senior-formula food Why It Matters Lower phosphorus and easier protein takes the load off kidneys

How Often Every 6 months What To Do Vet check, bloods and teeth Why It Matters Twice-yearly checks catch kidney and thyroid changes early

General guidance only — always follow the product label and your vet's advice for your dog's weight, breed and health history.

Common Concerns

The Six Things Dog Owners Ring Us About

In roughly the order we hear them.

Paralysis Ticks
East-coast dogs need year-round cover. A tick can kill in 48 hours, and a monthly chew is far cheaper than a night in intensive care.
Heartworm
Spread by mosquitoes, fatal if untreated and completely preventable. Never restart a lapsed prevention without a vet test first.
Itchy Skin & Allergies
Most Australian itch is flea allergy or grass allergy. Fix the fleas first, then look at diet and medicated washes.
Dental Disease
Bad breath is not normal. Daily chews, a raw bone the vet approves of, and a scale-and-polish when it's needed.
Joints & Arthritis
Working dogs and big breeds feel it first. Omega-3, green-lipped mussel and keeping them lean do more than anything else.
Gut Upsets
A sudden food change is the usual culprit. Transition over a week and keep a probiotic paste in the first-aid kit.

Paralysis tick season peaks September to March — but on the east coast it never truly stops.

Queensland & NSW

Tick Season Is The One Thing We Won't Let You Wing

If you live anywhere along the eastern seaboard, paralysis ticks are the single biggest preventable risk to your dog. We stock nothing that doesn't have proven tick efficacy, and we'll tell you honestly when a cheaper product only covers fleas.

Set a reminder on the same date every month. Auto reorder does it for you if you'd rather not think about it.

Search daily in tick seasonRun your fingers through the coat, ears, between toes and around the collar line every evening.
Prevention beats removalA monthly chew kills a tick before it can inject enough toxin to matter. Removal alone is not protection.
Wobbly back legs is an emergencyA changed bark, vomiting or a wobble in the hindquarters means the vet tonight, not tomorrow.

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Dog Care Essentials

The products we reach for with our own dogs — vet grade, Australian supplied, fairly priced.

Test product $1.00

Nexgard Spectra From $149.00

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Learn More

Dog Care Reading

Written by the people who pack your order — and own the same breeds you do.

Dogs How Often Should You Worm Your Dog?All-wormer, tapeworm-only or a monthly chew — what the differences actually mean for your dog. 4 min read Read guide

Dogs Queensland Tick Season Survival GuideWhen the risk peaks, what to search for, and the signs that mean you drive to the vet now. 6 min read Read guide

Dogs First Aid For Working DogsThe eight things worth keeping in the ute, and how to use them before you reach a vet. 5 min read Read guide

All Buying Guides

Can I use one product for fleas, ticks and heartworm?

Often yes — several monthly chews cover all three. The trap is that some cheaper products cover fleas and heartworm but not paralysis ticks. Check the label, or ring us and we'll read it with you.

My dog's prevention lapsed. Can I just start again?

For fleas and worms, yes — start straight away. For heartworm, no. If more than a few months have passed, your dog needs a heartworm test first, because treating an infected dog can be dangerous. Your vet can do it same day.

How do I work out the right weight range?

Weigh your dog rather than guessing — most vets let you use the scales in the waiting room for free. If your dog sits near the top of a range, use the next size up rather than splitting doses, unless the label says otherwise.

Are chews as effective as spot-ons?

For fleas and ticks the modern chews generally outperform spot-ons, and they can't wash off after swimming. Spot-ons still suit dogs who won't take a tablet, or households where a chew might be stolen by another pet.

Do puppies really need worming every fortnight?

Yes, until twelve weeks. Roundworm larvae cross the placenta before birth, so almost every puppy is born with them. Fortnightly dosing clears each new wave before it can do damage.

Never Miss A Dose

Let Us Remember The Boring Bits

Auto reorder puts the wormer and the tick chew on your doorstep the week they're due — and members pay less for both.

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Everything Your Dog Needs, Explained Without The Jargon.

What To Do, And When To Do It

The First Twelve Months

The Steady Years

Slowing Down Gracefully

The Six Things Dog Owners Ring Us About

Paralysis Ticks

Heartworm

Itchy Skin & Allergies

Dental Disease

Joints & Arthritis

Gut Upsets

Tick Season Is The One Thing We Won't Let You Wing

Dog Care Essentials

Dog Care Reading

Asked Most Often

Let Us Remember The Boring Bits