Advocate for Dogs
Prices, Coverage & Alternatives
The UK's leading combined flea and worm spot-on. Covers fleas, worms, lungworm and mites in one monthly treatment. Save up to 45% buying online.
Buy Advocate at UK pharmacy prices
UK registered pharmacies dispense the same Advocate your vet prescribes, often for less. Ask your vet for a written prescription (capped at £21 under the CMA Order, from 2027), then fill it online.
Affiliate link to The Pharm Pet Co., a UK registered veterinary pharmacy. We may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Always follow your vet's guidance on medication choice and dosing.
What is Advocate
for Dogs?
Advocate is a prescription-only spot-on treatment manufactured by Elanco (formerly Bayer Animal Health). It contains two active ingredients: imidacloprid (which kills fleas) and moxidectin (which treats and prevents a wide range of internal and external parasites).
Applied monthly to the back of the neck, Advocate spreads across the skin's lipid layer within 24 hours. Imidacloprid kills adult fleas on contact within 12 hours (they do not need to bite to be killed), while moxidectin is absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream where it kills roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, lungworm larvae and heartworm.
Advocate is particularly popular in the UK because it is one of very few products licensed to prevent lungworm (Angiostrongylus vasorum), a potentially fatal parasite spread by slugs and snails that is increasingly common across Britain. This makes it a top choice for dogs that eat slugs, snails or grass.
One of the only products licensed to prevent fatal lungworm
One spot-on application every 4 weeks for continuous protection
Does NOT cover ticks — use a separate tick treatment if needed
What Parasites Does
Advocate Cover?
Covered
- • Fleas (kills adults on contact)
- • Flea larvae in the environment
- • Roundworms (Toxocara, Toxascaris)
- • Hookworms (Ancylostoma, Uncinaria)
- • Whipworms (Trichuris vulpis)
- • Lungworm (Angiostrongylus vasorum)
- • Heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis)
- • Ear mites, sarcoptic mange, demodex
NOT Covered
- • Ticks (need separate treatment)
- • Tapeworms (need praziquantel, e.g. Droncit)
Tip: If your dog needs tick and tapeworm cover too, you can add a Seresto collar for ticks and a quarterly Droncit tablet for tapeworms, or switch to NexGard Spectra + a separate wormer.
Advocate Weight Bands for Dogs
Advocate comes in four weight-specific pipettes. Use the correct size for your dog.
For dogs over 40 kg: Use a combination of pipettes to achieve the correct dose (10 mg/kg imidacloprid + 2.5 mg/kg moxidectin). Your vet will advise on the correct combination. Apply to 2-3 spots along the back of the neck.
Side Effects & Warnings
Common Side Effects
- • Temporary skin irritation at application site
- • Scratching or restlessness for a few hours
- • Greasy or matted fur at application site
- • Mild drooling if dog licks the application site
Rare Side Effects
- • Vomiting or diarrhoea
- • Lethargy lasting more than 24 hours
- • Neurological signs (tremors, ataxia) — very rare
- • Allergic skin reaction (redness, swelling)
Important Warnings
MDR1 gene mutation: Collies, Shelties, Australian Shepherds and related breeds may carry the MDR1 gene mutation making them sensitive to moxidectin. Ask your vet about testing before use.
Not for puppies under 7 weeks: Advocate is not licensed for use in puppies younger than 7 weeks or weighing less than 1 kg.
Do not bathe for 48 hours: Avoid bathing or swimming your dog for at least 48 hours after application to ensure the product is fully absorbed.
Advocate Price Comparison
Advocate Small Dog (1-4 kg) — 3 pipettes
Advocate Medium Dog (4-10 kg) — 3 pipettes
Advocate Large Dog (10-25 kg) — 3 pipettes
Advocate XL Dog (25-40 kg) — 3 pipettes
Annual savings: A medium dog on year-round Advocate costs around £140-£192 at the vet vs £88-£128 online. With a one-off £21 prescription fee, you save £36-£48 per year. Buy a 6-pack for even better value.
Alternatives to Advocate
NexGard Spectra
Monthly chewable tablet covering fleas, ticks, roundworms, hookworms and heartworm. Covers ticks (which Advocate does not) but does NOT cover lungworm or mites. Good choice if ticks are your main concern.
Simparica Trio
Monthly chewable covering fleas, ticks, roundworms, hookworms and heartworm. Similar to NexGard Spectra but with a different active ingredient (sarolaner). Does NOT cover lungworm.
Bravecto
A chewable tablet that lasts 12 weeks for fleas and ticks. Does not cover worms, so you need a separate wormer. Great if you want long-lasting tick protection with fewer doses per year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Advocate protects against fleas, roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, lungworm, heartworm, ear mites, sarcoptic mange and demodex mites. It does NOT cover ticks or tapeworms — you need a separate product for those.
A 3-pipette pack costs £30-£55 at the vet depending on weight band, or £20-£38 online with a prescription. Annual savings of £40-£80 are typical when buying online.
No. Advocate is POM-V (prescription only) because it contains moxidectin. Your vet must offer you a written prescription (maximum £21 fee) which you can take to any UK-registered online retailer.
No. Advocate does not protect against ticks. If your dog is at risk, you need a separate tick treatment or should consider switching to NexGard Spectra, Simparica Trio, or Bravecto which all cover ticks.
They cover different parasites. Advocate covers lungworm and mites but not ticks. NexGard Spectra covers ticks but not lungworm or mites. If lungworm is a concern in your area, Advocate is the better choice. If ticks are the priority, NexGard Spectra is better.
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Save on Advocate for your dog
Compare prices from UK-registered online retailers. Get a prescription from your vet and save up to 45%.