• Pet Care

  • How this works

    On this page, you can find out all about Advocate and the parasites it kills, plus some important tips for your cats and dogs

Welcome to the Four-Legged Stars page. Looking after your pets health and well being is so important, so I have put together some personal tips and information about the best ways to keep your beloved cats and dogs in their best health.

Don't forget that you will also find many of the answers to the weekly competitions within this page, so keep popping back to refresh your knowledge about how best to care for your pet and to ensure you get all those activity points on offer for correct answers.

And if you do manage to get all the questions of the weekly competition correct then you could be in with a chance to win a supply of Advocate – the most complete all-in-one parasite protection, that I rely on to protect my pets from fleas and intestinal worms!


Advocate

Advocate

About Advocate

In just one simple monthly application, Advocate kills more kinds of parasites in dogs and cats than any other all-in-one topical product.

Fleas are one of the most common problems for dogs and cats. Advocate offers cats and dogs fast, effective flea control, and regular monthly use of Advocate will help prevent re-infestations too.

Advocate:
  • Stops fleas from feeding within 3-5 minutes.
  • Kills both adult and larval fleas within 20 minutes of contact.
  • Kills 98-100% of fleas within 12 hours of first application.
  • Kills fleas that jump onto the pet later, within one hour.
  • Breaks the flea life cycle by killing flea larvae as well as adult fleas
  • Reduces the incidence of Flea Allergy Dermatitis.

Advocate prevents deadly Heartworm

Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitos and are found throughout Australia. A heartworm infection in dogs or cats can be fatal. With monthly use, Advocate prevents heartworm infection in both dogs and cats.

Eliminate gastro-intestinal worms

Gastro-intestinal worms can affect dogs, cats and humans.

After just one application, Advocate kills:

  • Hookworms
  • Whipworms
  • Roundworms

Advocate kills adult, immature, and larval stages of the worms, thus preventing new infections from establishing that can affect both your pets and your family.

Treat and prevent Ear Mites

Ear mites can be found in the external ear canal, and cause intense irritation to your pet. Just one dose of Advocate is extremely effective against ear mites. Continued monthly use will also control subsequent ear mite infections.

Wipe out Sarcoptic Mange

Sarcoptic mange is a highly irritating and debilitating skin disease caused by sarcoptic mites. Advocate has been shown to provide effective control of sarcoptic mites after a single dose. Monthly application will control any subsequent sarcoptic mite infestation.

Treat and control Demodicosis

Demodectic mites can cause generalized Demodectic mange, a potentially debilitating skin condition in dogs which often results in skin lesions. Advocate is proven to be highly effective in treating this potentially disfiguring condition when used monthly.

Get lice under control

Lice can also be a problem to dogs and cause them severe itching. Advocate will also control these blood sucking parasites.

Don't forget that Advocate remains effective for a FULL MONTH, even of your pet goes swimming, gets caught in the rain, or is bathed and shampooed during that time.

Safe for Puppies and Kittens too

Advocate is safe for use on puppies from 7 weeks and kittens from 9 weeks of age.

ADVOCATE IS AVAILABLE FROM YOUR LOCAL VETERINARIAN, next time you visit the vet – ask about Advocate.

About Fleas

Fleas are the most widespread external parasite for pet owners worldwide. Fleas not only annoy dogs and people but can carry disease and cause other health problems. Fleas carry tapeworm, cause an allergic skin condition in dogs called Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD) and are carriers of infectious agents. Fleas may also cause secondary skin infection and anaemia in puppies, older and also immuno-suppressed dogs. Severe infestations may even lead to death.

Flea-related diseases account for over 50% of skin disease cases reported to veterinarians. The vast majority of these conditions could be prevented by the regular use of a fast, effective flea treatment.

Pets just hate fleas! Flea bites are terrible nuisance and can cause an aggravating skin condition called flea allergy dermatitis. One little flea bite can trigger intense itching...and its not just pets who suffer, left uncontrolled, fleas can quickly breed to create and unwelcome infestation in your home- a breeding pair of fleas could produce more than 20,000 fleas in 3 months, which is quite a disgusting thought.

The great news is there have been huge advances in flea control products over recent years and our pets need not suffer from fleas any more. Advocate applied just once a month kills fleas quickly and breaks their life cycle. Its simple to use- you just squeeze the contents of a pre-measured tube onto the skin on the back of the pets neck and within 12 hours of applying Advocate, 98-100% of fleas on your pet will be dead. Advocate also kills flea larva in the pets environment which eliminates the next generation of fleas before they reach breeding age. While tough on fleas, its easy on your pet- it works by spreading rapidly over your pets skin. It is not absorbed into the blood stream but remains on the skin. It is so gentle that you can even use it on puppies and kitten.

ith modern houses being heated all year round, fleas are becoming much more common during the winter months, so it is important to keep up your flea control all year round.

About Heartworm

Heartworm, although highly preventable, has the potential to be fatal, if contracted and left untreated.

Heartworm is spread by mosquitoes when they bite. Both dogs and cats are at risk from heartworm infection which is prevalent across Australia. Heartworms destroy the muscle and tissue of the heart, which can cause congestive heart failure and result in death. Unfortunately, there are no symptoms of this disease until it has progressed to an advanced stage. For this reason, it is important use a heartworm preventative such as Advocate all year round.

Advocate provides 100% protection against heartworm infection in both dogs and cats when used monthly.

About Intestinal Worms

In Dogs ...

It's pretty likely that at some stage a young dog will pick up intestinal worms – either from their mother, their litter mates or just by exploring the great new world them. This is just a normal part of growing up. Even adult dogs can pick up worms when they socialize with other dogs in the park. Worms can cause ill health in adult dogs and even death in puppies as their immune systems are not yet sufficiently developed to cope with a worm burden.

Some of the intestinal worms that can affect your pets also pose a potential threat to you and your family. It is vital to practice good hygiene and maintain a regular worming program to protect your entire family from the potential dangers of intestinal worms.

Protecting your dogs against worms is simple with Advocate – the most complete all-in-one parasite protection. Advocate provides powerful protection against intestinal worms. A simple monthly application will kill adult, immature and larval stages of worms.This effectively breaks the worm's life cycle by preventing worm eggs from contaminating the environment.

And remember:
  • always wash your hands after handling dogs
  • don't feed raw offal to dogs
  • be sure to keep your pet's bedding clean and
  • make sure you worm all pets in your household at the same time - cats included

In Cats ...

Don't forget it's not just dogs that can pick up worms, cats can be affected by intestinal worms too. Often it is harder to tell if your cat has intestinal worms as they can mask their symptoms better than dogs and because of their toilet habits. However, cats are equally at risk from worms. Cats can become infected with intestinal worms through intermediate hosts such as mice, birds and lizards.

Protecting your dogs against worms is simple with Advocate – the most complete all-in-one parasite protection. Advocate provides powerful protection against intestinal worms. A simple monthly application will kill adult, immature and larval stages of worms.This effectively breaks the worm's life cycle by preventing worm eggs from contaminating the environment. Advocate for cats provides powerful protection against the dangers of intestinal worms.

About Exercise for Dogs

Exercise is an essential ingredient in any dog's life. Not only is it good for our dogs but it is beneficial for us as well. It gets us out of the house each day and we also burn some calories. The dog park is also a social place for like minded dog-loving people to meet. I know of several couples who have met when walking their dog!

People often ask how much exercise they should give their dogs and the answer really depends on the breed. Working dogs like Border Collies and Kelpies are highly active and require plenty of off leash running each day. Other dogs, like Great Danes and St Bernard's might be larger in size but actually require a lot less exercise. Because the characteristics of each breed differ so dramatically

(i.e size, weight, bone structure/density & stamina) what's beneficial for one breed could be dangerous for another, so it is important to learn about your breed before you buy so that you know what you're getting into. Talk to breeders, owners, clubs & vets and research on-line.

About Cats Living Indoors

Cats sleep for around three-quarters of the day, much of the time relatively lightly, hence the term 'cat napping'. Cats can go from a deep sleep to being fully awake in a matter of seconds. Although so much of its day is spent asleep, cats do become bored.

Cat owners will know exactly what is meant by 'playful as a kitten' and most owners provide kittens with toys and spend time playing games but as Puss grows up he is left to provide his own entertainment. If he has access to outdoor areas he can climb trees, chase leaves and go on safari through the garden but due to legislation or owner concerns for the cat's safety many cats today are confined.

Cats are much safer living indoors- they are not exposed to the dangers of infectious diseases, predators or motor vehicles. Plus, our precious wildlife are protected.

Cats are quite happy to live indoors permanently especially if trained to indoor life from kittenhood. Most outdoor cats will happily adapt to indoor life once they recognise all the home comforts that go with it – and there is nothing a cat likes more than comfort.

Top Tips for keeping an Indoor Cat happy
  • Cats enjoy a window to view the outside, especially one that lets in the morning sun
  • Access to high vantage levels within the home allows them to survey their domain
  • Don't forget they will get cold without a heater during the winter months
  • Scratching poles and climbing towers will keep them entertained, and save your furniture
  • Scraps of timber, carpet and cardboard boxes offer inexpensive ways to occupy their time
  • Cats love toys – furry ones, colored ones, dangly ones and rolling ones
  • Bring the outdoors indoors with a pot of ‘cat grass' available at most nurseries

About Travelling With Your Pet

Nothing is more fun than a family holiday when the pets are invited too. Careful preparation is the key to ensuring the whole family has a safe and enjoyable time.

Here are some tips to help with your travels.
  • Always have an ID tag with a contact number of where you are staying. Your usual phone number is no good as you are not home and mobile reception is often poor when out of the city
  • Be sure to check with your accommodation about their particular rules - some places do not allow pets indoors or to be left unsupervised.
  • When travelling in a car be sure to have cats and small dogs confined in a crate and large dogs harnessed. This prevents them from becoming unnecessarily injured in the event of unusual breaking or an accident, they will also not be a distraction for the driver.
  • Make sure you have regular toilet and water breaks. With cats, it is best to offer them a litter tray inside the car unless they are trained to a lead or harness. Cats are far more likely to bolt off in strange territory.
  • When you arrive at your destination keep your pet confined indoors. With dogs, be sure to keep them on a leash for the first couple of days whenever you are outdoors
  • Pack a first aid kit- you would be surprised how handy they can be. Think about the dangers in your holiday area- snakes, ticks etc and be prepared. If you are in a high risk tick area, visit the vet before departure and use preventative medication.
  • Pack your pets bedding and home comforts to help relax them and try and spend as much time as possible with them for the first couple of days.
  • Don't forget to pack your pets usual food- you can never rely on being able to buy it at you holiday destination and you don't want unnecessary tummy upsets.
  • If you are flying with your pet, make sure you –prebook him or her. You will need to buy or hire a crate and will need to check your pet in at least an hour before the scheduled departure time.
  • A visit to the vet prior to departure is recommended to make sure your pet is up to date with Vaccinations etc. Your vet may be able to give you something to help with car sickness if necessary.
  • Apply appropriate parasite control such as Advocate to ensure your pet is protected.
  • Apply appropriate parasite control such as Advocate to ensure your pet is protected.
  • Don't attempt to travel with your dog if he does not have basic obedience training- you don't want your dog to damage property or upset neighbours by barking all night.
  • Do your research BEFORE you go regarding local vets in the holiday area, dog friendly beaches and parks etc.
  • have a check list of things I pack for Toby including: His regular food, Portable water bowl (these are great!), Shampoo (because he always ends up dirty or swimming), Towels, Grooming equipment , Advocate parasite control, Favourite toys, Treats, Poo Bags, His bed because I never know exactly where Toby will be sleeping and I like to give him some familiar comforts.

Cats

  • most cats do not enjoy travel and removing a cat form the security of its home may cause a lot of stress and anxiety. I have met a few very outgoing cats that are not phased by loud noises, car travel and change of environment- these are the only cats I recommend taking on holidays otherwise it will be one big upset for all concerned.