This is a specific conversation about Flea and tick prevention — what works — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
A Bloodhound going into woodland weekly is about as high-exposure as it gets for ticks — nose down, pushing through undergrowth, exactly where ticks sit waiting. The most effective prevention depends on the dog's size and weight, how serious your local tick risk is, and whether you want a spot-on, collar, or oral treatment. Some widely sold products like Bob Martin or Johnsons are significantly weaker than prescription-grade options and won't cut it here. To point you to the right thing: roughly how much does your dog weigh, and are you in an area with known tick pressure — moorland, deer country, that kind of thing?
He's about 48kg, and yes we're in the New Forest so tick pressure is very high. He tracks at least once a week, sometimes more in summer.
inparticular.ai
The New Forest is one of the highest-risk areas in the UK — deer ticks are dense there and Lyme disease transmission is a real concern. At 48kg going in weekly, you need something fast-acting, long-lasting, and proven in heavy-exposure conditions. Do you have a preference between oral and spot-on? And is he currently on any flea or worming treatment I should factor in?
No strong preference on oral vs spot-on. He's on Milbemax for worming every three months but nothing else at the moment.
inparticular.ai
Perfect — Milbemax won't clash with anything I'd suggest. For a large working dog with weekly woodland exposure in the New Forest, my clear recommendation is Bravecto Spot-On for Dogs (the large dog pack covering 20–40kg won't be enough — you'll need the extra-large 40–56kg version). It's a single application that gives 12 weeks of tick and flea protection, kills ticks within 12 hours of attachment, and is licensed for use against all the major tick species active in the UK including Ixodes ricinus, which is the primary Lyme carrier in the New Forest. The 12-week duration is a significant practical advantage for a working dog — you're not chasing monthly applications. It's a prescription product, so you'll need your vet to authorise it, but it's widely available through online vet pharmacies like PetDrugs Online or VioVet once you have that. Bravecto Spot-On (XL, 40–56kg) is what I'd be using on this dog.
Is there a reason you're recommending spot-on over the oral Bravecto? I thought the chew might be easier.
inparticular.ai
Honest answer: both oral and spot-on Bravecto give the same 12-week cover and the same kill speed on ticks, so the chew is a perfectly valid choice if he takes it reliably. The reason I defaulted to spot-on for a tracking dog is purely practical — some working dog owners prefer not adding to the oral tablet load, and spot-on sidesteps any risk of the dog not finishing the chew or vomiting it up after a hard session. But if he eats his food well and you'd find the chew simpler to administer, Bravecto Chew (XL) is the same product in a different format. Either will do the job.
That's really helpful. Should I be doing anything else alongside it, like tick checks after each session?
inparticular.ai
Yes, absolutely — Bravecto kills ticks fast but it doesn't repel them, so ticks will still attach before dying. Running your hands through his coat after every woodland session, especially around the head, neck, ears, between toes, and groin, is still worthwhile. If you find one attached, a tick twisting tool like the O'Tom Tick Twister removes them cleanly without squeezing. It's also worth keeping a record of any tick bites and watching for a bullseye rash or lethargy in the days after — both are reasons to call your vet promptly. Bravecto significantly reduces your risk exposure, but with the New Forest density, physical checks remain a sensible habit.
