Tick prevention for hiking dogs in Lyme areas

A vet recommending stronger tick prevention before a Lyme-endemic hiking trip is worth taking seriously — standard over-the-counter products often aren't up to the job in high-pressure tick environments. The most effective prevention depends on the dog's size and weight, the local tick risk, and whether you want a spot-on, collar, or oral treatment — and some widely sold products are significantly less effective than others. What breed and size is your dog, are you heading into a high-tick-risk area, and do you have a preference for treatment type?

Good that your vet flagged this — the Highlands have significant Ixodes ricinus tick populations and Lyme disease is a genuine risk there. For a 25kg Airedale heading into that environment, I want to ask one more thing before I point you at the right product: is he on any other medications, and has he had any previous reactions to isoxazoline-class treatments like Bravecto or NexGard? Those are the prescription-tier options your vet is likely pointing toward, and they're the ones with the evidence base for high-exposure situations.

Frontline Plus is fine for low-risk day-to-day use but it's a pyrethroid and resistance in UK tick populations is well documented — not the right tool for a week of Highland hiking. Given his age, weight, and the specific trip you're describing, I'd recommend Bravecto Spot-On for Dogs (large dog, 20–40kg). It's a single application that gives 12 weeks of tick protection — well past your trip — and it kills ticks within 12 hours of attachment, which is the critical window for Lyme transmission. It's prescription-only in the UK so you'll need your vet to prescribe it, but since they've already raised this conversation that should be straightforward. Apply it at least 2–3 days before you set off so it's fully systemic before the first day on the trail.

Bravecto is your primary protection and it's highly effective, but layering in a physical check after each walk is still good practice — remove any attached ticks with a tick hook before the 12-hour window closes if you can. For a 9-year-old dog it's also worth doing a post-trip vet check if he seems off in the weeks after — lethargy, joint stiffness, or fever can be early Lyme signs even with good prevention. The Bravecto does the heavy lifting; the checks are just your safety net.

Perfect — and because it's 12-week cover, you'll have plenty of protection buffer beyond the trip itself. Enjoy the Highlands; just keep checking those ears and groin folds where ticks like to hide.