Best flea & tick prevention for hunting dogs

A Toller working marshes in high-tick country is about as high-exposure as it gets — repeated water contact, dense vegetation, and ticks that can attach before you've even packed up the decoys. The most effective prevention depends on the dog's size and weight, local tick pressure, and whether you want a spot-on, collar, or oral treatment, because some widely sold products are significantly less effective than others in genuinely high-risk conditions. What does your dog weigh, are you seeing ticks regularly after outings, and do you have a preference for how you apply the treatment?

That's exactly the scenario where you need something that holds up through repeated immersion. Collars can slip or lose efficacy when wet this often, and some spot-ons wash off too quickly for a dog that's in and out of water all day. For a 22kg Toller in your situation, I'd go with Bravecto Spot-On for Dogs — specifically the 10–20kg or 20–40kg pipette depending on exact weight, so the 20–40kg one for him. It's a single application that lasts 12 weeks, and crucially it's absorbed systemically so water exposure doesn't reduce effectiveness. It covers the tick species you'll encounter in Scotland including Ixodes ricinus, which is the main Lyme disease vector in the Highlands. It's prescription-only in the UK, so you'll need your vet to authorise it, but most will do so readily for working dogs in tick-heavy areas.

You can buy it on Amazon UK from licensed pet pharmacy sellers — it's listed there — but legally you still need a valid prescription from your vet to purchase it. Most vets will give you a written prescription you can use to order online, which is often cheaper than buying directly from the practice. Worth asking your vet for a repeat prescription if your dog is checked annually; that way you can order Bravecto when you need it without a visit each time. Some online vets like Joii or PetMedOnline can also issue prescriptions if that's more convenient between hunting seasons.

Good question to ask. Bravecto's active ingredient is fluralaner, and it's generally well tolerated in older dogs. The main thing your vet will want to confirm is that his liver and kidney function are reasonable, since older dogs process these compounds there. If he's had a blood panel in the last year and it came back normal, you're very likely fine. Some dogs — a small minority — show mild gastrointestinal upset after the first dose, but it's uncommon and usually brief. At 8, a Toller is senior but not elderly, and working dogs of that age on Bravecto is not unusual at all. Your vet will flag it if there's any reason to consider an alternative.

Perfect. When you call, just mention he's a working dog in a high-tick area with frequent water exposure — that gives them the full picture quickly. Ask specifically about a repeat prescription for Bravecto Spot-On 20–40kg so you're not scrambling before each season. And keep doing the post-hunt tick checks regardless; no preventative is 100%, and catching a tick early is always better than relying on the treatment alone. Good luck out there.