Flea treatment for Bloodhounds with skin folds

A Bloodhound with fleas concentrated in the neck and facial folds is a tricky situation — those deep creases are warm, humid and almost impossible to reach with a spray or collar, so fleas can shelter there even after you've treated the rest of the dog. Before I give you a recommendation, a quick note on the bigger picture: around 95% of a flea infestation lives in your home — in carpets, bedding and soft furnishings — not on the dog itself. A single product rarely handles both, so you'll need to treat the environment as well. What size is your Bloodhound, roughly how bad would you say the infestation is, and have you done anything to treat the house yet?

That's really helpful, thank you. At 48kg he's a large dog, and the fact you can see live fleas moving in the folds tells me you need something that works systemically — meaning it gets into the bloodstream so fleas are killed when they bite, regardless of where they're hiding on the body. A topical spray won't reliably penetrate those folds, and a collar won't reach deep enough either. For a dog like him, I'd recommend Bravecto Spot-On for Large Dogs (20–40kg covers one bracket, but there's a 40–56kg pack that fits him perfectly). It's a single pipette applied to the back of the neck, and the active ingredient fluralaner circulates in the bloodstream for 12 weeks, killing fleas anywhere they feed — including right inside those folds. It's prescription-only, so you'll need a quick vet sign-off, but many online vets issue one same day. Can I ask — has he had any flea treatments before, or is this the first time you're dealing with this?

Frontline's active ingredient (fipronil) has well-documented resistance issues now — fleas in most of the UK have built up tolerance to it, so it's a common reason treatments seem to fail. Bravecto uses a completely different class of chemistry, so resistance isn't a concern. Given he's had a recent Frontline application, just check with your vet that there's enough of a gap before applying Bravecto — typically they'll want at least a few weeks clear, which it sounds like you have. Once you've got that sorted, don't forget the home environment. A good household spray like Indorex Defence is what I'd point you to — one can treats the whole house and keeps working for up to 12 months. Wash his bedding at 60°C and vacuum thoroughly before you spray. Do you want any guidance on the home treatment side, or are you clear on that part?

Yes, and it matters more than people realise. While the Bravecto is doing its systemic job, those folds can become irritated or even infected if fleas have been biting repeatedly in a confined, moist area. Gently clean inside each fold with a soft cloth or cotton pad dampened with a diluted chlorhexidine solution — something like Vetericyn Plus Antimicrobial Hydrogel or a simple chlorhexidine wash works well. Dry the folds carefully afterwards, because dampness encourages secondary skin issues. Keep an eye out for redness, an unusual smell or thickened skin — all signs the vet should take a look. Once the infestation clears in a couple of weeks, the folds should calm down significantly. The combination of Bravecto for the dog and Indorex for the house is your most reliable route to getting on top of this properly.

Good plan. To summarise: Bravecto Spot-On 40–56kg for him, Indorex Defence spray for the house, and keep those folds clean and dry while everything settles. Most people see a dramatic improvement within a week of treating both dog and home together. Good luck with him — Bloodhounds are wonderful dogs, and he'll be a lot more comfortable once this is sorted.