Ticks are picked up from long grass and bracken, usually on the legs and belly, and they climb to somewhere warm and hidden before they attach: behind the ears, in the armpit, under the collar. A repellent applied before the walk works on that journey, making the coat a less appealing place to settle in the first place rather than trying to deal with a tick already fixed in the skin.

The spray goes on across the coat, which lets you concentrate on the areas that actually get bitten rather than a single spot between the shoulder blades. It is lightly scented and formulated without harsh additives, and is aimed at fleas, flea eggs and larvae and lice as well as ticks. Being a topical mist, its effect fades with weather and washing, so reapplying before walks through tick country is how it is meant to be used.

• 100ml bottle
• For dogs and cats
• Aimed at ticks, fleas, flea eggs, larvae and lice
• Gently scented, made without harsh additives
• Sprayed over the coat before walks
• Fits alongside brushing and routine tick checks

This is a repellent, not a prescription parasiticide. It does not replace the spot-on or tablet your vet supplies, and it offers no protection against tick-borne disease. Keep checking your dog over after every walk in long grass, and remove anything you find with a tick hook, twisting rather than pulling. Never assume a product labelled for one species is safe on another; read the label carefully before using anything on a cat.

Who it's for: Owners walking through long grass, woodland or moorland in spring and summer who want an extra layer on top of routine veterinary parasite control.