With the warmer weather looming, you’re probably trying to find the most effective way to prevent flea and tick infestations in your furry companion’s fluffy coat. But which route should you take? In this guide, we’re going to help you choose the best flea and tick collar for dogs so that your pup can stay healthy and happy all summer, and even all year long. Let’s get into it!
Table of Contents
- Choosing The Best Flea And Tick Collar For Dogs: What Is A Flea Collar For Dogs?
- How To Choose The Best Flea And Tick Collar For Dogs?
- 5 Best Flea And Tick Collars For Dogs
- Choosing The Best Flea And Tick Collar For Dogs: FAQ
Choosing The Best Flea And Tick Collar For Dogs: What Is A Flea Collar For Dogs?
Flea and tick collars are designed to prevent and/or treat flea and tick infestations in your dog’s coat. They’re designed to slowly release flea and tick repelling medications over time, providing you with a good, fuss-free remedy for those nasty parasites. If you’ve ever tried topical flea and tick treatments, you probably know all too well how messy they can get. Therefore, a flea and tick collar for dogs may be the perfect solution for this problem.
But we must add that not all dogs benefit from flea and tick collars. They’re still considered medications and should be used with great caution. Flea and tick collars contain numerous ingredients and chemicals, and some dogs may simply benefit from other forms of parasite treatments better. Always consult with your veterinarian about the suitability of various flea and tick treatments so that you can rest assured knowing that your pooch is safe.
How To Choose The Best Flea And Tick Collar For Dogs?
So, what factors should you consider when searching for the best flea and tick collar for dogs? Here are some things to think about beforehand…
Your Dog’s Size
Needless to say, when shopping for any type of collar for your dog, be it a regular nylon or leather collar or a medicated flea and tick collar, you’ve got to pay close attention to the sizing of it. Mostly, flea and tick collars come in one size, but you can adjust them by simply cutting them to size. Of course, be sure to measure your dog’s neck diameter first and then cut the collar to size.
Additionally, the collar shouldn’t fit too loosely or too tightly around your dog’s neck. If it’s too loose, your dog will easily manage to get out of it. And if it’s too tight, it’s only going to be uncomfortable and unpleasant for your pup. It also goes without saying that as your pup grows, you’ll also need to readjust their collar size accordingly.
Another thing to note is that some dogs have smaller, narrower heads, such as Whippets or Greyhounds, so the collar may come off more easily. If that’s the case, be sure to pay extra close attention to your dog wearing the collar and if necessary, supplement with additional flea and tick preventatives.
Your Dog’s Medical History & Age
As we mentioned earlier, flea and tick collars for dogs do contain certain ingredients, either flea and tick repelling chemicals or natural essential oils. But all of those ingredients could trigger allergic reactions or even more serious side effects. So, be sure to discuss specific ingredients with your vet to rule out any potential triggers for allergic reactions or other adverse reactions.
Similarly, flea and tick collars for dogs should be used as stated on the packaging. Many of the best flea and tick collars for dogs we’ve lined up in this guide are only intended for use on puppies older than 12 weeks of age. Remember that young puppies are still very fragile and those harsh chemicals and medications may not be safe for them!
Ingredients Of The Collar
The best flea and tick collars for dogs often contain insecticides which are considered the most effective against fleas and ticks. Some of the common active ingredients found in those collars include pyriproxyfen, deltamethrin, methoprene, flumethrin, imidacloprid, or tetrachlorvinphos. But as we’ve mentioned already, these are very harsh ingredients and should be used even in flea and tick collars with extreme caution. Ingestion of these could potentially have severe effects on your dog’s health. But in most cases those ingredients cause skin irritations and hair loss.
Then there are flea and tick collars that include natural ingredients. Mostly, essential oils like peppermint oil, cedar oil, clove, cinnamon, thyme, lemon, eucalyptus, pine, bitter orange, or lemongrass, to name a few. When comparing the two, flea and tick collars with essential oils generally aren’t as effective and may require additional prevention like topical creams or pills.
While it may seem like the more natural route might be a better idea for your dog’s safety, that’s not necessarily the case. Essential oils are highly concentrated and often cause allergic reactions in both dogs and humans. The list of safe essential oils for dogs is quite short compared to the list of essential oils that are toxic to dogs – be sure to check them out here.
Lifestyle & Environment
Depending on your location, you may have to look for specific targeted treatments for the parasites in your local environment. As we know, flea and tick collars may contain different sorts of ingredients and some may be more potent against the fleas and ticks in your area.
It’s also important to consider your dog’s lifestyle – how active they are, how much they get into the water, and so forth. The more often your dog’s tick collar gets wet, the sooner it’ll lose its potency. So even if the packaging states that the collar is good for use for 7 months, it may actually be less than that due to your pup’s frequent swimming and bathing sessions.
Effectiveness & Duration
As we mentioned, some flea and tick collars are more effective than others due to the ingredients of them. Insecticides are generally the best protection from fleas and ticks, but even ones with essential oils may provide some form of protection against parasite infestations, especially when used in conjunction with special medicated shampoos and oral or topical prevention tactics.
Another thing to consider is the duration of the collar. Some flea and tick collars repel fleas and ticks for 4 months, whereas others can be used for up to 12 months. Also, frequent swimming and bathing will get rid of some of the active ingredients, which can also reduce the time for how long the collar protects your pooch from parasites.
5 Best Flea And Tick Collars For Dogs
Adams Flea and Tick Collar For Dogs
Adams Flea & Tick Collar For Dogs is great for both prevention and treatment of fleas and ticks. It’s designed to kill and repel fleas, flea eggs, flea larvae, ticks, and kill tick larvae and tick nymphs. The main active ingredients in this collar are tetrachlorvinphos and methoprene.
The cute blue collar provides protection for up to 7 months and it’ll protect your pooch around the clock. It’s also said to be water resistant so that you won’t have to remove it when your dog gets wet in rain. But, we would recommend taking it off when bathing or swimming, just in case.
The collar comes in one size and it’s designed to fit medium to giant-sized dogs with a neck size of up to 26 inches. If your dog is a bit smaller, you can easily trim off the excess so that the collar fits snuggly. This flea and tick collar is suitable for dogs and puppies over the age of 12 weeks.
Pros
- 2-in-1 prevention and treatment;
- Provides protection for up to 7 months;
- The collar is water resistant;
- Odorless and non-greasy;
- One size that you can easily adjust.
Cons
- Quite a few buyers mention that it’s not as effective as they’d hoped or that it makes their dogs itchy.
TropiClean Flea & Tick Collar for Dogs
TropiClean Flea & Tick Collar For Dogs is a natural flea and tick repellent that includes active ingredients cedarwood oil and peppermint oil with inactive ingredients including nylon, zinc stearate, and almond oil. It’s said to create a full-body protection for up to 4 months and it’s suitable for puppies over the age of 4 months. According to the manufacturer, this collar should be up to 85% effective against the brown dog tick, the castor bean tick, and ctenocephalides felis (cat flea).
This natural flea and tick collar is for large dogs with necks up to 25 inches in diameter. Again, you can easily trim the excess off to make the collar fit for your pup. It’s also waterproof and designed to withstand outdoor play and baths. But, as we said, the collar will probably last you longer if you don’t let it thoroughly saturate with water when swimming or bathing.
Pros
- Natural flea and tick dog collar with cedarwood oil and peppermint oil;
- Waterproof so that your pup can still play and romp around outside even in wet conditions;
- One collar lasts for up to 3 to 4 months;
- One size fits all – it can be worn on up to 25-inch diameter necks;
Cons
- As essential oils can trigger allergic reactions, it doesn’t come as a surprise that many buyers notice their pups getting itchy and start sneezing with the collar on;
- Some people also note that the collar is quite brittle and breaks easily.
TevraPet Activate II Flea and Tick Collar
TevraPet Activate II Flea & Tick Collar for Dogs is designed to kill fleas, flea eggs, ticks, and even repel mosquitoes for up to 6 months. In fact, the packaging contains two collars, providing your pup protection for a whole year. The time released formula starts working within 24 hours, which makes it a quick repellent against those itchy parasites.
The active ingredients in this flea and tick collar are deltamethrin and pyriproxyfen. It’s suitable for puppies over the age of 12 weeks, but be sure to consult with your vet if your pup has any health conditions, or is pregnant, medicated, nursing, or elderly.
These collars are 26 inches long and they can be used on dogs with up to 23-inch diameter necks. If your pooch has a smaller neck, trim the excess off so that it fits comfortably around the neck. If you’ve got a younger pup who is still growing, you may have to replace it as their neck continues to gain girth.
While this collar is advertised as waterproof, we do recommend you take into account that its potency may decline if you bathe your dog with it.
Pros
- Two collars in one package;
- One collar lasts for up to 6 months;
- Waterproof;
- Fits necks to 23 inches;
- Time released formula that repels fleas, ticks, and even mosquitoes.
Cons
- Again, some buyers aren’t exactly happy about finding fleas and ticks on their dogs even after wearing the collar for a while.
Sentry Flea & Tick Collar for Dogs
Sentry Flea & Tick Collar for Dogs is perfect for smaller pups with necks up to 14 inches in diameter. One package contains two collars that provide protection for up to 12 months. It’s designed to kill ticks and fleas, including ones that carry Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
These collars are also waterproof and should withstand outdoor elements. The active ingredient in this collar is deltamethrin and it can be used on dogs and puppies over the age of 12 weeks. By the way, it’s made in the USA .
Pros
- Two collars in one package;
- One collar lasts for up to 6 months;
- Waterproof to withstand outdoor elements;
- Suited for small and medium-sized breeds with necks up to 14 inches in diameter.
Cons
- Many buyers noticed that their dogs developed allergic reactions and skin irritations due to this collar.
Arava Dead Sea Pet Spa Flea & Tick Collar for Dogs
Another natural flea and tick collar we’ve picked out for you is the Arava Dead Sea Pet Spa Flea & Tick Collar for Dogs. It’s free from harsh chemicals and contains a wide range of natural active ingredients instead. These include geranium, peppermint, cinnamon, lemongrass, clove, thyme, eastern red cedar, rosemary, citronella, soybean, and castor oil.
This natural flea and tick collar for dogs is potent for about 6 months. They also claim that the collar is proven to be durable even after bathing. However, this collar is meant only for repelling insects, not for killing them. So, it’s better used as a preventative care.
It’s suitable for dogs of all life stages and its total length is 24.4 inches. You can easily cut the collar shorter to make it fit smaller dogs as well. According to the Q&A section of the product listing, it can even be used on puppies that are just 9 weeks of age. On the other hand, the collar can have a very strong botanical smell, especially on the first few days, which can trigger sensitivities and allergic reactions.
Pros
- Made with only natural ingredients with no harsh chemicals;
- Water resistant;
- Suitable for all life stages and breed sizes;
- Lasts for 6 months;
Cons
- Buyers note the extremely strong smell of this product;
- May not be as effective considering that it’s a natural formula containing only essential oils.
Choosing The Best Flea And Tick Collar For Dogs: FAQ
When used correctly, a flea or tick collar can be perfectly safe for your dog. However, some studies have indicated that there may be risks associated both to pets and humans even with the correct use of flea and tick collars. In fact, the highly popular Seresto collar has been linked to numerous deaths and negative effects on pets’ health. So, ultimately, if you’re planning to try out a flea and tick collar for your pet, be sure to carefully study the ingredients list, online reviews, and consult with your vet beforehand to ensure the safety of the product.
This depends on your dog’s age and medical history. Both tick collars and tick pills contain various chemicals that may trigger adverse side effects. For instance, some tick pills aren’t recommended for use on dogs with a history of seizures. In addition to that, tick and flea pills may require your veterinarian’s prescription. But to be fair, you should always discuss flea and tick preventatives and treatments with your vet first anyway so that they can recommend the best possible option for your dog according to their health and unique needs.
Usually, flea and tick collars for dogs should be worn all the time for full protection, especially during the high season. This way, the medications from the collar will slowly release as intended. In addition to that, remember that flea and tick collars for dogs should be replaced a few times a year, depending on how much your dog likes to swim and how often their collar gets wet. Carefully read the label on the packaging so that you can replace the collar when necessary.
Choosing The Best Flea And Tick Collar For Dogs: Final Thoughts
So there you have it! Shopping for the best flea and tick collar for dogs it’s not the easiest of tasks, especially when many of them are made with various ingredients and not all of them have the same results on all pups. But hopefully, you’ll find one here that works well on your pooch.
Flea and tick infestations are inevitable when it comes to dog ownership. But, you can prevent them a great deal by using various flea and tick prevention methods like medicated collars and shampoos, oral pills, or topical medications. For more information on how to prevent fleas and ticks on your precious dog, we also recommend you read another guide we’ve prepared for you.
Above all, remember that flea and tick collars for dogs often contain irritating ingredients, even the ones that are said to be 100% natural. So be sure to consult with your vet before using any product on your dog so that everything goes well and your pup won’t get harmed in the process.
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