Best Flea Collar for Dogs Archives

Every pet parent remembers the day they were shocked by seeing a flea jumping on their sofa, seeing “flea dirt” on their dog or the first time they removed a bloated tick. We adore our dogs and share our lives, our homes, even our beds with them. But the truth is their bodies can be hosts to nasty, disease carrying parasites such as fleas and ticks which makes embark on the search for best flea collar for dogs!

Protecting your dog and your home from fleas and ticks is essential to your pet’s health as well as your own. According to the Center for Disease Control, diseases related to bites from fleas, ticks and mosquitoes have tripled between 2004 and 2016! This means that preventing exposure to insect bites is more important than ever.

Flea collars, topically applied products and oral medications which repel and/or kill insects are available for dogs but they rely on pesticides and other strong, toxic chemicals in order to be effective. Pet parents must balance protecting themselves and their pets from diseases while limiting or avoiding exposure to these chemicals.

It can be overwhelming to make a well-informed choice. Fortunately, the active ingredients are listed on product labels and there are resources available for learning about these ingredients:

National Pesticide Information Center (http://npic.orst.edu)
National Resource Defense Council (http://www.simplesteps.org/greenpaws-products)

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) provides suggestions for controlling pests humanely. Flea collars which use essential oils are a good fit with PETA’s suggestions. PETA mentions rose geranium oil for repelling ticks and using a diluted mixture of rosemary, peppermint, eucalyptus, tea tree, and citronella for fleas. As with any product, be sure to check your dog for reactions or sensitivities.

These flea collars use essential oils to repel insects:

Earth Animal Herbal Flea and Tick Defense Collars For Dogs (active ingredients: Peppermint Oil and Virginia Cedarwood Oil.)

Dr. Mercola Herbal Repellant Collar (active ingredient: Geraniol oil)

The flea collars below use pesticides to repel and/or kill insects:

Bayer Seresto Flea and Tick Collar for Dogs (active ingredients – Flumethrin, Imidacloprid)

Scalibor Protector Band for Dogs (active ingredient – Deltamethrin)

Hartz Ultra Guard Plus Flea Collar (active ingredients: Tetrachlorvinphos and (S)-Methoprene)

When making your choice, consider:

The insects in your area;
The diseases you may be exposed to;
The activities you and your dog enjoy together;
Your dog’s size and health status;
Whether your dog has any allergies or sensitivities; and
Your vet’s ideas about how to use flea collars in the least invasive way possible. For example, a flea collar may only be needed in summer.

The best strategy is to start with the least invasive, least toxic option, such as a flea collar which uses essential oils to repel insects. Watch your dog carefully for signs of fleas and ticks to be sure your choice is effective. Also, be alert for any negative reactions. Keep in mind that you can always choose another product as you balance the toxicity of the active ingredients against the risks of contracting an insect bite related illness.