The Top Rated Flea Collars to Keep Your Dog Safe

The flea collar can be your best friend when you own a pet dog or cat. It keeps your pet healthy and can save you many headaches as dealing with flea or tick infestations is a serious problem. So be sure to keep your pet safe and comfortable, especially during the spring, summer, and fall seasons.

Your pet shows unconditional love and loyalty, and you can always count on him to be ready and willing to keep you company. You’ll never have a more devoted friend. So, it is your responsibility to care for him, to help him with the things he cannot do for himself. You need to feed, bathe, and give him water, but one of the most important things you can do is to keep him free of fleas and ticks.

How do you do that when fleas and ticks are in the grass, sidewalk, and even on the neighbor’s dog? The solution is to use a good flea prevention product. There are many products out there, and the most effective and least harmful of these products is the flea collar. Yes, there are those topical oils you can place on your dog’s skin, but these oil products are messy, and they can be hard to use. Besides, you could also make a mistake when applying, which means that the ticks and fleas will still make themselves at home on your furry friend despite having used the topical flea repellent.

Fleas and Ticks

Fleas and ticks are nasty little insects that make your dog scratch and itch, and if left untreated, they can cause much more than itchiness. They can quickly become an infestation and make themselves at home on your rug, on your sofa, and even on your bed. Eventually, they get so ravenous they start biting you and can cause you to get sick.

What Do Fleas and Ticks Do to Your Pet?

Fleas and ticks are the two pests most affecting your pet, so prevention is the best defense. You can find topical flea treatments or pills, but the best product on hand is the cat or the dog flea collar for overall flea control. Even though you may not have fleas now, it is always a good idea to learn about them and know how to recognize the symptoms of when your furry friend is under attack by these pesky critters.

Fleas are the most common external parasite to affect your pet. They are wingless insects that feed on the blood of other animals, but they can burrow in the grass or your carpet and hibernate until they find a victim. They are so persistent in finding blood that they have been known to jump as high as two feet. They start as tiny flea larvae and, within a day or two, grow into adult fleas that live as few as 13 days and as long as 12 months, and during that time, they lay millions of eggs. Fleas come into your home from the outside and are brought in by their host, your pet. These tiny insects are more prevalent in hot months, when the grass gets long, especially in areas with high humid humid temperatures. The adult flea spends all of its time on the dog, but it lays eggs that can drop off onto the furniture, rugs, upholstery, and bedding. The new larvae will wait to find a new host, and they will get so hungry that they will bite any living thing, including you.

What Will Fleas Do to Your Pet?

No one likes seeing their friend scratching, but you should know that fleas can cause other more serious problems. These tiny insects can cause diseases like tapeworms, flea allergies, and anemia, and when your dog has one of these diseases, he may die from it.

The Flea Life Cycle

The flea has a life cycle of about 28 days. The egg becomes an adult flea and begins laying more eggs once they are out of the cocoon. Shampoo treatments are not as effective in eliminating fleas as flea collars. The best way to break the flea cycle is to find a treatment for all flea stages. Flea treatment is necessary to protect your pet.

Ticks

Ticks are other nasty parasites that affect your dog. They are everywhere, and if your dog isn’t wearing a flea and tick collar, they will crawl up on your dog the minute you let him outside. There are more than a few types of ticks, but they all bite your dog and drink his blood. Once they find their host, they swell up to the size of a large peanut (full of blood). Eventually, they drink their fill and go on about their merry way, which could be in your house, which can put you at risk.  Ticks carry diseases that affect both dogs and people.

According to the experts at Health Line, the biggest threat a tick can be to a dog is it can give him Lyme disease, an infection caused by a bacteria the tick carries. Lyme disease causes symptoms like fever, loss of appetite, stiffness, joint swelling, and loss of appetite. And Health Line experts say, “The ailment can cause muscle aches, mental fog, and fatigue for years and even decades.” So, if you notice these symptoms, you should take your dog to the vet immediately. Lyme disease affects people just as it does dogs.

Treatment

Treatment for fleas and ticks is fairly straightforward, and there are different products you can use to stop them. Products include flea collars, tablets, and topical treatments to control fleas and keep them off your pet and out of your house.

Of all the treatments on the market, flea and tick collars work for the longest time, giving your pet protection for seven to twelve months. The topical treatments also work well but require treatment more frequently every two months, and the tablets require a visit to the veterinarian for a prescription.

Natural Treatments for Fleas and Ticks

Herbs and oils have been used for centuries to eliminate pests, but some plants can be very toxic. So you must know your way around herbs to understand what will work for your pets.

The safest way to use natural oils and herbs is to purchase a specific flea and tick repellent made with natural oils. A company that offers natural flea repellant collars uses safe ingredients that are not dangerous for your pets. So it is always best to buy an all-natural flea collar from a  well-known brand.

Topical Flea Treatment

A very popular type of flea treatment is topical flea treatment. These treatments come in an oil form, and the pet owner places the oil drops on the back of the pet’s neck. However, topical treatments only offer three to four months of prevention, and even then, some pet owners still see fleas after using this type of treatment. Hence, owners often have to reapply the solution earlier than three months. The problem is that this is not always recommended and can lead to an overdose in some cases.

There are many different brands available, and products work differently. It isn’t easy to give a general recommendation but to be safe. You should follow the instructions for each medication.

What Are The Signs of Overdose

An overdose of flea prevention causes drooling, vomiting, tremors, agitation, seizures, difficulty breathing, and weakness. Your pet may not experience all these symptoms, but even one or two symptoms may mean your pet has experienced an overdose.

The truth is that applying topical flea treatments can be messy and tricky, and you have to know how to apply them, which is why we prefer the flea and tick collar, which is much easier to use.

Why Choose a Flea & Tick Collar?

For one, it is the easiest solution to the pesky problem. Collars are inexpensive and simple to use, and they effectively prevent fleas and ticks. They are adjustable and most pets do not have an adverse effect to the collar. The flea collar products are mess-free and can be worn with other collars.

How Do Flea & Tick Collars Work?

Collars have active ingredients that do not harm your pet, so long as you meet the suggested use requirements. Over time, these ingredients are dispersed over the dog’s entire body to kill, repel, and prevent flea eggs from hatching.

1. YiXiEr Cat Collar, Collar for Cats with Natural Herbs and Oils, Long-Lasting up to 12 Months

The YixiEr flea tick collar is a natural herb and oil flea collar for your cat and offers protection for up to 12 months. Its natural extracts make it a safe choice for cat owners. The collar is water-resistant and has a rough underside, so it can’t slip off the cat so easily. The flea collar comes in a single size of 13in, which the pet parent can adjust to the size of the cat. Use this on a cat that is at least ten weeks old.

Pet owners love this product despite its high price of $25. Its popularity is because it uses natural products to eliminate and prevent fleas. Pet owners also say the flea and tick prevention collar can last 12 months when used correctly. The collar needs to sit close to the skin but loose enough to fit two fingers under it.

According to the reviews, it is an outstanding product, and many pet parents will not buy any other type of flea collar for their cats.

2. Hartz UltraGuard Pro Reflective Flea & Tick Collar for Dogs

Send the pesky parasites away for a few months with the Hartz UltraGuard Pro 2 Reflective flea and tick collar for dogs and puppies for at least 12 weeks. The collar kills existing fleas and prevents new ones from hatching.

When you buy this flea and tick prevention collar at its current $18 price point, you’ll get two fresh-scented collars that can protect your dog from these pests for seven months each. These collars repel fleas, ticks, flea eggs, and larvae and prevent new eggs from hatching. The protection lasts for seven months. The nice thing about this collar is that you can use it under your dog’s regular collar. One of the nicest features of this collar is that it is reflective, making your dog visible in low-light conditions. Like some other collars, it is water-resistant and is adjustable for your dog’s neck size so long as it is not over 26 inches.

Customers like that it has some stretch and is somewhat sheer but also suggests it could be a little more water-resistant. Most people have a lot of faith in the Hartz brand and enjoy using this collar because it is reflective and lasts for so long.

3. Adams Flea and Tick Collar For Dogs

Protect your furry friend with the Adams Flea and Tick collar that lasts up to seven months. It is easy to use, stretchy and has a scented smell, so the flea-killing ingredients will not affect your pet. At less than $20, this flea and tick collar kills and repels fleas, ticks, and flea eggs for up to seven months.

This one-size-fits-all flea collar is fully adjustable. Adjust it to your friend and cut off the excess collar. You can also expect it to be water-resistant and continually release its active ingredients.

Most pet parents say they like this flea collar and have had no problem with it. However, a few people say their dog had a very negative reaction to the ingredients of this collar.

4. Hartz UltraGuard Plus Reflective Orange Flea & Tick Collar for Dogs and Puppies

The Hartz UltraGuard Plus is a reflective orange flea and tick collar that repels pests for seven months. A great option for a relatively low cost of about $18, and most dog owners say it is very effective, less messy than the oils, and less toxic than pills. You place the flea collar under the dog’s regular collar. Its reflective feature allows people and drivers to see your dog in low-light environments. It is water-resistant, so your dog can continue to play in the water without the collar being affected. The collar fits dogs with up to 22 inches in circumference.

Most dog owners like its stretchy design, its comfort, and longevity. Some pet parents say the collar does not effectively work for the full seven months and must be replaced during three to four months.

5. Seresto Flea and Tick Collar for Dogs, 8-Month Flea and Tick Collar for Large Dogs Over 18 Pounds

This collar is made specifically for large dogs that are over 18 pounds. Seresto is a well-known brand in the dog product market. Dog owners rely on this brand and know that their products work well.

The Seresto flea and tick collar offer eight months of protection for your large dog. This collar gives you the best coverage but comes at a higher price target of $62 for one collar. Seresto is a veterinarian-recommended flea collar and starts to work within 24 hours of application. An added benefit to this flea and tick collar is treating and controlling lice and sarcoptic mange.

Pet owners have nothing bad to say about the Seresto collar, its flexibility, durability, and scent. It is the perfect collar for any large dog and does not give any side effects to your pet.

How to Find The Right Collar for Your Dog

To find the right size collar, you need to measure your pet’s neck. Small dogs will have a neck size from 5in to 11.75 in. They will weigh less than 18 pounds. So check the collar description to ensure the collar will fit your small dog. The medium-sized dog will have a neck that measures 14 to 20 inches and will weigh up to 55 pounds. Large dogs have a neck size of 16 to 4 inches.

Many flea and tick collars are adjustable, so they fit any dog size, and you need to cut away the excess collar material. However, not all brands are identical, so you must check the measurement to ensure it fits your friend.

Are Collars Water-resistant?

Most flea and tick collars are water-resistant. Even so, it is best to remove the dog collar when you bathe your pooch. If you want your collar to last seven to eight months, ensure your dog doesn’t get wet too often. Do not bathe your dog with the collar on more than once a month. Swimming dogs will have less effectiveness from the collar, and you may need to replace it as soon as five months.

How Do The Ingredients Work?

The active ingredients repel and kill fleas and ticks are in the collars polymer blend and released in low quantities across the dog’s entire coat. Fleas and ticks die on contact. Because the ingredients are released slowly, the collar has enough active ingredients to work for seven months, providing it does not get wet too frequently.

How to Put a Dog Collar on Your Pet

To place the collar on your dog, pull the loose end through the buckle until it tightens around your dog’s skin. You don’t want to tighten it too much as your dog might choke. You want to be able to fit two fingers under the dog flea collar to touch your pet’s fur. The collar should touch his fur but not be too tight. Once you have adjusted the collar, you can cut off the excess part.

Final Thoughts

While the flea repellent market is very competitive and many types of products are available, the flea collar is the most convenient. Flea and tick collars repel both fleas and ticks on cats and dogs. However, it would help to buy a flea repellent collar appropriate for your pet type and size. Using the flea collar is very simple, place it on your pet, make sure the collar sits on your friend’s skin loosely, and cut away the excess collar.