It is an increasingly widespread practice to protect our dog with a flea collar, assuming that in this way we avoid contagion from those annoying parasites that scare us so much.
What we surely do not know is how exactly those collars work and if they are safe for our dogs or for ourselves. Some of these repellent collars are not recommended due to the high amount of chemicals they use.
Let’s see which are the most used, the most recommended and what care we should have with this type of antiparasitic collars.
Index of contents
- 1 How does a flea collar work on a dog?
- 1.1 Safe toxic substances?
- 2 Does the flea collar really work to keep my dog from getting it?
- 3 So… should my dog wear a flea collar or not?
- 4 What is the best flea collar?
- 5 Can I make a flea collar collar for my dog?
How does a flea collar work on a dog?
A flea collar is simply a piece of plastic or rubber impregnated in a chemical that repels parasites like fleas. The collar releases the chemical so that it expands through the dog.
The problem is that both the skin and the hair of our dog are also impregnated with this chemical, which is obviously harmful to health. And it will even end up penetrating the dog’s skin, reaching its bloodstream in some cases.
All manufacturers of flea collars will tell you that they are not dangerous for dogs, however if you read the label carefully you will always see something like “Avoid contact with hands” “If you touch the necklace with your hands, wash immediately” “do not ingest” etc …
If it is not a dangerous product for the dog, how is it possible that it is so harmful and dangerous for us? Let’s not be fooled, poison is just as bad for a dog as it is for a human.
Safe toxic substances?
Do you know how dogs play? Some run after each other, throw themselves to the ground and sometimes chew on their legs and neck amicably. If your dog is wearing a poison collar and another dog is nibbling on it while playing with it… isn’t it dangerous?
On the other hand, once the chemical in the collar spreads through the dog, won’t it be dangerous for us to pet our dog, unconsciously dragging part of that chemical with our hands? Think about it.
Does the flea collar really work to keep my dog from getting it?
Obviously yes, if you use it correctly your dog will be protected but not completely from being infected by fleas. Necklaces have an effective duration effect that ranges from one month to six months, depending on each manufacturer.
The most famous are the Scalibur and Seresto necklaces, which seem to have quite a protective effect. However, that does not mean that the chemicals they use cannot be a problem.
The flea pipettes fulfill the same function as the flea collars, they are a chemical product that is applied to the dog and this is distributed throughout its fur and fur. Protecting it if, but impregnating it with clearly harmful chemicals.
So… should my dog wear a flea collar or not?
All effective repellents against fleas or ticks contain unhealthy chemicals for health. Therefore, the best option is often to look for the product that is least harmful and invasive for our dog.
Among the most common are:
- Chemical flea collar
- Natural flea collar
- Chemical pipette
- Repellent pill (also chemical)
The difference between the chemical and the natural collar, lies in the products it contains and their effectiveness. Natural collars are generally much less effective than chemical flea collars.
Pipettes are, in our opinion, the most invasive option and therefore the least recommended. Even for our own health.
Antiparasitic pills are very effective and also contain chemicals, so in reality, we have few non-chemical / invasive options to protect our dog well.
Sometimes we have no choice but to get upset and knowing that it is not beneficial, but harmful, we have to force our dog to use it to keep it free of these horrible parasites.
- Diseases that spread fleas to dogs and humans
- Diseases that transmit ticks to dogs and humans
- Diseases that infect mosquitoes to dogs
What is the best flea collar?
Based on our own experience, there are two collars that we recommend for their high effectiveness in protecting our dogs against parasites. But, you have to be aware that these are harmful chemicals.
- Scalibor necklace: Its formula has been improved and now the protection time is longer. It protects, according to the manufacturer, effectively against fleas for four months, protects against ticks for six months, and protects against sandflies for 12 months.
- Seresto Necklace: Its formula, according to the manufacturer, protects against fleas and ticks effectively for eight months.
Which is better? Well, it depends on how you look at it. The Seresto collar has protection against fleas and ticks of eight months. The Scalibor collar has a protection of only four months against fleas and six against ticks, but adds protection against sandflies (causing diseases such as Leishmaniasis).
Before choosing one for your puppy, please take a few seconds to read the technical information for each one, it is important.
Can I make a flea collar collar for my dog?
Not only can you make a flea collar yourself, but you can do it starting from natural products that they will not harm your dog or you, that is, free of aggressive chemicals.
Take a nice handkerchief that fits your dog and put it on, in the handkerchief you should put a few drops of Cintronela and Margosa essential oil, which are natural repellents obtained from trees.
- IMPORTANT: This type of natural collar is not as effective as chemical collars, so its function is “preventive”, but it offers a much lower effectiveness rate than chemical collars.
With the smell given off by these essential oils, your dog will be protected against parasites such as fleas or ticks. You can get complete information from: How to make repellent pipettes and necklaces at home.
Remember that we rely on experience with domestic dogs, which have a medium level of exposure to parasites. Herding dogs or dogs that constantly live with farm / livestock animals should be protected with stronger products, such as the chemical collars mentioned above.